Post Match Verdict – Bridgwater Utd (h)

Ross Halls

Sunday 24th October

Ipswich 1-0 Bridgwater Utd

Ipswich Line Up –

Quantrill, Boswell, Peake, Smith, Hughes, Horwood, Lafayette, King, Grey, Barratt, Biggs

Subs – Egan, Robertson, Thomas, O’Brien, L.Jackson

The most difficult game Town have faced in the league for a long time and have to hand it to Bridgwater, they come to win, where most come and happily take a draw.

The game went on for 90 minutes before the deadlock was broken but that wasn’t for lack of trying. Ipswich had the better chances but it just seemed the ball didn’t want to fall for them, or maybe nerves got the better of them in a game which held such significance at the top of the Southern Premier.

Maddie Biggs had the best chance in the second half when she went through on goal, chasing down a loose ball but her lob over the keeper didn’t drop in time to get under the cross bar.

Lucy O’Brien also come close when she slipped past her marker but her shot also went over the bar.

The deadlock finally got broken when Bonnie Horwood’s corner reached the far post and the head of Natasha Thomas, who nodded the ball home. A 395 crowd sent into celebration and no time for the opposition to reply. Town continue in top spot, with Southampton in 2nd but with 2 games in hand.

The Ups and Downs

Downside to the game was Anna Grey leaving the field with what looked like a muscle pull of some sort.

Ipswich were faced with an incredibly tough test, easily their toughest in a league game for many years, but they overcome it and still come away with 3 points. It’s these games we’ll look back on come the end of the season that prove to be vital points.

Player Of The Match

A tough game overall but Eloise King stood out for me. Playing in the holding midfield role instead of her usual number ten role, King was solid and wiped up anything that come near her. Alongside Lafayette at the start, but changed to Robertson early on, King protected the back lane so much that Bridgwater had to resort to the wings to get anywhere near the Town penalty area.

Officials

This would have been a decent test for the ref as Bridgwater were so physical. Not one we have seen much of previously, but had an ok game. There were a few decisions I thought were dubious but overall, I thought he had an ok game, considering how the opposition were throwing themselves about. Rating 6/10

Pre Match Preview – Bridgwater United

Following a week off last weekend for Ipswich Town, they return to action on Sunday as they host 3rd place Bridgwater in Felixstowe.

This will be Town’s biggest fixture in the league to date, since their promotion to the Southern Premier. The Somerset based side currently sit 4 points behind Ipswich in the league table, having played one more game than Joe Sheehan’s side. This weekend’s fixtures will have a big say in the chase for top stop as 2nd place Southampton face 5th placed Portsmouth on the same day.

Pre Match Chat

The news of Blue Wilson’s lengthy injury this week will be a big talking point. The Town Captain who sustained an injury against London Bees around a month ago, has obviously become more than first thought as she faces a long spell on the side-lines with an ACL injury.

Team Talk

Ipswich will be hoping that last weeks break has given players time to refresh. Sophie Peskett and Blue Wilson being the only known missing players currently.

The Opposition

Bridgwater currently sit 3rd in the league after 9 games and have the 4th best defensive record in the league, with only Southampton, Ipswich and Oxford bettering them. With 6 wins and only 2 losses in them 9 games, the Somerset based side will provide Town with their biggest test this season.

Bridgwater have a +18 goal difference as it stands, only letting in 5 goals this season, albeit 4 of them have been in away games. They are very much a home side, they have only scored 4 goals away from home in the league this season, with the other 19 all coming in home fixtures, where they have also only conceded once this campaign.

Chloe Gilroy and Sydney Hinchcliffe have 6 goals between them so far. Sydney, who has made 10 appearances this season, 8 of which were from the bench, so looks like they’ll be using her as an impact sub when legs start to become tired.

Much like Ipswich, it seems like Bridgwater spread their goals around the team, with their top scorers only on 3 each but scored 23 goals as a team so far.

Players To Watch

Zoe Barratt has clocked up 3 of our Player Of The Match awards this season, the Town Winger has been on fire and scoring goals for fun in the absence Anna Grey at the start of the season, and more recently Sophie Peskett. Bridgwater will need to limit her ball time if they want to at least keep a clean sheet on Sunday.

