Sheehan and Hughes react to Town Women 4-1 victory

The Tractor Girls ran out 4-1 winners over the team in third, with goals from Summer Hughes, a brace from Lenna Gunning-Williams and a first Town goal for Elkie Bowyer.

Sheehan said: "I am really pleased.

"We started brilliantly, took the game to them straight from the off.

Lenna Gunning-Williams and Summer Hughes celebrating (Image: Ross Halls)

"Our opponents were reduced to 10 players midway through the first half, but I don't think it really changed the ascendancy and I felt the first goal was coming for us anyway.

"We got a deserved lead before half-time and we're disappointed to concede an equaliser, but we showed great character to get back in front instantly and get three more goals."

Ipswich Town Women 4-1 Rugby Borough Women: Match report

Three of Town's four goals were scored by substitutes, with Gunning-Williams scoring two, and Bowyer getting the fourth for Town.

Joe Sheehan said he was really pleased with his teams performance (Image: Ross Halls)

Sheehan said: "They brought a great energy to the game and Lenna (Gunning-Williams) had an immediate impact, and when Elkie (Bowyer) and Izzy (Bryant) came on, they also gave us good energy and it might have been what we needed.

"Rugby allowed us a large spell of possession the their half, and we needed to make sure we had some energy to come on and stay switched on in the game.

"They saw the game out really well."

Town left-back Summer Hughes scored Town's first goal of the game with a brilliant finish into the top corner.

Summer Hughes on the ball for Ipswich (Image: Ross Halls)

She said: "Collectively we put in a really good shift, especially because our last few results have been difficult to take.

"The score just reflects the effort that we put in and the work rate throughout the game, especially in the cold conditions."

On her goal, she added: "Honestly, I just needed to make sure I got over it, get a good contact and don't smash it.

"I was aiming for the top corner so it was good to see it fly into that area of the goal."

This result has helped the team close the gap on those above them, with games in hand over every team above them.

Sheehan continued: "We want to finish the season strong.

"We've not spent too much time thinking about where we're at in the league, who we're chasing and what we need.

"It's just to focus on training well and improve and put out at a team that is well prepared and ready to perform.

"We'll keep doing just that, we've done it today and we will reflect on this and build that into next week."

Sheehan recently celebrated five years as manager of the Tractor Girls, something he said he is "really proud" of.