The Northampton Town Football and Education Programme Women’s squad have finished as runners-up in the National Football Youth League Women’s Cup.
The Cobblers suffered a narrow 2-1 defeat to NFYL South Premier Women rivals AFC Sudbury in the final at Sixfields Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Northampton opened the scoring inside three minutes. Kitty Crouch played a pass over the top of the defence, and Ellie Barker was brought down as she attempted to round the onrushing goalkeeper. Mia Richards stepped up to slot the resulting free-kick into the bottom corner.
AFC Sudbury came close to an equaliser when an attacker broke into the area on the quarter-of-an-hour mark, but Iona Smith made a one-on-one block at the near post.
Chances were few-and-far between in a physical opening 45 minutes, and the Cobblers were able to hold on to their narrow lead going into the break.
Their opponents were first to threaten after the interval when a curled effort from long range hit the outside of the post on the hour.
Most of the play was happening in the Cobblers half, but they managed to limit AFC Sudbury to rare sights of goal until a dipping shot from the edge of the box found the back of the net off the crossbar going into the last 20 minutes.
The contest became end-to-end after the equaliser, and AFC Sudbury took advantage. They turned the scoreline around when a drilled pass was controlled in the area and finished low.
The Cobblers were unable to find a late leveller, and their opponents secured the cup.
Cobblers: Iona Smith, Laila Channell, Afrika de Villiers, Maddie Carter, Georgia Gale, Mia Richards, Ruby Heselden, Cassidy Flynn, Ellie Barker, Keeley Jackson, Kitty Crouch
Substitutes: Mia Paradise, Phoebe Preston, Sophia Tennent, Lauren Hewitt
