The Hatters Ladies suffered their first defeat in FA Women's National League Cup Group M as table-toppers Oxford recorded a third successive success with a 4-0 win and in doing so, prevented second-placed Town reaching the knockout stages.
Instead, the Hatters will move into the FA WNL Plate knockout competition after Oxford, who play a level above Town in the Southern Premier Division, controlled the game from the off and took the lead after just six minutes at the MGroup Stadium.
A driving run from Nicole Barrett down the wing picked out Emma Thompson, who poked the ball past Sarah Hudson.
Thompson was denied her second just minutes later after Hudson got down well to her near post to prevent a quick-fire double.
Just shy of the twenty-minute mark, the U’s netted a second. Barrett picked up her second assist of the afternoon, her delivery across the face of the goal was knocked past Hudson by Maisy Barker.
The Town had their first effort of the match 33 minutes in. A Lisa Milliken free-kick was cleared to the edge of the area where Kiyana Fryer collected the ball and floated it goalwards, but her effort was comfortably held by Beth Wookey.
Barrett, who had produced a fine display throughout the opening 40 minutes, was brought down in the area by Elizabeth Mulvaney and the hosts were awarded a penalty. Grace Palmer stepped up and coolly placed the ball into the top-left corner of Hudson’s net, giving the U’s a three-nil lead at the break.
Mulvaney’s long-range effort was the Ladies’ first attempt of the second half, but again failed to cause Wookey any real danger.
The Ladies held their own in the second half, but their resistance was broken with five to play. Adele Lindbæk slotted the ball past Hudson.
Up next for the Ladies is a trip to Bedford Town's Eyrie ground to take on Milton Keynes Women in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup third round qualifying.
Town XI: Hudson, Blacksley, Swarres (sub Sargeant 87), Mulvaney, Maddix (sub Gayle 77), Wilson (sub Bowman 77), Buttigieg, Milliken (sub Fensome 68), Fryer (sub Leighton 45), Lewis, Beaufort.
Unused subs: Melling.
Words: Owen Williams
Picture: Duncan Jack Photo
