Ipswich Town Women held their nerve to defeat a resolute AFC Bournemouth side 1-0 at the Martello Ground this afternoon, Sophie Peskett’s goal on the stroke of half-time booking the Blues a berth in the fourth round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and an away tie against WSL giants Manchester City.
Town manager Joe Sheehan made one change from the side that beat AFC Wimbledon 5-0 in the league at the start of the month, with Grace Garrad coming in for Shauna Guyatt, with the latter dropping out of the squad. Angela Addison returned from injury and was named on the bench.
Lucy O’Brien created an early chance for the Blues on three with a cross-shot over the bar, but soon after Bournemouth, who are top of the fourth tier FAWNL Division One South West on maximum points, had a spell of pressure, pressing the home side effectively.
On 21 Town won their first free-kick in a dangerous position on the left of the opposition box, but Garrad’s delivery came to nothing.
Two minutes later, Ipswich looked certain to ahead when Natasha Thomas latched on to a through ball from the middle of the park, but somehow managed to screw her shot wide when one on one with Cherries goalkeeper Erin Foley.
Not long after, Summer Hughes had a tight-angled shot held in the second phase from a Town corner.
On 33, Thomas was through again but Foley was quick off her line to close down the angle and block the Town forward’s effort. Shortly after, Bournemouth fired well over the bar after an attack down the left.
Town were turning the screw as the half came to an end and on 42 Peskett crashed the ball off the crossbar with Thomas firing her follow-up well over, much to her frustration.
In the first minute of time added on, however, Town deservedly took the lead through Peskett, the winger arrowing home from the centre of the box after a superb run and cut back from Kyra Robertson.
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Town almost doubled their lead before the referee blew for the break, but Hughes saw her first time effort from an O’Brien cross palmed away by Foley.
Bournemouth started the second half brightly and had the ball in the Town box on 48, but Blues goalkeeper Natalia Negri was quick to claim the ball.
Ten minutes later, Town had penalty appeals waved away by the referee after a collision between O’Brien and a Bournemouth defender, the latter requiring treatment.
On 66, Ipswich won a free-kick on the edge of Bournemouth’s area and Garrad was able to pick out Megan Wearing in the box, but the defender could only head directly at Foley from point-blank range.
A minute later, Scotland U19 international Wearing was involved again, this time heading clear a Cherries free kick into the Town box.
In the 72nd minute, Town almost scored a second goal, Maisy Barker’s thumping effort parried out by Foley towards Thomas, who let fly over the bar. A few minutes later, the Cherries had their own foray forward, letting fly from distance straight into the gloves of Negri.
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A minute later, the home side was back up the other end of the pitch, Peskett slamming an effort off the crossbar and Hughes not able to bundle her follow-up effort past Foley.
On 84 Bournemouth were able to loft a free-kick from distance into the Town area after Peskett was adjudged to have committed a foul, but Wearing was able deal with the danger and get the ball clear. Manager Sheehan then made his only substitute of the game, replacing O’Brien with Isabella Fisher.
A few minutes later, Town had a free-kick just beyond the D of the Bournemouth box which Garrad, having cleared the wall, struck just over the bar.
As the game entered four minutes of time added on, Bournemouth pushed to find an equaliser to force the tie to extra-time, but could not find the target when in promising positions. The referee then blew up to send Ipswich Town through to the next round and confirm Bournemouth’s first defeat of the season.
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Despite being a lower division team, Bournemouth did not look out of place and were confident going toe-to-toe with the Blues from the first minute. Ipswich did the look the better side overall, however, with Peskett and Barker constant threats down the flanks and O’Brien dictating play in the middle.
Robertson put in a player of the match performance, not only for her assist but also her incredible defensive work. The back four, whilst under pressure on occasion, never looked in serious danger of being overwhelmed and were able to confidently deal with Bournemouth’s press.
Ipswich Town Women can now enjoy their Christmas break, their next fixture being a home game against Exeter City in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division on 5t January.
The Blues’ cup tie against Manchester City is due to be played on 12 January, which will likely result in the currently scheduled trip to the Dripping Pan to take on Lewes in the league on that date being rearranged.
Town: Negri, Mitchell, Boswell, Wearing, Barker, Robertson, Garrad, Peskett, Hughes, O’Brien (Fisher 85), Thomas. Unused: Hartley, King, Bryant, Williams, Addison. Att: 566