Oxford United Women enjoyed their best win of the season this afternoon when they became the first team to beat leaders Ipswich Town in the National League this season.

Goals from top scorer Beth Lumsden, Daisy McLachlan and Sophie Baker gave the U’s a convincing 3-1 win at Court Place Farm to keep them hot on the heels of their previously unbeaten visitors.

The U’s got off to a perfect start when they took the lead after just five minutes through Lumsden and were two goals up at the break when McClachlan punished a defensive mistake with a drive from the edge of the box.

Knowing that Ipswich would come at them after the break United got the second half off to a perfect start when Baker was fastest to react to a loose ball after a good save from the visiting keeper, and United then showed tremendous determination until Sarah Brasero-Carreira gave Ipswich renewed hope with 15 minutes to go.

However the U’s, unbeaten at home in 2021, were not to be denied a famous win: scoring as many goals in 90 minutes as Ipswich had previously conceded all season.

Manager Liam Gilbert told us

“I am so proud of the players. We worked extremely hard in the build up, we knew the way we wanted to play and I thought we showed real character. We played some good football, we always do that, but we were clinical and the result makes things really interesting now for the second half of the season.”