Our Women’s First Team continued their positive pre-season preparations with a hard-fought win over Gainsborough Trinity at Clee Fields yesterday afternoon.

Goals from Milly North, Beth Wharton and Alicia Davis helped Ben Thomas’ side to victory over the fifth-tier side who earned promotion out of Town’s league at the end of the last campaign.

Town started off on the front foot, with Olivia Kershaw and Wharton combining on numerous occasions to create chances in front of goal, but nothing too troubling for the visiting shot-stopper.

North struck on the 20th minute to give the Mariners the lead. The youngster picked up the ball in midfield and drove goalwards, slotting the ball effortlessly into the back of the net to give us an early advantage.

Jasmine Lacey was called into action shortly after, to stop an effort from Gainsborough’s number 21, coming equal to the ball to deny the shot on goal.

Town ramped up the pressure as the half progressed, with Kershaw and Wharton again linking up in front of goal to put pressure on the visiting keeper, but it was Gainsborough who got an equaliser before the whistle blew for half-time.

Wharton restored our lead ten minutes into the restart. North and Wharton hunted down the Gainsborough back-line as a pair and dispossessed the opposing defender, allowing North to slip the ball through to our number nine who made no mistake for Town’s second of the afternoon.

Alicia Davis was on target to extend our lead to two goals. Leah Wray, in a more advanced role for the second-half, took the ball past the defender and put it on a plate for Davis.

Gainsborough pulled a goal back with over ten minutes to go, but a point blank save from Lacey in net in added time meant the result at the final whistle went in the Mariners’ favour.

Town: Jasmine Lacey, Olivia Kershaw, Leah Wray, Sophie Gray, Chloe Thorpe, Dani Brighton, Kloe Green, Abbie Emslie, Alicia Davis, Milly North, Beth Wharton

Subs: Tilly Burnett