Ipswich Town Women went top of the league as they ran out 2-1 winners over Exeter City in Felixstowe this afternoon, thanks to goals from Sophie Peskett and Ella Rutherford.

Maisy Barker should have scored in the third minute of the game as the ball came to her following a great run from Peskett but, with the Exeter goalkeeper out of her net, Barker put her effort just wide of the post.

It was a quick start from Town, as Lucy Watson played through Peskett in the fifth minute. She had just the keeper to beat, but it was well saved by Abbi Bond to deny the winger.

Exeter broke the deadlock in the 12th minute through Sophie Gillies. She got the wrong side of Megan Wearing and, from the edge of the area, her well-hit shot fired into the back of the net.

Town drew level in the 30th minute as Peskett received the ball on the edge of the area and her shot through a sea of bodies took a deflection on its way to the back of the net.

The referee duly brought the first half to a close. A good game with little to separate the sides.

The second half continued much the same. Both teams saw lots of the ball but no chances within the first 15 minutes of the half presented themselves to either side.

There was very little to shout about in the second half, with just a speculative effort from Lucy O’Brien in the 68th minute being the stand-out chance, but it flew well over the bar.

Then, in the 86th minute, Rutherford scored an absolute peach of a goal. A great turn from Peskett saw her play it to Rutherford. And from from 25-yards she struck the ball with her left foot and it flew into the bottom right corner.

The strike secured a huge win for the Tractor Girls, who go top of the league with two games in hand over Hashtag United.

Town Starting XI: Negri, Mitchell, Boswell (C), Wearing, Barker (Hughes,60), Robertson, Doe (Guyatt,81), Watson (Rutherford,60), O’Brien, Peskett (Fisher,87), Thomas (Addison,81)