Predicted Line Up

Quantrill in goal

Boswell, who has been really impressive this season, alongside Peake, Smith and Hughes.

Lafayette and Horwood work brilliantly together in the holding roles. King Grey and Barratt playing ahead of them.

This bit takes some time to decide on with both players in goal scoring form. I’d like to say Tash and Biggs together more but the one up top seems more favourable to us. I’m going to say Thomas to start ahead of Biggsy this time.

Post Match Verdict – MK Dons (h)

Sunday 10th November

Ipswich Town 3-0 MK Dons

Ipswich Line up –

Quantrill, Boswell, Egan, Peake, Lafayette, King, Horwood, Robertson, Barratt, O’Brien, Thomas.

Subs – A.Jackson, Cooper, Hubbard, Hughes, Biggs

Ipswich Town returned to top spot in the Southern Premier this weekend following their 3-0 win over struggling MK Dons and Southampton’s game against Cardiff City being called off.

Joe Sheehan celebrated his 50th game in charge of Town this weekend and come away with another win as well as a clean sheet.

As ever, Ipswich hit the ground running from the start, giving the visitors a taste of what’s to come. Natasha Thomas posing an early threat that went just over the bar in the opening minute.

With Anna Grey and Sophie Peskett out of action, a chance for Lucy O’Brien to give us another glimpse of the quality she can provide. An Ipswich throw in and some passes so quick the defence were caught napping, the ball found it’s way to the far side of the box where an unmarked Lucy O’Brien had time and placed a composed finish past the on rushing keeper to put Ipswich ahead after just 5 minutes.

The visitors had their own plans and didn’t allow the early goal to dishearten them, pushing Town back and causing problems that the back line dealt with, but maintained the pressure in search of an equiliser.

Ipswich doubled their lead just after the 20min mark when Thomas rapidly closed down the defender before robbing possession, squaring the ball to Zoe Barratt who had an easy tap in.

Ipswich saw out the first half, despite soaking up some pressure from MK as they tried to get back into the game. Lucy Egan put on a top show, keeping her player off the ball and showed no nonsense when clearing the ball.

Former MK Dons players Lucy O’Brien and Zoe Barratt caused the MK full backs a constant headache, running at them with pace and using their close ball skills to skip past their attempts to stop them. The two youngsters certainly proved why Joe Sheehan made the right choice with his selection.

Summer Hughes had a chance to put the game to bed after 80 minutes, but the keeper pulled off a good save to deny the young full back who was covering on the right wing.

Ipswich finally made their pressure pay off when Eva Hubbard put Barratt through on goal who slotted the ball past the keeper to put the game to bed just before the full time whistle.

The Ups and Downs

A good show from Town despite some key players missing. The Tractor Girls returned to top spot in the Southern Premier with a big game against Bridgwater coming up next. Only downside is King going off with a knock but hopefully nothing serious.

Player Of The Match

Zoe Barratt is making a habit of putting on good shows this season and got her 3rd this weekend. She’s going to be hard to take out of the team when Peskett and Grey return from injury, given how much she impacts the game, not only scoring goals, but also her ball carrying and confidence is at an all time high. The young England player caused major problems for the MK defence, both on the wing and also cutting inside to create space for Thomas to run into.

A special mention to fellow England call up, Lucy O’Brien also who played a master game on Sunday and could have easily taken this POTM herself, but did get the match sponsors vote.

Officials

A regular Ref at the Goldstar, who again had a decent game. The only decision that would be questioned is a goalline scramble in the first half. Although relying on his linesman, it was difficult for either official to see if all the ball went over the line given the amount of players scrambling around it. Apart from that, an overall controlled show. 8/10

Pre Match Preview – MK Dons

The winning run continues for Town as they return to home turf and welcome a struggling MK Dons side to the Suffolk coast. Joe Sheehan’s side look to keep up their chase on division rivals Southampton as they push for top spot in the Southern Premier.

Pre Match Chat

Town fans will be optimistic ahead of this Sunday’s fixture, knowing their opponents are struggling for form, but also looking for a chance to boost their goal difference to help the team in their pursuit of Southampton.

