Ipswich W1s v Wimbledon 2s

It was a big match where Ipswich needed 3 points to keep their campaign alive and Wimbledon needed a win to clinch the title.

Ipswich started strongly and put early pressure on the Wimbledon defence. Player of the match Lizzy Wheelhouse was able to run at Wimbledon and work with Sarah Bamfield and Jess Logan to threaten the goal.

A quick breakaway by Wimbledon forced GK Ali Barham to take the ball at the top of the D, cleanly collected and cleared by the Ipswich defence. A further save soon after saw the ball rebound onto a Wimbledon foot. This was sadly overlooked and Wimbledon were able to play the ball into the goal with the Ipswich players left to ponder their luck.

Spurring Ipswich on, Captain Lucy Dunnett threaded a beautiful ball through to Wheelhouse, forcing a great save from the Wimbledon keeper to deny the goal.

Youngster Logan then had her chance when she won the ball high up the pitch to take on the keeper, only to be denied with another great save. Sophie Sexton soon had her turn with a powerful shot turned away by the on-form keeper with Sexton disappointed not to put the rebound in the back of the net.

Wimbledon took advantage of an overload following an attacking PC to rebound past Barham taking them 2-0 up. But Ipswich did not give up, Kat Blake soon forced another good save on an attacking PC and Ipswich were disappointed not to get on the end of a great cross by Sarah Daley.

Emily Wheaton made some game changing tackles to keep Ipswich in it, but Wimbledon capitalised on an attacking PC to slot the ball beyond Barham and Wheelhouse to make it 3.

Ipswich were not out of the game and it was only a matter of time before they scored. A cracking Dunnett reverse stick cross saw Bamfield in the perfect position to put the ball beyond the keeper and make the final score 3-1.

The loss sees Ipswich relegated from the Investec East Conference following two difficult seasons. With one game remaining against Bromley & Beckenham, the girls are excited to play with nothing to lose and will be looking to finish the season with their first win.