Grimsby Town Women and Sleaford Town Ladies both went into Sunday’s game with 100% records in the league and sitting 1st and 2nd in the table. However, it was the Mariners who came away with the three points after a close contest at Oasis Wintringham.

Sleaford started the brightest and scored after only 4 minutes. A ball played through cut the Grimsby defence apart with their striker beating Beth French in the Town goal to the ball to poke home.

This early set-back seemed to kick the Mariners into gear and by the 14th minute the scores were level. Laura Ibbert expertly found Emily Blyth with an outside of the foot pass and Emily played a simple ball into the middle for Beth Wharton who found the on-rushing Ellie Wilson and placed the ball into the far-left corner.

The rest of the half was a very even contest with both teams rarely troubling either goalkeeper and a lot of the battles being won and lost in the center of the field.

The second half saw more of the same, with the only chances for either team coming from efforts which were easy to deal with by both goalkeepers.

With 85 minutes on the clock though, it was stand-in captain Danielle Brighton who sent the Grimsby bench into raptures when she got the winner. Danielle latched on to Alisha DeJonge’s through-pass and passed the ball into the bottom left corner beyond the reach of the goalkeeper.

Sleaford were then reduced to 10 players on the 88th minute after a straight red card but continued to push for an equaliser. However, the full-time whistle blew after 98 minutes to give the Mariners their third straight victory in the league this season.

After the game, manager Hayley Cox said: “It was a tough performance today with the game in the balance for either team. To go 1-0 down was disappointing, we gifted them a goal but credit to the ladies for keep up their determination and motivation to come back the way they did against a team who will be battling with us for promotion.

“There were some outstanding performances throughout the team but Beth Wharton, with her work rate and assist to create the first goal was an exceptional pass, did well, and our second goal was well worked between Alisha DeJonge and stand-in captain Danielle Brighton.”

Grimsby Town Women are back in action next Sunday at home in the County Cup to Grimsby Borough. The game will be played at Oasis Wintringham, with a 2pm kick off.