There will be interest in the team sheet, and whether youngster Sarah Brasero-Carreira continues to be in Joe Sheehan’s thoughts following a good debut where she scored in Town’s 3-1 win at London Bees.

Team Talk

Blue Wilson continues her stint on the side lines along with Winger Sophie Peskett. Maria Boswell was taken off last week following a head injury and will be kept an eye on. Bonnie Horwood missed out last Sunday

The Opposition

Sunday’s visitors who currently sit 13th in the league, with only 2 points from their opening 6 games and still yet to win a game, have struggled to gain momentum this season. Although scoring 5 goals in 6, they have struggled to keep the ball out of their net conceding 16 goals already this campaign.

Cherrelle Albert currently has 2 goals in 3 games for MK alongside Jade Bell who has 2 in 6.

Players To Watch

Abbie Lafayette has been one of Town’s stand out players so far this season. The consistency shown in her performances, despite being played in multiple positions to cover injuries, has proved the Town Midfielder to be one of Joe’s star players.

Predicted Line Up

Sarah Quantrill will be wanting to return to keeping clean sheets, following missing out last week.

Boswell or Summer Hughes at Right Back, depending on Boswell’s fitness following last weeks injury. Peake and Smith in the middle and either Hubbard or Hughes at left back depending on Boswell.

Lafayette and Horwood in the midfield, sitting behind King, Grey and Barratt

Biggs up top, leading the line following her clinical form this season.

Post Match Verdict – London Bees (a)

Sunday 3rd October

London Bees 1-3 Ipswich Town

Ipswich Line Up –

Quantrill, Boswell, Peake, Egan, Hughes, Lafayette, Robertson, King, Barratt, Grey, Brasero-Carreira

Subs – L.Jackson, A.Jackson, Hubbard, Biggs, Thomas

It’s 7 wins from 7 in their Southern Premier debut season, as Joe Sheehan’s side continue to match Southampton for pace on points. A struggling Bees side that didn’t provide much threat to the Tractor Girls defence until a penalty was awarded late in the second half.

Town come out of the blocks early and caught the Bees still in the dressing room, going on the front foot from the off. It only took Ipswich 3 minutes to break the deadlock at The Hive, when Zoe Barratt’s cross got caught up in the wind and ended up in the net after the Bees keeper mishandled the ball. The Winger has been in brilliant form so far this season and continues her scoring form.

It’s fitting that we would use the London bus saying while playing in London. One comes along and a second quickly follows, Sarah Brasero-Carreira making her first senior start for the club and doubled Town’s lead after six minutes. Some brilliant team play found King to hold the ball up before laying it off for Sarah to smash home. Another Academy product making their mark and showing the pathway into the First Team.

Town continued to dominate the game, coming close to extending their lead when Zoe Barratt’s shot beat the keeper but could only find the post.

Right Back Maria Boswell took a hard hit and eventually had to go off, to replaced by Eva Hubbard due to a head injury following an akward landing.

The second half provided just as much dominance from the visitors and Paige Peake come close, as her headed effort from Lafayette’s corner just drifted wide of the far post.

Lafayette was a central figure in this game, not only winning the ball back in the middle of the park, but moving forward, the Town Midfielder showed her ability with some brilliant passes.

Town put the game to bed just after the hour mark when Zoe Barratt’s cross found King at the near post who never needs a second invitation to find the net.

London Bees got themselves back in the game when Lucy Egan was adjudged to have pushed the Bees attacker to the ground when defending a free kick. Sarah Quantrill went the right way but was just out of reach for the former Bees keeper.

Natasha Thomas nearly made it 4 just before the final whistle, when the Bees keeper scuffed her kick, the ball fell to Maddie Biggs who found Thomas and the keeper well off her line, Thomas lobbed the keeper but the ball goes agonisingly wide, with the assistance of the high winds.

The Ups and Downs

Another Academy talent showing the strong pathway the club has into the first team and also getting a goal to top the day off for her. Sarah BC is certainly a player to look out for over the coming season. It speaks volumes that Spain are wanting her to sign for them over England on the international stage as well.

