Ipswich Town Women’s fairytale FA Cup journey came to an end at the hands of cup holders and WSL leaders Manchester City, as they suffered a 10-0 loss at the Academy Stadium.

Despite a spirited display from Joe Sheehan’s young side, hat-tricks from Pauline Bremer, Georgia Stanway and Jess Park hat-trick and a Laura Coombs strike condemned the Tractor Girls to defeat against their fully professional opponents.

Town had already won six matches to progress to this stage of the competition, following wins over Royston Town, Norwich, AFC Basildon, Chichester, Portsmouth and Huddersfield.

Opponents Manchester City were playing in just their second FA Cup fixture of the season, having beaten rivals Manchester United 3-2 in the previous round.

Ipswich manager Joe Sheehan celebrated his one-year anniversary in charge of the club on Saturday, while in the opposition dugout, ex-Blues loan winger Alan Mahon was taking charge of just his second Manchester City game after replacing former boss Nick Cushing, who departed the club for New York City, at the beginning of February.

Town made five changes from the side that beat Kent Football United a fortnight ago, reverting back to the team that made history at Huddersfield in the previous round. Nikita Runnacles, Paige Peake, Sophie Peskett, Abbie Lafayette and fourth round hero Maddie Biggs all returned to the starting XI.

Town’s team had an average age of 21, with 18-year-old midfielder Blue Wilson, who spent a season in the Manchester City U21 set-up prior to joining the Tractor Girls over the summer, one of seven teenagers named in the starting line-up.

Manchester City named a slightly understrength side, however it still included 10 full internationals, including England captain Steph Houghton, in addition to Keira Walsh, Demi Stokes and Georgia Stanway, who all starred for the Lionesses during their run to the World Cup semi-finals last summer.

Norwich academy product Lauren Hemp also started, with 18-year-old Jess Park the only player in the hosts’ line-up yet to be capped at senior international level - although the youngster was singled out by Cushing in his final press conference as one to watch for club and country over the coming years.

Fast starts have been a common theme throughout Town’s season so far, having taken the lead inside the opening three minutes during their last four outings. However, it was City who almost opened the scoring inside 90 seconds, as Hemp’s deflected cross was headed onto the bar by Pauline Bremer.

On 12, Houghton picked out Bremer in the Town box. The German international teed-up Jess Park, but her goal-bound effort was bravely headed over by Lucy Egan.

Although City had created the two clearest openings and had seen more of the ball during the first quarter of an hour, Town were more than holding their own. Wilson and Lafayette were harrying in midfield, winning the ball back for the Blues with a selection of crunching tackles.

In the 16th minute, Hemp scampered down the left wing and found Bremer, but the City striker’s shot was blocked. Town defended well, and from the resulting clearance, Anna Grey launched the Tractor Girls' first attack. She steamed through Georgia Stanway and won the Blues’ first corner of the game as her shot deflected off Houghton.

However, from the corner, City cleared and sent Laura Coombs away. The midfielder had too much pace for Wilson, raced into the box and slotted the ball past Nikita Runnacles to give the hosts the lead.

City should have made doubled their advantage two minutes later, but Runnacles produced a superb save, blocking Hemp’s strike from the inside of the area with her legs.

In the 25th minute, City did have their second. Hemp picked out Bremer, and City’s top scorer made no mistake this time, feinting to shoot before burying the ball into the bottom left corner.

The hosts grabbed a third on the half-hour mark, with Hemp again at the heart of the action. Her cross was cleared, but only as far as Park on the edge of the Town box. The forward rifled her shot into corner of the net.

On the stroke of half-time, a flowing City move saw Walsh release Janine Beckie down the Ipswich left. Her delivery was headed wide by Coombs.

The first period finished with City leading 3-0, despite a dogged Town performance. Although Runnacles had been forced into some smart saves, the Blues had not played badly by any means.

Peake, Egan and Lindsey Cooper were all holding firm at the back, making a selection of important blocks and interceptions, while Wilson, Lafayette and Amanda Crump had not shied away from a challenge in the middle of the park.

Town had refused to compromise their passing principles, attempting to play out from the back at any given opportunity and knocking the ball around well when in possession.

However, when City got into their groove, they were a very difficult side to stop. The majority of WSL sides have struggled to cope with their slick football this season, so it was no surprise that Town’s fourth tier side had been caused problems.

