Lenna Gunning-Williams netted twice and Summer Hughes and Elkie Bowyer once each as Ipswich Town Women beat 10-woman Rugby Borough 4-1 in the first ever game between the sides at the AGL Arena in Felixstowe this afternoon.

The Tractor Girls had gone three games without a victory, then had their last two matches postponed, so unusually hadn't won a game in more than a month since the 6-1 success at London Bees on January 21st.

The game was only 34 minutes old when the visitors, who are third in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division table, were reduced in number after Angelina Nixon was red-carded for a heavy challenge on Ruby Doe.

And three minutes later, the Blues went in front when Hughes slammed home Sophie Peskett’s cross at the far post.

The Tractor Girls went close to a second on 68 when Doe’s overhead kick struck the bar, but two minutes later Rugby levelled via Yasmin Mosby against the run of play.

But within a minute, sub Gunning-Williams came off the bench to restore the Town lead, running on to Natasha Thomas’s flick and beating the keeper.

Four minutes later, on-loan Tottenham forward Gunning-Williams made it 3-1, driving into the area and firing into the net at the near post.

And two minutes from time, Gunning-Williams turned provider when she pressured Rugby keeper Erin Foley into a mistake and squared for fellow Spurs loanee Bowyer, who shot through a crowd and into the net to claim her first Town goal.

The victory moves the Blues up to fifth in the table ahead of next Sunday’s trip to Plymouth Argyle with the game being played at Coach Road, Devon FA’s headquarters in Newton Abbot.

Town: Hartley, Mitchell, Boswell (c), Williams, Hughes, Robertson, Horwood, Peskett (Bryant 81), Doe (Gunning-Williams 71), O’Brien (Bowyer 81), Thomas. Att: 492.

Photo: Ross Halls

dangerous30 added 18:42 - Feb 25 Well done ladies
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slade1 added 07:01 - Feb 26 The system for promotion in the ladies league needs to change. Even winning the league doesn't give you promotion! You then have to play off against the northern league winners. So half way through any season if you have not got a chance of winning the league, your season is finished. There are no incentives at all. I feel sorry for the girls to be honest
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Mark added 07:30 - Feb 26 From this season the league winners do get promoted, fortunately that was changed. It is a pity we are nowhere near the leaders this season after being so close to promotion the last couple of seasons. Yesterday we only had three players on the subs bench. I hope we can add to the squad to challenge next season.
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slade1 added 09:34 - Feb 26 Its a pity there is no sort of playoffs to keep the season alive
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PhuketPete added 10:29 - Feb 26 It’s going to be tough to get promoted whilst there are only 12 teams in each division. Hopefully as ladies soccer matures there will be more scope to increase division sizes and thus allow more teams to move up and down. Noting at present only one team moves each way between the top and second tiers. At least the rule change this season allows two down from Champs to the N and S Premier divisions - that’s a start anyway

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baxterbasics added 15:10 - Feb 26 Enjoyed following their fortunes during the time the men's team was in the doldrums. I wonder if just a little more investment by the club in the women's team might go a long way? Having them play at PR soon will be a great boost.
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