Ipswich Town Women are in FAWNL Cup second-round action against holders Hashtag United at the Martello Ground, Felixstowe this afternoon (KO 2pm).

The Blues progressed to this stage of the competition by thrashing Norwich City 4-0 at Carrow Road in the determining round and then winning 3-1 at Exeter in round one.

Hashtag, who beat Newcastle United 2-1 in last year’s final, are currently top of the FAWNL Southern Premier Division with the third-placed Blues six points behind but with two games in hand and a better goal difference.

Town won the league fixture at the Martello Ground 2-0 in August with Lucy O’Brien (pictured) and Sophie Peskett scoring the goals.

“We’re really looking forward to it, we know it’s going to be a really exciting game,” manager Joe Sheehan said. “A team we’ve come across previously and have had a really good start to the season.

“It’s a break from the league, a chance for us to play against a team that are the holders of the competition.

“They’ve taken this competition really seriously previously and been rewarded by winning the competition.

“They’re going to be a good team, they’ve started the season really well and I think it promises to be a really exciting encounter.”

Town have a generally clean bill of health but with summer signing Ella Rutherford having undergone minor surgery on a knee injury she had prior to joining the club which is hoped will have resolved the problem and won’t keep her out for too long.

Photo: ITFC

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