The wind effected both sides in this game, goal kicks were a struggle with the ball being effected every time it left the ground. Prime example, Bees cleared the ball to the byline but ended up in the centre circle, just to give you an idea of just how windy it was!.

Player Of The Match

Abbie Lafayette put on a brilliant show at The Hive. Not only showing her defensive abilities but winning every tackle she could get close to, but moving forward, the Town midfielder showed just how much her ball distribution has improved this season. Playing balls out wide and into space, holding off opposition players in the process, Laffy was the key that unlocked the Bees defence and released the more attacking players into space.

Ipswich’s number 8 is quickly making a name for herself, and showing why she’s getting call ups for England camps.

Special mention also to Zoe Barratt who, again, put in another top performance, and on another day, could have got herself a Hat trick.

Officials

With the weather conditions the way they were, today was going to be a tricky one for the Referee. Not only the wind, but a heavy downpour making conditions for the players extra difficult. I thought there was a couple of decisions the Ref got wrong but nothing that really effected the match, more goal kicks that should have been corners but overall I think she had an ok game. Rating 6/10

Pre Match Preview – London Bees

Ipswich Town return to Southern Premier action this Sunday as the Tractor Girls head to North London side, London Bees. Two of the clubs new additions, Sarah Quantrill, Olivia Smith and Bonnie Horwood , return to their former stomping ground, as Joe Sheehan looks to beat the Bees for the second time in quick succession following their 1-0 win at Felixstowe in the League Cup a couple of weeks ago.

Ipswich find themselves back into 2nd place following Southampton’s win over the Bees last weekend. The league is shaping up to be a big fight between the two newly promoted sides, as Town and Southampton battle it out for the promotion play off spot.

Away Ground

The Hive, Camrose Ave, London, HA8 6AG

Home of Barnet FC, although we won’t be playing on the actual stadium pitch, the game will be played on one of the surrounding pitches that form the Footballing arena.

Plenty of on-site parking and free entry to the game!.

Pre Match Chat

Fans will be looking forward to returning to match action following a weeks break. Looking forward to two home games on the back of this weekends away trip, a chance to build on the momentum already set by Joe’s side.

Team Talk

Town will be without captain Blue Wilson who remains sidelined with an knee injury

The Opposition

London Bees are currently in, what can only be considered, as a major refurb following mass departures in the summer following the club’s relegation.

The London side currently find themselves in 9th place in the Southern premier with only 2 wins to their name from the opening 7 games. The Bees have also conceded the 3rd most amount of goals so far, with only bottom side Hounslow and 10th place Keynsham letting in more than them.

London Bees’s Nicole Jancey currently has 3 goals to her name from 6 games and will be looking to grow that this Sunday, as she hopes to turn the London sides fortunes following a slow start to the season.

Players To Watch

Zoe Barratt will be hoping to return to the side. Barratt has spent most of the season so far covering the left side in place of Anna Grey but can play on either side of the pitch. One of Town’s standout players so far this season, she will be wanting to keep her place in the side as she looks to become a permanent fixture in Joe Sheehan’s plans following her promotion from the Academy side.

Predicted Line-Up

Becoming a copy and paste job for Sarah Quantrill in this section.

A back four of Boswell, Peake, Smith and Hughes.

Lafayette and Horwood in the centre, sitting behind King, Barratt and Grey.

Joe must be having sleepless nights trying to pick between Biggs and Thomas this season, with both Strikers smashing in goals for fun. I think Biggs will get the nod this time round.

It’s a strong side, but Joe has lots of options available. With Lucy O’Brien also available and fellow youngster, Kyra Robertson. We have also heard that Sarah Brasero-Carriera has been training with the First Team this week. Could she be about to get her chance to impress Joe?.

Post match Verdict – Keynsham (h)

Credit – Ross Halls

Sunday August 19th

Ipswich Town 11-2 Keynsham

Ipswich Line Up –

Quantrill, Boswell, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Horwood, Lafayette, King, Grey, Peskett, Biggs

L. Jackson, A. Jackson, Thomas, Robertson, Smith

We thought we’d seen the back these big scores having moved up a league, but it seems Ipswich just love scoring goals!. Town now sit top of the Southern Premier, although having played a game more than Southampton who play next Sunday while Ipswich have a week off.

