Lee Mitchell made three changes coming into the match following last week’s 10-0 win against Gainsborough Trinity, with Chyna McIntosh, Chantelle Robinson and Sinead Fletcher coming into the side.

 

City carved out the first chance inside the opening two minutes when Abi Ringrose fired over from a corner.

 

The Imps briefly found themselves down to 10 players when Rachael Howes was sin-binned.

 

In the 33rd minute a long ball was played over the top allowed Jade Bell to bear down on goal and coolly slot home to give Northampton the lead.

 

The home side doubled their lead three minutes later with Bell knocking the ball past goalkeeper Poppy Irvine and tapping  into an empty net.

 

The home side went down to 10 players just before the hour mark when Beth Artemiou was sent off for lashing out at Fletcher.

 

Mitchell made two changes after 67 minutes to try and impact the game, with Ella Bailey and Jodie Steadman both coming on in place of Howes and Fletcher.

 

City carved out their best chance of the game after 73 minutes when Maddi Green’s cross found Lucy Farrow, whose effort was cleared off the line

 

The Imps continued to worm hard until the final whistle, but a stubborn Northampton defence meant City fell to a hard-fought defeat.