Town Women win HUGE six-pointer against relegation rivals - European Football

Ipswich Town Women picked up a huge three points against relegation rivals Portsmouth this afternoon, taking the team off the bottom of the league.

Town striker Rianna Dean broke the deadlock towards the end of an even first half and Sophie Peskett doubled Town’s lead and secured three points in the 81st minute.

A consolation goal for Portsmouth in the 96th minute was not enough to help the South Coast side avoid defeat.

Team news

Town had a very busy January transfer window, with nine players signing with the Tractor Girls.

All were named in the Town squad, with Lucy Ashworth-Clifford making her full debut and seven new signings featuring on the bench.

Town XI: Negri, Boswell (C), Peake, Wearing, Roe, Cavanagh, Mitchell (Meena,67), Peskett, Dean (Graham,61), Ashworth-Clifford (Baker,79), Thomas (Ademiluyi,67)

Pompey XI: Cray, Bull (C), Barker (Dahou, 78), Coan, Freeland (Pitman,74), Hornby, Shepherd (Nixon,61), Humphries (Peacock,78), Primmer, Estcourt, Collins

Town edge out tight half

It was an even first half with both sides having chances and going close.

Colette Cavanagh hit the crossbar with a speculative effort from range inside the first five minutes before Portsmouth had an effort cleared off the line from Bethan Roe on the back post.

Natasha Thomas had a headed effort in the 37th minute that went just over the bar from a corner, which was well won by Dean.

The breakthrough came in the 40th minute as Ashworth-Clifford delivered a cross which was fumbled by the Pompey keeper, and Dean was in the perfect position to tap into an empty net.

Town see out the victory

There were little in the way of chances for either side in the second half until Peskett made it two for Town in the 81st minute following some good work involving new signings Princess Ademiluyi and Malaika Meena.

The latter found Peskett, who struck the ball low beyond the Portsmouth keeper.

Portsmouth did pull one back in the 96th minute after a corner was delivered and a goalmouth scramble meant that Town were denied the clean sheet.

But they hung on and this win means Town are now off the bottom of the league with Portsmouth dropping to last place.

That’s three matches unbeaten for Town – David Wright is yet to be beaten in the league since taking over as Tractor Girls’ manager.