Northampton Town Women progressed to the Northamptonshire FA Women’s Cup final with a 3-1 win at home to Kettering Town on Sunday afternoon.
Alex Dicks scored a brace and Kim Farrow netted the Cobblers’ other goal as they secured a victory in the semi-finals.
Joint-managers Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams made three changes to the side that won away to Notts County a fortnight ago, as Laila Channell, Paris Mallon and Ona Ndefo replaced Ruby Heselden, Mia Richards and Dicks in the starting lineup.
The Cobblers controlled the contest, and two opportunities fell to Ndefo before the midpoint of the first half. The forward flicked captain Zoe Boote’s cross onto the roof of the net and lifted a shot over from a tight angle having sprinted in down the channel.
Fay Noble was heavily involved around the half-an-hour mark. The midfielder’s corner was headed towards goal by a defender and cleared off the line by a teammate, her curled free-kick from out wide hit the bar and her cross was headed wide by Farrow from a great position.
Dicks came off the bench at half-time and made a huge impact in the second period, forcing the ‘keeper into a near-post stop with an early drive. Farrow’s header from the resulting corner was blocked on the line.
The half-time substitute ran onto Ndefo’s lay-off and fired a low strike across goal and into the bottom corner to open the scoring less than a minute later.
The Cobblers continued to create promising chances, with Dicks being denied by the ‘keeper one-on-one, Ndefo having her close-range rebound blocked and Farrow hitting the top of the bar with a first-time effort from long range.
However, an attacker ran onto a long ball and poked past Katie McLean to equalise against the run of play on the hour.
Dicks quickly restored her side’s lead with her second goal, latching onto TJ Warren’s aerial pass and lofting the ball over the onrushing ‘keeper.
Farrow extended the advantage five minutes later, smashing a free-kick into the roof of the net after Jade Bell was on the receiving end of a crunching challenge 30 yards out.
The Cobblers forced a flurry of near-misses in the remaining 20 minutes, with a defender clearing Dicks’ low cross over her own bar and the ‘keeper pushing another dangerous ball in from the forward past the post before Laila Channell was able to finish at the back stick.
The scoreline remained 3-1, and the result was enough to secure the hosts’ place in the final.
Cobblers: Katie McLean, Laila Channell, Vicky Barrett, TJ Warren, Zoe Boote, Paris Mallon, Jess Evans, Kim Farrow, Fay Noble, Jade Bell, Ona Ndefo
Substitutes: Paige Ridley, Bianca Luttman, Ruby Heselden, Mia Richards, Alex Dicks