Northampton Town Women won 2-1 at home to Peterborough United in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands on Thursday evening.
Vicky Barrett and Jade Bell scored the Cobblers’ goals as they leapfrogged their rivals in the table.
The contest started in the balance with Abbie Brewin firing narrowly across the face of goal for the hosts and Kim Farrow clearing Jess Evans’ header off the line at the other end.
Northampton began to seize control around the quarter-of-an-hour mark, Beth Artemiou forcing Neive Corry into a diving save with a low shot.
The Cobblers deservedly opened the scoring a few minutes later when Barrett beat the ‘keeper to captain Zoe Boote’s looped free-kick and headed into the empty net.
Bell doubled her side’s lead on the half-hour, racing past the last defender and slotting home with her left foot.
Just as their opponents had inside the opening 10 minutes, the hosts had an effort cleared off the line before the break as Sara Wait’s header from Farrow’s corner was denied by a defender.
Peterborough created more chances in the second half and pulled a goal back on the hour when skipper Keir Perkins found the roof of the net from the edge of the area.
Jo Daniel made a great save to deny an equaliser going into the final 10 minutes, claiming a close-range hook from a knock-down.
Her side stayed strong defensively in the time that remained to secure a hard-earned three points.
Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams’ side travel to Solihull Moors on Sunday.
Cobblers: Jo Daniel, Abbie Brewin (sub Keira Doig 90), Vicky Barrett, Sara Wait, Zoe Boote, Alex Dicks (sub Abbie Reboul 76), TJ Warren, Kim Farrow (sub Mia Richards 72), Fay Noble, Beth Artemiou (sub Rachael Mumford 58), Jade Bell
Sub not used: Holly Mayfield