Our Women’s team got a well-deserved point at home in league action against Dunton and Broughton on Sunday.
Danielle Brighton’s 89th minute penalty saw the Mariners earn a point at home against the East Midland’s outfit as the captain’s spot-kick cancelled out the visitors second-half goal in what was seen as a ‘must-win’ game by manager Hayley Cox.
The hosts started off on the front foot, with Olivia Kershaw’s free-kick the first chance of the game. Her curling effort was an uncomfortable shot for the visiting keeper to deal with as she parried it away into the 18-yard box, but no black and white shirts were in a position to fire home a possible rebound.
The visitors grew into the game as the half continued; their strength and physicality proving difficult, especially in midfield battles.
A string of chances followed as the visitors were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box. Ellie Towers stepped up with confidence, but Mariner’s keeper Chloe Gray watched as the ball was fired off target.
The East Midlands outfit were adamant they had scored before the first-half came to a close, but Gray got a fingertip to the ball to tip it onto the crossbar and as it came back to her and looked like it had crossed the line, pounced on the ball to deny the visitors and keep the score level.
The Mariners came out a different side in the second half; more organised and pressing with a much higher line. Substitute Lily Jacklin on the left-wing looked the most likely to score, pressing the visiting keeper into making mistakes and always being in a position to receive the ball in a dangerous area.
Another Kershaw set-piece provided another opportunity for the Mariners, this time inside their own half. A perfectly timed ball was floated into the box, but unfortunately Dani Proud couldn’t make the connection with the ball to find the target.
It was the visitors who broke the deadlock with one of their only chances in the second-half. A dangerous free-kick was met by Emma Aspinal who calmly slotted home for the visitors to give them an advantage with just over a quarter of an hour left to play.
The Mariners couldn’t find a way through despite finding themselves in positions to do so, until the opportunity arose when the referee pointed to the penalty spot minutes before the full-time whistle was due to be blown.
Brighton, the Mariner’s captain, stepped up to take the spot-kick and confidently placed it into the roof of the net to net the equaliser. After a strong second-half performance that enabled them to try and turn the game around, the Mariners saw the game out and came away with a deserved point.
Next up for Town is a visit to Louth Football Club Ladies this Sunday, in the Marsh Sport County Women’s Plate in; a fixture that they will be heading into with confidence, with Louth sitting a couple of divisions below the Mariners.
Town: Chloe Gray, Olivia Kershaw, Leah Wray, Sophie Gray, Danie Proud, Chloe Wilkinson, Danielle Brighton, Evie Revell, Beth Wharton, Ellie Wilson, Alisha De Jonge
Subs: Jade Appell, Hermione Clapham, Lily Jacklin, Harriet Dalton
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