Town Women came from behind to beat Middlesbrough in League Cup
- Town progress into next round of League Cup
- Brace by Kate Mallin completed first-half comeback
- Ria Montgomery scored winner on 70th minute
Town booked their place in the last 16 of the League Cup after coming from behind in the FA Women’s National League Cup to beat Middlesbrough 3-2. Goals from Ria Montgomery and a first half brace from Kate Mallin earn Town their place in the next round.
The game got off to fast start, and Town found themselves behind with just six minutes played. A floated free-kick caught the Town defence flat footed and Boro’s Fliss Jones beat Bethan Davies to the ball to poke home for the game’s opening goal.
This only spurred Town on and they started to pile the pressure on, Britt Sanderson’s dangerous run was only halted by some brave last ditch defending in the Boro defence.
Two minutes later and Town thought they were level, with Laura Elford getting on the end of a ball through and winning a 50/50 with Rosie Todd in the Boro goal, but the referee adjudged that Elford fouled the ‘keeper and ruled the goal out.
10 minutes passed and Town found the back of the net once again. Mallin was slipped through one-on-one with the Boro ‘keeper and got Town back on level terms.
The game was turned on its head less than 10 minutes later.
Fletcher played the ball into Sanderson, who dinked the ball over the top of the defence. Sowerby did fantastically to control the bouncing ball, beating the defender before putting it on a plate for Mallin to tap in at the far post, grabbing her second of the game.
On the stroke of half-time Town could’ve had a third after Sanderson forced a fantastic jumping save from the Boro ‘keeper to tip the ball over the bar.
After half-time the game slowed as both teams tried to assert dominance, but with 20 minutes gone in the second-half, Boro drew level.
A handball in the Town defence was penalised and from the resulting free-kick, Elysia Boddy unleashed a ferocious shot from 25 yards out into the top corner leaving Davies reaching for the ball but unable to stop it nestling into the net.
Town quickly retook the lead slightly against the run of play, a ball over the top from Town falls to the feet of Mallin on the right wing. She drove towards goal and played the ball to Vicky Abbott who delivered a perfect delivery into the box, with Sowerby getting on the end of the cross.
Her header towards goal skimmed off the top of her head and, fortunately for Town, falls to the feet of Montgomery who poked home to seal Town’s place in the next round.
STARTING XI
33. Bethan Davies
3. Beth Ibbotson
4. Kate Mallin (SUB: 28. Brooke Marsden)
6. Lauren Griffiths
10. Laura Elford (SUB: 9. Ria Montgomery)
11. Brittany Sanderson (SUB: 7. Katie Stanley)
12. Autumn Housley (SUB: 2. Beth Stanfield)
14. Lucy Sowerby
15. Georgia Marshall
19. Paige Crossman
23. Serena Fletcher
Photos courtesty of Jess Hornby.
