The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Women’s squad lost 2-1 at home to Sunderland in the NFYL League Cup on Wednesday afternoon.
Charlie Cooper scored the Cobblers’ goal, their 41st in just five games so far this season.
Sunderland, who are top of the division above the Cobblers, threatened early on, but Vitality Women’s FA Cup shootout hero Isobel McDonald made a good one-on-one save.
The hosts responded on the quarter-of-an-hour mark when Cooper dragged an effort just wide.
McDonald smothered the ball at the front post to deny Sunderland again, and the Cobblers took the lead ten minutes before the break when Cooper tapped in at the far post from Alex Dicks’ cross-shot.
However, the visitors equalised from a direct free kick on the hour mark.
Dicks hit the bar with a long range lob as the Cobblers searched for a winner late on, but it was Sunderland who scored the vital goal less than a minute from time.
Josh Oldfield’s side return to NFYL South Championship Women action next week when they host Kent Football United.
The Cobblers won the reverse fixture 9-0 in September.
Cobblers: Isobel McDonald, Halle Blackwell, Sophie Rylance, Remi Martin, Dannii Warren, Daisy Brown, Emmi Carter, Beth Artemiou, Chloe Martin, Charlie Cooper, Alex Dicks
Substitutes: Celine Ray, Eleanor Banning, Ella Barber, Mollie McCabe, Sophie Taylor