EAST MIDLANDS WOMEN’S REGIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP SECOND ROUND
Sunday January 9th, 1.30pm
Eslaforde Park
SLEAFORD TOWN LADIES 0
NORTHAMPTON TOWN WOMEN 7
Leah Cudone 20
Alex Dicks 40, 47, 55
Alex Bartlett 53
Chloe Martin 67
Georgia Tear 78
Cobblers: Izzy McDonald, Beth Cox, Sara Wait, Bianca Luttman, Abbie Reboul, Alex Bartlett, Fay Noble, Georgia Tear, Chloe Martin, Rachael St John Mosse, Leah Cudone
Substitutes: Jo Daniel, Beth Artemiou, Rachael Mumford, Abbie Brewin, Alex Dicks
Northampton Town began 2022 with a 7-0 win away to Sleaford Town in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Cup second round on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Dicks scored a hat-trick and Leah Cudone, Alex Bartlett, Chloe Martin and Georgia Tear scored the Cobblers’ other goals as they knocked out their opponents, who are mid-table in the league below.
Joint-managers Lou Barry and Josh Oldfield made five changes to the team that came from 2-0 down at half time to beat Oughtibridge War Memorial 4-2 last week.
Izzy McDonald, Sara Wait, Bartlett, Tear and Rachael St John Mosse were all named in the starting lineup.
The Cobblers dominated from the off and created their first clear chance after a quarter-of-an-hour when Abbie Reboul’s shot at the back post was pushed behind by the goalkeeper.
They opened the scoring a few minutes later, Cudone tapping in Reboul’s driven cross.
St John Mosse had two good opportunities to double the advantage soon after but her close range effort was saved and a lob landed on the roof of the net.
First half substitute Dicks made an instant impact, firing a low shot across goal which nestled in the bottom corner to add a second five minutes before the break.
It was three early in the second half when Dicks slotted home after being played through by Tear.
Captain Bartlett finished from half time substitute Abbie Brewin’s square ball and Dicks converted Cudone’s through pass to complete her hat-trick as the Cobblers took a five-goal lead before the hour.
They almost scored a sixth on the hour, but Bianca Luttman and substitute Beth Artemiou both hit the crossbar from long range within moments of each other.
The sixth did eventually come when Martin beat a defender in the box and placed an effort into the bottom corner.
Tear made it seven 10 minutes from time, firing a low shot into the back of the net from 20 yards.
Barry and Oldfield’s side travel to Bugbrooke St Michaels in the Northamptonshire FA Women’s Cup quarter final next week.
The Badgers are bottom of the Northamptonshire Women’s and Girls Macron Football League, the division that the Cobblers Development squad top as it stands.
SLEAFORD TOWN MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 0
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (0) 0
CORNERS: (0) 0
FOULS: (1) 3
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0
COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (8) 18
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (7) 17
CORNERS: (6) 10
FOULS: (0) 0
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (4) 5