Grey had been Town’s standout performer at wing-back, demonstrating resilience defensively and producing Town’s two most promising moments of the half, with two darting runs down the left and a cheeky nutmeg through the legs of England international Stanway.

Both sides were unchanged for the second half, and City came close to making it four within the opening 30 seconds, but Bremer dragged her shot wide while being held off by Egan.

On 49, City did have their fourth. Runnacles could do nothing about Bremer’s fizzing drive into the top corner, the striker’s 17th goal of the season.

The lively Hemp was then replaced by Portuguese international Matilde Fidalgo.

Town were soaking up heavy City pressure as they struggled to get out of their own half. Cooper made a vital block to deny Bremer a hat-trick, before Stanway fired over from just outside the six-yard area.

On 54, Town’s top scorer Natasha Thomas was replaced by Eloise King, having run her heart out up front.

Stanway netted City’s fifth in the 57th minute, poking home Beckie’s perfect delivery from close range.

Bremer sealed her hat-trick in the 64th minute, completing a terrific Man City move with a dinked finish.

Moments later it was seven. Beckie raced onto Bremer’s flick on and picked out Stanway in the box, who found the back of the net.

Grey went into the book on 67 after bringing down Stanway on the edge of the area.

Runnacles produced a marvellous save as the clocked ticked towards the 70-minute mark, stretching to tip Coombs’ strike around the post.

Tyler Toland was replaced by Emma Bissel on 72, bringing City’s senior international head count down to a mere nine.

Jess Park scored her second of the game 13 minutes from time, calmly slotting home after Beckie’s delicate through ball.

Park completed her hat-trick in style, finding the top corner from distance in the 80th minute.

Grey called Karima Benameur into action with eight minutes remaining, flying down the left, before her cross-come-shot was held by the City keeper.

Sophie Peskett typified Town’s dogged display on 83 with a superb block on the edge of the area. Moments later, she was replaced by Nicole Pannifer following a tenacious performance at right wing-back. Tessa Wullaert came on for Jess Park, bringing City’s number of senior internationals back up to 10.

Stanway completed her hat-trick on 85 with a fabulous strike from range. On 89, the excellent Lafayette was replaced by Paige Wakefield.

The game finished 10-0 with Town having not disgraced themselves against a wonderful Manchester City side. They were spirited, dogged and resilient, while pinging the ball around on the deck when in possession.

Ultimately, City’s sheer quality took its toll, but Town’s young history makers can hold their heads up high, having gained unprecedented attention for women’s football in Ipswich.

They are a young, talented side with bags of potential and now have a real shot at promotion to the Southern Premier Division this season.

The Tractor Girls are back in action on Wednesday evening, as they travel to Plantation Park to face Norwich City in the final East Anglian derby of the season.

Ipswich Town: Runnacles, Egan, Cooper, Peake, Grey, Peskett (Pannifer), Wilson, Crump, Lafayette (Wakefield), Thomas (King) Biggs. Unused: Williamson, Hubbard, Cossey, Rossiter

Manchester City: Benameur, Stokes, Houghton, Beckie, Stanway, Walsh, Toland (Bissell), Hemp (Fidalgo) Park (Wullaert), Coombs, Bremer. Unused: Scott, Weir. Referee: Lucy Oliver. Attendance: 1313

Photo: ITFC Women/Ross Halls

Bert added 19:11 - Feb 16 Apologies ladies for the two idiot posters who have infected TWTD for some time; a reason why so few people bother nowadays.They should apologise and hang their heads in utter shame. The team has done incredibly well to get this far and done themselves and Ipswich Town proud.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:55 - Feb 16 A day.to remember for the ladies , bless em all, they did well to meet City, and flew the flag for Town . ,build on the experience, on to the next challenge, COYB
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dirtydingusmagee added 20:03 - Feb 16 Blueboy1981, good luck with your 11 plus if your school still have them .
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Dissboyitfc added 21:59 - Feb 16 Not an unexpected result in all fairness but some unexpected and unkind comments that were not called for in all fairness. I expect some of the girls will be upset after today's match with a long journey home and surely do not need to be reading these harsh comments. The reality is the girls will know the gulf between where they are and where their professional counterparts are. They won't need telling! The fa cup is for a lot of teams the dream of a run and playing a big side, the dream has come to an end! I just hope the girls regroup and thrash Norwich!

