Out but definitely not down.

Despite going out of the Vitality FA Cup quarter finals to a 'complex' West Ham side at Felixstowe's Goldstar Ground, Tractor Girls boss Joe Sheehan was full of praise and pride of his young team.

"I'm absolutely proud of them," said Sheehan. "We played against a really good team today.

"We competed and gave a really good account of ourselves against a national league side."

Sheehan was also pleased to see how his team had developed individually and as a collective after losing out to Manchester City two season ago.

"It was always going to be exciting to see how we have grown in those two years, and many of those that played then played today, even though they are two years older, our right back is still only 17 and Lucy O'Brien has only just turned 18.

"It was interesting to see where we are at and wanted to give to a real go. I'm really pleased with what we did and how we went about things although it was apparent from the work our midfield three had to do how challenging that was, especially with West Ham's complex strategy.

"They played some really good stuff and caused us problems but we tweaked things to cope. West lane were the better team and deserved to win today.

"I'm disappointed because I know we can play better with the ball but even though they were always in control it never going to be five or six against.

"We were strong, the back five did well, we competed well won corners and free kicks. but I know we are better with the ball and are capable of more, which we did not do today and we need to look at what that was."

A Lisa Evans strike on the half hour was the only effort that could beat Sarah Quantrill in the Ipswich Town goal as the Women's Super League side struggled to totally dominate the battling Blues who play two divisions below them.

Quantrill made half a dozen fine saves to keep the Hammers at bay, with a tip onto the cross bar from a close range Lucy Parker effort the pick of the bunch.

The dogged defending, from front to back, and determined performance from the tier three side won them even more fans and they were roundly applauded by the 2,000 capacity crowd as the girls did a lap of appreciation around the Goldstar Ground.

"The appetite and support we get is incredible, we usually play in front of 600 or so, so we know the support is there and we hope we gave a good account of ourselves to those new supporters that came today.

"Hopefully, they proud of what they saw and will come back and support us going forward."

As cliched as it sounds, the Tractor Girls will now focus of finishing top of the National League Southern Premier Division, and then winning a play-off game against their northern division counterparts..

Sheehan's side have lost just once in the league netting 62 goals, but there is a danger they will miss out on promotion to either Oxford or Southampton, if they slip up in there remaining six matches, with five of them coming up at their Felixstowe home.

"We will take the positives from this and with six games to go we aim to get where we want to be," said Sheehan. "It is difficult enough fending off Oxford and Southampton without then having gone off game against a northern side.

Ipswich gave a debut to Mexican international Silvana Flores who has signed until the end of the season.

"I know Silvana well, "said Sheehan. "She can play deep, she can play higher and I'm pleased she got some minutes today because when she is up to speed she can make a difference for us."

The Tractor Girls now play Plymouth Argyle, Southampton (again) Chichester & Selsey, London Bees and Oxford United at home over the next five Sundays.

Entrance at the turnstile at Felixstowe's Goldstar Ground on the day.

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