Northampton Town Women lost 2-1 at home to Sporting Khalsa in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands on Sunday afternoon.
Kim Farrow scored the Cobblers’ goal as they were narrowly defeated in front of 633 supporters at Sixfields Stadium, in celebration of International Women’s Day.
Both sides battled well in a competitive first half. Possession was even, but the visitors dominated the opening 20 minutes in terms of chances.
Leonie Joyce was played through on goal and denied by the diving Katie McLean, before the forward hooked Olivia Stubbs’ cross over from close range.
The Cobblers ‘keeper was called into action again when the ball fell kindly in the area to Lowri Walker, who forced her into a low save.
The hosts grew into the contest and threatened at the end of an excellent team move on the half-an-hour mark. Ruby Heselden, Jade Bell and Fay Noble were all involved before Laila Channell’s cross was punched away by Natalie Hall, who recovered to pounce on Alex Dicks’ shot on the turn.
Back-to-back Noble corners led to two opportunities a few minutes later. Bell swung in a cross from the first, and Dicks’ close-range header was blocked. Paige Ridley headed off target from the second set-piece.
There were chances at both ends late in the opening period, with Joyce chesting Stubbs’ cross towards goal from six yards and McLean pulling-off a one-handed save before collecting the forward’s follow-up attempt, and Dicks side-footing Bell’s square pass over from the penalty spot.
The Cobblers almost took the lead within a minute of a restart when Dicks came inches from reaching captain Zoe Boote’s cross, ‘keeper Natalie Hall was unable to deal with the loose ball and Channell and Bell both had efforts blocked at the far post.
Bell and Dicks linked-up again on the hour mark as the former laid the ball off to the latter on the edge, and her strike looped onto the roof of the net.
Sporting Khalsa broke the deadlock against the run of play shortly afterwards when the ball was worked to Rebecca Hall 20 yards out, and the skipper curled home first-time.
The visitors began to control the game, and McLean was well-positioned to block Walker’s stab from Stubbs’ ball across the face of goal.
Stubbs was involved as her side doubled their advantage moments later, Layla Kennerley nodding the winger’s deep cross back across goal and into the far corner.
The Cobblers halved the deficit going into the final quarter-of-an-hour when Farrow swivelled on the ball in the area and picked her spot across goal.
However, the hosts were unable to find an equaliser despite pushing forwards late on.
Josh Oldfield and Liam Williams’ side travel to promotion-chasing Boldmere St. Michaels on Tuesday night.
Vicky Barrett scored the only goal of the game as the Cobblers earned all three points in the reverse fixture in October.
Cobblers: Katie McLean, Paige Ridley, Vicky Barrett, Ruby Heselden, Zoe Boote, TJ Warren, Kim Farrow, Fay Noble, Laila Channell, Alex Dicks, Jade Bell
Substitutes: Bianca Luttman, Georgia Gale, Mia Richards, Ona Ndefo, Paris Mallon
