FA Women’s Premier League South East Cambridge United 2 Ipswich Town 2 Ipswich Town ladies were pegged back twice as they drew 2-2 with Cambridge United to stay unbeaten so far this season, writes Ross Halls.
Cassie Craddock put Town in front, in a match played at Mildenhall Town, against the run of play with a great strike into the top of the goal from just inside the area.
She has now scored four goals in three games – she netted a hat-trick in the Blues’ 8-1 win over Larkhall Athletic in the FA WPL Cup determining round last weekend – and her strike sent the Blues into half-time leading 1-0.
Cambridge equalised with 20 minutes of the second half gone. A fantastic run from Evie Gallop saw her shot parried by Town keeper Ellie Bird, but ex-Blue Amy Howlett reacted well to fire home the rebound.
Ipswich then retook the lead through an in-swinging corner from captain Amanda Crump, which took a touch on its way in at the far post to make it 2-1 to the Blues.
But Cambridge equalised late on as Nuala Wayne held the ball up well in the box before spinning and firing the ball high into the net to win her team a point.
The ladies will come out of the game feeling unfortunate not to get all three points, but it’s a improvement on recent results against the U’s, who crushed them 5-0 and 4-1 last season.
Goalscorer Craddock said: “The game was highly physical and the girls battled very hard all over the pitch – we were unfortunate not to get all three points.
“It’s great to finally be adding goals into my game – something that has been a real focus of mine for this season. Four goals in the last two games – I’ll take that!”
The result sees Ipswich go second in the FA Women’s Premier League South East Division One, after two wins and a draw, with Luton Town currently top of the league after three wins on the trot.
Up next for Ipswich is a home fixture against Leyton Orient at the Goldstar Ground on Sunday. Orient put nine past Enfield Town last weekend, and sit sixth in the league.
Town side: Bird, Blackwood, Hubbard, Fagg, Craddock, Thomas, Crump ©, Cossey, Henry (Campbell), Cage, Moore (S Welton). Subs not used: Downey, Ball
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