It didn’t even take Town long to break the deadlock. Maria Boswell has had a fine start to the season and continued to defensive headaches, her cross spilt by the keeper and Eloise King stabs the ball home to give Ipswich the lead after 10 minutes.

Only 4 minutes later she was at it again, turning her marker inside out, and placing the ball in the far corner, out of the keepers reach.

Anna Grey returned to the left wing and teamed up with her wing mate, Sophie Peskett to give Ipswich a 3-0 lead. Peskett makes her way into the area, skips around the keeper and squares the ball to Grey to tap home.

Did someone say London Busses?. Anna Grey went through on goal shortly after, rounded the keeper herself this time and tucked the ball away into an empty net to make it 4-0 after just half an hour.

Sophie Peskett is never far away in a goal glut game, and yet again she found herself on the score sheet. Eloise King this time turning provider as she went through on goal but instead of going alone, passing the ball to Peskett to smash home for 5-0 right on the Half Time whistle.

Maria Boswell has been one of the stars of the season so far, so when the ball fell to her in the box from a Lafayette corner, did we expect anything other than a goal? absolutely not!. A powerful shot from the Right Back fired the ball past the stranded keeper for number 6.

Number 7 arrived just seconds later, Sophie Peskett’s shot from inside the area took a deflection and found the back of the net for 7.

Only ten minutes of the second half gone and Joe Sheehan’s side were relentless!. Eloise King completed her Hat-trick with a powerful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Ipswich were yet to concede this season and were on course to keep that record, but a slip up in the Town defence allowed Keynsham to get a cheap goal. It didn’t stop there neither, Town were shaken and allowed the Bristol side to gain momentum. Finding themselves in the Ipswich half, a strike from 30 yards out found the top corner of Quantrill’s net. A beautiful goal that all in attendance had to applaud. It was one of them “if Messi scored that, it would be spoken about for years” goals.

Goal number nine arrived just after the hour mark when Thomas tried to find Biggs but the ball falls to King to get her fourth of the match, this time from close range.

Abbie Lafayette is our new ‘Bend It Like Beckham’. Corners have been brilliant this season, but her Free Kick on the 76th minute was even better. Finding herself with a dead ball on the right side of the pitch, whips it in, only for it to go all the way and into the keepers top corner, take a bow girl!.

With Biggy’s form this season, it would feel strange having a big scoreline and her not being involved. Eva Hubbard’s pin point cross finds the head of Maddie Biggs to nod home to give Ipswich number 11.

The Ups and Downs

Annoying to lose the clean sheet record, especially the way we did, but thinking about it, I’d much rather it happened in a game like this, than in a game against the likes of Southampton where the score would be much closer. Town will learn from it and work to improve on them, for sure.

Upside, 11 goals, a big boost to the goal difference and Joe Sheehan’s side now find themselves back top of the league, even if Southampton do have a game in hand. It proves how competitive we can be in this league.

Player Of The Match

Has to go to Miss Ipswich Town herself, Eloise King. Four goals to her name and an Assist!. a flawless display from the Town number ten having returned from an injury that limited her playing time so far in the new campaign. A future captain for sure, and great example for the likes of Lucy O’Brien to follow in her footsteps.

Officials

I like this Ref, a familiar face at the Goldstar, always puts in a good shift and very rarely gets things wrong. Controlled the game well and kept on top of any lively players. 8/10

Pre Match Preview – Keynsham

Ipswich returns to league action this Sunday as they welcome Keynsham to the Goldstar Ground on the Suffolk coast. Joe Sheehan’s side, who are still yet to concede a goal this season, return on the back of a 1-0 win over London Bees in last weeks League Cup game.

Pre Match Chat

There is lots of talk at the moment around the attendances at the Goldstar, with the last 3 of Town’s games topping their season-best totals. The current best stands at 311 from last weeks game, as the club look to push the 350 mark.

Team Talk

Ipswich will be without Lucy O’Brien, Zoe Barratt and Summer Hughes this week, as the Town youngsters are away on an England camp. Blue Wilson remains on the sidelines but progress is being made on the skippers return to action.

