Close Friends to Compete in Women’s FA Cup Match

This weekend, two close friends will face each other when their respective teams compete in the Women’s FA Cup. Sophie Peskett and Holly Turner were teammates at Ipswich Town until Turner’s departure in the summer to rejoin her previous club, Hashtag United. Both clubs are currently vying for promotion, and both players are contenders for their division’s golden boot award, recognizing the leading goalscorer. Turner stated, “We speak every week. She knows I’m in her corner regardless, but we’re both going to want to win on Sunday.” The Blues currently lead the Southern Premier Division, holding an equal number of points with Hashtag. The Tractor Girls have had an impressive season, remaining undefeated in league play and netting 47 goals across 10 matches. A notable achievement was their 12-0 victory over MK Dons in the cup’s first round. Winger Peskett, aged 22, has been a key contributor, scoring 14 goals and providing four assists. She commented, “I’m really happy, but there is more to come. We’re unbeaten in the league, and want to keep that momentum going.” Town initiated the rivalry with Hashtag this year by securing a 2-0 league victory. Hashtag retaliated last month with a 1-0 win in the League Cup. “We’ve played Hashtag a few times this year. We know what we’re going to get. It’s a battle and a fight. We want to play pretty football but sometimes, you have two teams scrap, and see who comes out on top.” Town has previously experienced successful FA Cup campaigns, encountering Super League opponents such as West Ham and Manchester City, and advanced to the quarter-finals in 2022. Peskett remarked, “The FA Cup has given me some really special moments.” She added, “We played Man City, which was an amazing experience as a 16-year-old to play against Lauren Hemp and Keira Walsh.” The women’s team for Hashtag United was established in 2020 after merging with AFC Basildon. Like Ipswich, they have also achieved promotions and had their own successful cup runs. During the summer, Hashtag reacquired Turner from Ipswich. Since her return, she has scored 13 goals and provided two assists. She stated, “I really enjoyed Ipswich. I loved the group, but I wanted to play. It was a mutual decision, and I knew Hashtag was the place where I can come back and prove myself again.” Turner further commented, “I feel like I’m home. I have a chip on my shoulder and I’ve got a point to prove.” Hashtag defeated Wroxham 6-0 in the first round, subsequently drawing Ipswich for the second round. Turner added, “Everyone loves the FA Cup. It brings big excitement. We want a good cup run, like we have before, get past Ipswich and get an exciting draw.” Despite Turner’s return to Essex, the two individuals maintain a close relationship. Turner shared, “I love Pesk. We bonded straight away, she’s a great character.” “We’ve got a good battle for top scorer. If I come second to her, I’ll have had a good season.” Peskett then added, “Every game, I text her to say good luck. On the sly, I’m thinking ‘I don’t want her to get more goals than me!’ When we come up against her, I hope I come out on top.” For news from the East of England, follow BBC Beds, Herts & Bucks, BBC Cambridgeshire, BBC Essex, BBC Norfolk, BBC Northamptonshire, or BBC Suffolk on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.