Northampton Town Women progressed to the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup with a 7-5 win at home to Coventry Sphinx on Sunday afternoon.
Jade Bell scored a hat-trick, Kim Farrow netted a brace whilst Vicky Barrett and Alex Dicks bagged the Cobblers’ other’ goals as they began their 2023-24 FA Cup campaign with a victory over their West Midlands Regional Women’s Football League Premier Division opponents.
Joint-managers Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams made one change to the side that beat Boldmere St. Michaels in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands a week-and-a-half ago, as Bianca Luttman replaced Ruby Heselden in the starting line up.
The visitors took an early lead as Millie Webb finished from Anaya O’Brien’s pass, but Farrow found the bottom corner with a low strike to equalise almost instantly.
Coventry Sphinx restored their advantage on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when O’Brien attacked a near-post corner and headed home from close range.
The visitors survived a goalmouth scramble five minutes later, but the Cobblers did draw level for the second time on the half-hour as Bell placed a shot over the onrushing Jade Taylor and into the back of the net.
Webb swept her second goal home from the edge of the box to put her side ahead for the third time a few minutes later, but Bell equalised again when she sprinted through on goal and doubled her tally with a composed finish five minutes before the break.
The Cobblers took the lead for the first time moments before the interval, Farrow clipping a shot over Taylor from Bell’s pass inside.
However, Poppy Johnston-Smith kept a deep cross alive and O’Brien tapped in her second at the far post to make it 4-4 early in the second half.
Barrett turned Mia Richards’ deep corner home to restore the Cobblers’ lead on the hour mark, and half-time substitute Dicks ran onto Katie McLean’s long ball, rounded Taylor and finished from a tight angle to double the advantage less than a minute later.
Coventry Sphinx were awarded a penalty which Amanda Whalley placed into the roof of the net to halve the deficit going into the latter stages, but Bell ran onto another McLean pass, dribbled past Taylor and passed into the empty net to complete her hat-trick and secure the Cobblers’ place in the first round proper.
Oldfield and Williams’ side host FAWNL Northern Premier Division side Derby County in the FAWNL Plate second round next week. Kick-off at Fernie Fields Sports Ground is at 2pm. Tickets are available from ntfcdirect.co.uk and on the gate. Season tickets are NOT valid for this fixture.
Cobblers: Katie McLean, Paige Ridley, TJ Warren, Vicky Barrett, Bianca Luttman, Zoe Boote, Annie Villamartin, Mia Richards, Fay Noble, Kim Farrow, Jade Bell
Substitutes: Holly Mayfield, Elloise Copson, Laila Channell, Rhea Patel, Alex Dicks