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liamlar76 added 22:13 - Feb 16 I rarely post on this forum but having seen those 2 idiots posting earlier I have to respond. I was at the game today with my 2 daughters, supporting the Ladies; I'm guessing Earman and Blueboy couldn't be bothered or are not old enough to drive. They tried their hearts out against a team of seasoned professionals; they never gave up, their heads never went down, and they did our club proud. At the end many of them were in tears sharing hugs with their families and fans. Remember; these are part timers against internationals, many of them promising teenagers just beginning their journeys in the game. Most importantly, my two daughters watched their efforts and they were inspired. The scoreline didn't matter; here was their Ladies team against one of the best in Europe, playing their socks off. Ultimately that to me is more important than any scoreline. In a weekend when suicide and media bullying is in the headlines, these two would do well to grow up, and remember why we love this beautiful game; to inspire the next generations and do remarkable things. Our Ladies did that today just by getting here... LADIES WE ARE ALL PROUD OF YOU!! NOW GO AND WIN THE LEAGUE!!

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stevieiriswattii added 22:36 - Feb 16 Well said Liam. Their performances have been a much needed bright spark over the last couple of months. It would be great if they got the reward of playing at Portman Road this season.
2

shakytown added 23:05 - Feb 16 What a couple of sad little people you are bb1981 and earman. These ladies have exceeded their wildest dreams and have played against some of the best in the world and all you sad little losers can do is deride them. Get a life kiddies.
1

harlingblue added 01:02 - Feb 17 A round just too far for our wonderful young Tractor Girls. Battling through numerous Cup rounds, making history on the way, to earn the right to play against some of the best full time players in the world, will be a great learning curve. You have done our Club proud, now go and win your League, to move up to the next ladder of the pyramid.
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Swailsey added 07:44 - Feb 17 Well said Liam.
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blue62 added 10:50 - Feb 17 Some so called fans comments on here are disgusting and good to see them down voted. There is a gulf in the teams, but those girls did amazingly well to get that far. Comment from the so called Dr Earhole and Blueboy, should be deleted.
1

Northstandveteran added 11:59 - Feb 17 I've been following the tractor girls, admittedly, only through this forum with interest this season. Such a huge shame about the sizeable defeat for these young ladies but city had a full team, bar one, of international players. I'm sure the excellent coaching staff at the club will pick up their moral and help them achieve promotion that they truly deserve. On a slightly different note, although I don't agree with one of TWTD's regular posters, it's perhaps time to stop the name calling, some of it really not nice. Perhaps this person was having a bad day and this was reflected in the post. I should imagine this person is regretting what he had typed yesterday, but I for one, look forward to his future posts and hope he continues to do so.

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GoingUp added 12:50 - Feb 17 To right no one deserves all that flack and everyone is entitled to make a mistake
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blues1 added 13:58 - Feb 17 Northstandveteran. While I think ur right about there being no need forcnane calling, in the case of blueboy1981, I think it's almost deserved. As a regular on here you should know that pretty much every one of his posts is of this nature. So no, hes not just having an off day. Have rarely seen him post a positive comment on here. And frankly, the terminology of his post on this is derogatory in itself, so I can understand the reaction hes received in return.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:47 - Feb 17 Man City have bought their way to success both on the men's side and on the women's. It's very satisfying to see that some chickens are now maybe coming home to roost. I won't shed a tear if the men are barred from Europe, or indeed if they lose their Premiership title from 2014. I don't know if the women's team will be affected, but the practice of excessive spending is the same there too. Our girls represent what grass roots football should be and have had some great results in getting this far based on pure passion and enthusiasm, with not a little skill too; it's important now that they don't see this match as the pinnacle of their achievements but use it as a platform for further progress. Well done girls, we're proud of you (at least most of us are)!

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blueboy1981 added 16:56 - Feb 17 Name calling abuse for having an opinion - shows the tone of such people. Hope the said people are proud of themselves - no doubt they are that.
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stevieiriswattii added 18:59 - Feb 17 You are quite right blueboy, everyone is entitled to their opinion. However, sometimes the more intelligent approach is not to express it, particularly when it is so out of kilter with the reality of the situation. Do you honestly think the girls would benefit from being told the scoreline was disgusting?
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