Town Women to face giants Man City in FA Cup after seeing off the Cherries

Ipswich Town Women will face Manchester City in the FA Cup Fourth Round following a tough battle against Bournemouth in Felixstowe this afternoon, with Town coming out on top 1-0.

The first chance of the game came in the 23rd minute when Lucy O'Brien played a ball over the top to Natasha Thomas, who you'd bank on putting the ball in the back of the net in a one-on-one with the keeper, but her scuffed shot went wide of the post.

Thomas again had a great opportunity one-on-one with the keeper in the 33rd minute, but her effort was well saved.

Natasha Thomas after failing to convert a one-on-one (Image: Ross Halls)

The Tractor Girls continued to knock on the door, with Summer Hughes getting into a good position, cutting the ball back to O'Brien whose effort was well blocked, and Leah Mitchell's follow-up went just over the bar.

In the 43rd minute, Sophie Peskett took aim from the edge of the area, hitting the crossbar, with the rebound falling to Thomas, who blasted the ball over the bar.

Just before the end of the first half, Town broke the deadlock when Kyra Robertson drove into the area laying off the ball back to Peskett, who took a touch before setting herself, finishing low into the bottom of corner.

Sophie Peskett made it 1-0 to Town just before the end of the half after great work from Kyra Robertson. (Image: Ross Halls)

The second half began much the same as the first, both teams defending well.

In the 53rd minute, there were calls for a Town penalty as O'Brien went down under a challenge from two Bournemouth players but the referee waved away calls.

It continued to be an even affair between the two sides, Town giving away a number of free kicks in dangerous positions but they were all defended well.

Megan Wearing heading the ball (Image: Ross Halls)

Peskett hit the bar again in the 76th minute after great work from Thomas to break free.

The final whistle went which means that Joe Sheehan's side will travel to Manchester to face Women's Super League side Manchester City, coming up against the likes of Chloe Kelly, Lauren Hemp and Khadija Shaw.

That game is due to be played on Sunday, January 12th - the same day that the men's side host Bristol Rovers in the third round of the FA Cup.

Town Starting XI: Negri, Mitchell, Boswell (C), Wearing, Barker, Robertson, Garrad, Peskett, Hughes, O'Brien (Fisher,85), Thomas

Unused subs: Hartley, King, Bryant, Williams, Addison

Attendance: 566