The Opposition

Keynsham was initially Ipswich’s opening game of the season, but the fixture was moved due to the Bristol-based side having logistical issues.

This Sunday’s opponents have struggled to get into the rhythm this season, finding themselves 12th in the league with only 1 win from their opening 5 games, losing the other 4. The Green Army have also conceded the most goals in the league with a total of 18 so far and only scoring 5 themselves.

It’s the team of the Kerry’s, with both Kerry Bartlett and Kerry Walklett both sitting on 2 goals each for the season so far. The names seem fitting for an Ant and Dec like double act.

Players To Watch

With in-form Zoe Barratt away on international camp, Anna Grey will be wanting to put her stamp back on the left-wing position. Barrett has been keeping her out a bit this season, so would expect Anna to be throwing her name into contention this Sunday.

Maddie Biggs and Natasha Thomas have been teaming up a fair bit this season with a 2 up top option being taken by Joe Sheehan. The pair have 7 goals between them from the opening 5 games and would expect that to grow more as both strikers look to fire Town back to the top of the league.

Predicted Line Up

I’d expect the team to revert back following last Sunday’s shake-up for the cup game.

Quantrill to return between the sticks

Boswell, who has been a standout player so far this season, alongside Peake, Smith and, naturally this would be Hubbard, but Joe has gone with Lafayette a couple of times instead.

This will depend on where Laffy plays, but Horwood with Lafayette or Robertson, depending on who plays left back.

Anna Grey on the left side, Peskett on the right with King in the middle.

Usually, this just goes to Tash, but with Maddie in the form she’s in, it makes it more difficult. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see Joe go with a 442 and play both of them, dropping King to CM instead of her usual number ten role, especially if Lafayette plays left-back.

Post Match Verdict – London Bees (h)

Sunday 12th September

Ipswich Town 1-0 London Bees

Ipswich line up –

Jackson (GK), Hubbard, Hughes, Egan, Cooper, Robertson, King, Barratt, Grey, Biggs, Thomas

Subs – A.Jackson, Peskett, Quantrill, Telford

Ipswich Town progress to the next round of the cup, following a 1-0 win over London Bees in Felixstowe. A game where Town dominated but struggled to make their chances count. The Tractor Girls were on the front foot from the off, retaining possession and control of the ball, and it didn’t take long for them to make an impact. Zoe Barratt proved too much for the Bess defence to handle and produced a cross that found Anna Grey but the ball was scooped over.

Maddie Biggs has been firing on all cylinders so far, and nearly got herself on the scoresheet again. Natasha Thomas lofted the ball into the area, Biggs made a brilliant first touch to take her marker out of the equation and, with her back to goal, hit the ball on the turn but it trickled wide at the far post. From live viewing, it looked like she didn’t catch it quite right, she was one on one with the keeper and she will be disappointed not to put it away.

Biggs was presented another chance shortly after, when Summer Hughes delivered a pin point cross to the far post but Biggs’s header goes wide.

Zoe Barratt has impressed this season and topped her week off with another goal, following the one she scored in a midweek Academy game against Arsenal. The young Winger skipped past two players before making her way inside from the right wing, switched the ball to her left foot and bent a beautiful shot into the far corner out of the keepers reach to give Joe Sheehan’s side the lead.

The second half included more chances for Town, but struggled to put them away. Bees nearly got their way back into the game, but Keeper Leonie Jackson made a superb save to tip the ball onto the cross bar and was lumped up before anymore danger could develop.

Zoe Barratt got herself involved again, teaming up with Summer Hughes down the right side of the pitch. Barratt skips past multiple opponents before playing Hughes in down the right wing, Summer skips inside and goes for goal but the ball goes narrowly over the bar.

Anna Grey caused trouble down the left side also, crossing low into the area, but Thomas couldn’t quite reach it to tap it home.

Barratt involved again as she goes for her second goal from distance but the ball skims the top of the net as it passes over the goal.

It’s unusual for our Full Backs to go for goal, but Eva Hubbard had other ideas. Not seeing an option to move forward, the Left Back took it upon herself to have a strike from range and very nearly succeeded, crashing against the post with the keeper beaten and King’s rebound found the stand behind the goal.

