Our Women’s team got their pre-season underway with a win yesterday as they beat Lincoln United Development 4-1 at home.
It was the first game led by interim Head Coach Ben Challen and coach Brian Noble, in which all 14 players in the matchday squad got minutes in the legs ahead of the 2024/25 campaign getting underway on the 2nd of September.
The Mariners created chances from the get-go, with Abbie Emslie firing a header over the bar and Beth Wharton having a fierce effort saved by the Lincoln United Development keeper.
The deadlock was broken just before the half an hour mark. Emslie made no mistake to follow-up an effort from Beth Wharton that had been parried away by the visiting keeper into her path.
The visitors had the first chance of the second half due to miscommunication, but Smith was there quickly to clear away the danger.
Lily Jacklin almost capitalised on a loose back pass to double Town’s lead, but she couldn’t quite stretch to connect with the ball.
The Mariners’ top goal-scorer Beth Wharton was on target for the second early in the second-half, when she capitalised on some hesitation in the Lincoln defence to double the Mariners’ lead.
The third goal followed ten minutes after and was the pick of the bunch. A free-kick was awarded 40 yards out from goal, and Olivia Kershaw stepped up and whipped it into the top corner.
More chances followed for Town, before Holly Smith scored the fourth goal of the afternoon. The right-back found herself upfront and proved a handful for the visiting defence as she slotted the ball home.
The Mariners conceded a late goal to deny Danielle Richardson a clean sheet, but the Mariners came away with a 4-1 win to carry into their next pre-season fixture.
On the game, Interim Head Coach Ben Challen said, “Overall it was a really positive performance. Brian and I challenged the players to try and work through the things we have worked on in training in terms of how we want them to play and as the game went on we started to see that happen more often so it was a pleasing performance.”
“Having four different goalscorers in pre-season is always a huge positive as well, as it allows you to know that you have plenty of players who can contribute goals across the course of the season.”
Town: Richardson, Dalton, Wray, Brighton, Kershaw, Thorpe, Jacklin, Flecknor, Wharton, Emslie, Swallow
Subs: Wilson, Barker, Smith, Fawcett
