By Maddie Reader
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Town’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup journey came to an end following a 3-0 defeat at Women’s Super League side Manchester City.
Jill Roord, Laura Coombes and Vivianna Miedema all scored to help the hosts into the fifth round of the competition.
City began the match on the front foot but were limited to few chances, with a looping header against the crossbar and an effort from Chloe Kelly into the side netting the closest they went to an early breakthrough.
The hosts scored the opener 20 minutes into the match when Rebecca Knaak won possession before playing the ball to Roord who arrowed an effort beyond the reach of Negri into the bottom left corner.
City kept the pressure on and almost doubled their lead before the break when Lily Murphy received the ball on the right before cutting infield and unleashing a powerful shot just over the bar.
Gareth Taylor’s side began the second half well and scored their second of the game in the 55th minute. Roord picked out Coombs in the centre whose first-time effort cannoned off the crossbar, with the forward on hand to latch onto the rebound and tap into an empty net.
Town continued to stand their ground and frustrated the WSL side during spells, with Coombs later denied by a strong save by Negri before Murphy’s cross from the right evaded the attackers.
Substitute Viv Meidema marked her return to the pitch with a goal in the 76th minute when Chloe Kelly slid a pass through to the Dutch forward who buried it across goal with her right foot.
In the 84th minute Town debutant Lucy Watson was played through on goal by Sophie Peskett but City’s defence managed make up the ground and turn her angled shot behind for a corner.
The full-time whistle blew after seven minutes of added time, with Town giving everything against an impressive top-tier outfit.
Town: Negri, Barker, Wearing, Boswell, Mitchell, Robertson, Garrad (King), Peskett (Fisher), O’Brien (Rutherford), Hughes (Addison), Thomas (Watson). Subs (not used): Hartley, Bryant.
Attendance: 2,081 (300 away).