Zoe Barratt was determined to get her second goal but was this time denied by the keepers finger tips that just about pushed the ball over the goal.

Much like the Cardiff game, Town had the chances to see a bigger score but the ball just doesn’t seem to be falling into the right places. Joe Sheehan, after the game mentioned that it’s something they need to work on going forward.

The Ups and Downs

Leonie Jackson got her first start of the season between the sticks and made a brilliant save to deny London Bees in the second half. Academy prospect Leonie Telford made the bench for the first time, yet another young player coming through the ranks. Many see this cup as one we could win, so progressing will be a big positive for the players.

Player Of The Match

Zoe Barratt’s second one of the season. The young Winger is making big strides since her promotion to the First Team and giving the Town manager something to think about each week.

Zoe’s creative flair made numerous chances in this game, and her goal was brilliant. She showed great close ball control to skip past the two opposing players and cut inside to find space to shoot from. Bees Left Back couldn’t keep up with Barratt and no matter how often she tried to stick with her, Zoe found more open space to run into. Zoe teaming up with Summer Hughes down that side of the pitch was a joy to watch and gives us fans more to look forward to from 2 young talents.

Officials

I thought the officials in this game got everything correct, although the game didn’t really produce anything to cause the ref any issues. The game was fairly incident free with Town controlling the game start to finish. Rating 7/10

Pre Match Preview – London Bees

Ipswich Town take a break from League action this Sunday as they start their FAWNL Cup campaign at home to fellow Southern Premier side London Bees.

Town are yet to concede a goal this season, after their opening 5 games of the season. Many will be wanting to know just how serious Joe Sheehan is taking this cup this season, with Ipswich having past dealings on cup runs.

The League will obviously be seen as the main priority, but having the FA Cup alongside the FAWNL Cup, it will be interesting to see if Joe uses this competition to allow some youngsters game time and how they adapt to playing first team football.

Pre Match Chat

With the likes of Summer Hughes and Lucy O’Brien breaking into the Ipswich first team this season, many will be looking out for the team sheet to see if Joe Sheehan includes any other youngsters and decides to mix the team up a bit to give some of the regulars a rest.

Team Talk

Blue Wilson remains on the sideline with a knee injury. Eloise King was still carrying a Calf injury last week and remains to be seen if she will make the team this week.

The Opposition

The Bees have had a mixed start to the season, having scored as many goals as they have conceded and currently sitting 7th in the league table. The North London side started the season with back to back games with Keynsham, losing the away fixture 2-0 but then winning 5-1 in the reverse fixture the following week. Their other three fixtures are all teams Town have also played this season, a 1-0 win away to Hounslow, a 1-1 draw at home to Chichester and Selsey, and most recently, a 4-1 loss away to Cardiff City.

Nicole Jancey has started the season well for the Bees, scoring 3 goals in 4 games, with Lauren Heria on 2 in 5.

Players To Watch

I feel we may see some rotation in the squad this weekend and would have an eye on Lucy O’Brien. With Eloise King slowly returning from an injury, Lucy has been making strides in Joe Sheehan’s plans, helped by a superb goal away at Hounslow on the opening day and getting her second goal of the season last week at Chichester.

Another player who is pushing for a first team place is Sarah Brasero-Carreira. Another one of Town’s hottest prospects who also got herself on the scoresheet during the week for the Academy side in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal.

Predicted Line Up

This is a tricky one, with not knowing how Joe is approaching the cup.

Sarah Quantrill is still yet to concede a goal but think Joe may give Leonie Jackson a chance between the sticks for this one.

Maria Boswell has been one of the stand out players so far but think Summer Hughes may cover at Right Back on Sunday to allow Maria to have a rest. Cooper and Olivia Smith with Eva Hubbard in at Left Back.

Horwood and Kyra Robertson in the holding midfield roles, with Lucy O’Brien playing number ten and Barratt and Anna Grey running the wings.

Maddie Biggs has started the season in top form and think she will get the nod from Joe to lead the line and allow Thomas a rest.

Hoping to see Sarah BC given a chance this Sunday, even if off the bench. With Sarah, Lucy and Eloise all fighting for the number ten spot in the team, it’s fair to say Town have strength in depth coming through the Academy.