City travelled away to Northampton for their second round FA Cup tie on a miserable day for football. High winds could have caused both teams problems throughout the game however, City worked hard at keeping balls on the floor throughout. City started fairly brightly but the tempo of the game soon dropped. With some good exchanges in midfield with Remi Allen, Rachel Williams and Hannah Barrett all getting involved early ensuring that Northants had no room to generate any kind of threatening attacks.

City had the best of the early exchanges with Allen going close but putting the ball over the bar from 5 yards out after a superb cross by Zira Handley. City were testing the Northants keeper but to no avail and it seemed like it was going to be an uphill struggle. Both Williams and Barrett could have also got on the score sheet as could City striker Vicky Lines but none found the back of the net. At the back City were caught in overplay at times but got out of it well and Lauren Impey especially launched some surging attacks.

The first goal of the game came from a superb corner by Leah Rawle which was poorly cleared and came back into the goal area hitting Jade Radburn to be directed in. The first half ended 1 - 0 to City.

Second half started much more like the City we know and some lovely passing play saw a much more determined City getting better shots off which the Keeper for Northants was doing well to keep out. Again Allen had 3 shots one of which was a superb effort from 25 yards but was matched by a brilliant save. City got their second from Radburn who had been forward involved in a set piece which broke down, she picked up the pieces outside the box turned and hit a high ball into the top corner to double City's lead. City became quite rampant and wouldn't let Northants come out of their half easily.

A corner from Remi Allen saw Rachel Williams get on the score sheet from a bullet header that was firstly saved by the keeper but the rebound came out to Williams again who headed home to make it 3.

City kept up the pressure and Northants tried to match the pace and battled well throughout but City managed to get another from Natasha Meade who struck well from distance to beat the keeper high in a similar fashion to City's second goal. A well deserved win, City now face Notts Forest in a clash of the East midlands on Sunday 2^nd December at Blaby Scout HQ, Winchester Road, Blaby 1.00pm Kick off.

Squad - Sophie Le Gros, Jade Radburn, Lauren Impey, Leah Rawle, Remi Allen (C), Rachel Williams, Hannah Barrett, Zira Handley, Natasha Meade, Vicky Lines, Courtney Sweetman-Kirk, Helen Shipman, Harriet Crofts, Laura Niblett.

Report By Rehanne Skinner