Northampton Town Women lost 6-2 away to Sporting Khalsa in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands on Sunday afternoon.
Mia Richards and Kim Farrow scored the Cobblers’ goals as they returned to action with a defeat following a week without a fixture.
Joint-managers Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams made three changes to the side that lost to Lincoln City a fortnight ago, as Ruby Heselden, Richards and Farrow replaced Laila Channell, Beth Artemiou and Ona Ndefo in the starting line up.
One of those alterations, Farrow, linked-up with Jade Bell and sent her through on goal early on. However, she was denied by a last-ditch sliding challenge as she dribbled into the area.
The hosts opened the scoring soon after when Lowri Walker steered a header home at the near post.
Bianca Luttman played Bell in down the right channel as the Cobblers searched for an instant response, but she shot low across the face having driven towards goal.
The visitors did equalise on the quarter-of-an-hour mark as Heselden found Bell in the centre-circle, she set-up Richards and the forward placed past the onrushing Natalie Hall.
Olivia Stubbs reached a loose ball at the far post and swept wide from a great position within a minute of the restart, and she restored her side’s lead from a similar position midway through the first half despite strong Cobblers appeals for offside.
Katie McLean tipped Walker’s curled effort from the edge of the box onto the crossbar on the half-hour, but the ‘keeper was unable to prevent her opponent from doubling the advantage five minutes later when she tapped in the rebound after a header from a corner was blocked.
Sporting Khalsa added a fourth 10 minutes into the second half when a clearance was blocked and the ball fell kindly for substitute Sky Owen, who finished one-on-one.
They made it five the other side of the hour mark, Megan Cann heading a deep free-kick past McLean.
The Cobblers pulled a goal back within two minutes as Farrow burst through and lofted the ball over Hall and into the empty net.
The visitors were unable to reduce the deficit any further in the remaining half-an-hour, and sub Daisy Wickett smashed in a late sixth to rubber-stamp their defeat.
The Cobblers host league rivals Leek Town in the FAWNL Plate first round as they support Play Safe Weekend next week.
The tie will kick-off at 2pm at Fernie Fields Sports Ground. Tickets are available from ntfcdirect.co.uk and on the gate. Season tickets are NOT valid for this fixture.
Cobblers: Katie McLean, Paige Ridley, Bianca Luttman, Vicky Barrett, Ruby Heselden, Zoe Boote, Annie Villamartin, Fay Noble, Mia Richards, Kim Farrow, Jade Bell
Substitutes: TJ Warren, Laila Channell, Beth Artemiou, Alex Dicks, Ona Ndefo