Newmarket Town embark on winning run after Women’s FA Cup exit at hands of Bungay Town

Newmarket Town manager Kevin Parsons believes that his side’s exit from the Women’s FA Cup was the ‘jolt’ that kickstarted their ongoing winning run of form.

Since losing 2-0 at lower-league Bungay Town on September 22, the Jockeys have racked up six straight victories in all competitions – including five in the Eastern Region Women's Football League Division One North.

And Sunday’s clash with Wootton Blue Cross was the most convincing win of the campaign as Parsons’ team dished out a 7-1 hammering at the Tristel Stadium.

Parsons said: “The consistent availability of players has been one of the most important things for us – we haven’t always had that in past seasons.

“When we lost in the FA Cup that was a blow for everyone, but Bungay deserved to beat us on the day and we couldn’t have any complaints.

“All of the conversations we had as a group after that were about bouncing back quickly and it definitely gave us a jolt to go on the run we’re on.

“The performances have been at a good level and now we need to maintain those standards going forward.”

Five wins on the bounce in the league has moved Newmarket up to third in the table, eight points adrift of table-topping Harpenden Town with a game in hand. Time will tell if Newmarket go on to battle it out for the title, but Parsons, who recently took charge of the team for the 100th time, does have one particular target in mind.

“Every season you start out wanting to be at the top,” he added. “But the highest we’ve ever finished at this level is third, so can we do better than that? That’s our target.

“It’s a tough league, especially after Harpenden and Dunstable were relegated into it last season.

“If we keep winning who knows where it will take us, but we’re taking things game by game.”

One player that has particularly caught the eye this term is Millie Docking.

The forward, who is on loan at Newmarket from Cambridge United, took her goal tally for the season to 12 in as many appearances with a brace against Wootton.

Parsons said: “We’ve got a very close relationship with Cambridge United and Darren Marjoram (manager).

“Darren made contact in the summer and told me he’d got a player that he wanted to loan to us that he felt would be an ideal fit.

“It turned out to be Millie and she’s been a breath of fresh air. She’s always in the right place, she’s a good finisher and she’s also intelligent on the ball with great vision.

“We’re really fortunate to have her as part of the group.”

Holly Corley (2), Bethany Seymour (2) and Antonia Smith also scored for Newmarket, who are without a game this weekend.