The Mariners came from behind to overcome a strong Arnold Eagles side as they registered their first away win of the campaign.
An Arnold Eagle’s early opener was cancelled out by Ray Swallow, before Beth Wharton found the back of the net late on to secure three points for Town.
Ben Challen made three changes to the side that put eight past Belper Town last time out, as Harriet Dalton joined the backline and Alisha Dejonge operated on the wing.
Mia Jovic made her black and white debut in between the sticks as a dual signing from Huddersfield Town Women.
Arnold Eagles took the lead inside ten minutes. Miscommunication in the Mariner’s defence allowed an Arnold attacker to nip in and head the ball into the back of the net.
Despite going a goal down, Town had plenty of opportunities as they searched for the equaliser.
A shot from Beth Wharton was parried away by the host keeper and Leah Wray was there for the follow up, but the Arnold Eagles’ shot-stopper managed to smother the ball.
Laura Flecknor struck an excellent effort from outside the box, but the Eagles’ keeper did incredibly well to get her hands to it and deny the Mariner’s midfielder.
Wharton had a chance to equalise just before the half an hour mark. An Eagles defender misjudged the ball and the striker was through on goal, but much to her frustration she struck the ball and it headed wide of the post.
Wray made a superb goal line clearance to stop the hosts from doubling their lead and Tow continued to pile on the pressure as they headed into the break still searching for a goal to level the score.
Town got the equaliser 15 minutes into the second-half. A short corner fell to the feet of Wharton who saw the ball back out to Olivia Kershaw. The defender’s first time cross met the head of Ray Swallow who headed home for her first goal in senior football.
The hosts were awarded a penalty as Dani Brighton bought down an Eagles’ player in the box. 16-year-old Jovic in net for Town dived in the direction of the oncoming ball and parried it away for a corner to deny the hosts from the spot.
The Mariners got a deserved winner five minutes before the 90, when a defence-splitting pass from Wray saw Wharton through on goal. The striker turned the Eagles defender inside out before slotting the ball past the keeper to secure all three points away from home.
The Mariners are next in action on Sunday when they travel to face Boston United Ladies in the first round of the County Women’s Cup at the Jakemans Community Stadium in a 2pm kick-off.
Town: Jovic, Dalton, Wray, Brighton, Kershaw, Thorpe, Emslie, Flecknor Wharton, Dejonge, Gray
Subs: Fawcett, Swallow, Welsh, Barker
