Grimsby Town Women’s historic Women’s FA Cup journey came to an end as Stockport County Women secured a 5-0 victory at Blundell Park in the first round proper.
The Mariners welcomed the Hatters to Blundell Park for the first time in the Club’s history at this stage of the competition, with 575 supporters in attendance to witness the occasion.
Imogen Porteous-Williams opened the scoring for the visitors midway through the first half, before Emily Bradshaw doubled their advantage just before the break.
Bradshaw added her second early in the second half, with Jessica Lightfoot making it four before Monika Stube completed the scoring in stoppage time.
Despite the result, the Mariners battled throughout the afternoon and can take pride in reaching the first round proper after an impressive run through the qualifying rounds.
Town made six changes to the side that beat Sleaford Town Rangers 2-0 last weekend. Jasmin Lacey started in goal behind a defence of Leah Wray, Sophie Gray, Scarlett Norman and Rowen Crawshaw.
Abbie Emslie, Beth Wharton, Alisha Dejonge and Milly North featured in midfield, with Brooke Mayall and Pariss Welsh leading the attack.
Alicia Davis, Demi Barai, Maisie Wybrant, Tilly Burnett, Issy Thompson and Brooke Howe were named among the substitutes.
FIRST HALF
Stockport started brightly and threatened inside the opening minutes, with Emily Bradshaw delivering from the left for Porteous-Williams, whose effort was gathered by Lacey.
The visitors continued to press, but Town defended well in the early stages. Mayall headed a Stockport delivery towards goal before Lacey collected, while Wray was on hand to clear a dangerous ball after Bradshaw looked to work her way into the penalty area.
North was caught by a strong challenge in the opening minute and required treatment, but the Mariners continued to look for opportunities going forward. North drove into the heart of the Hatters’ defence on 16 minutes, although her run was stopped before she could get a shot away.
Stockport captain Ellie Fletcher went close with a curling effort from distance on 24 minutes, before Lacey produced an excellent save two minutes later. Porteous-Williams broke through the middle of the Town defence and found herself one-on-one with the Mariners goalkeeper, but Lacey stood tall to deny her.
However, the visitors took the lead on 27 minutes. Following a corner, Town were unable to clear the ball and it fell to PORTEOUS-WILLIAMS, who poked it into the bottom corner from close range.
The Hatters almost added a second soon afterwards, but another effort from distance sailed narrowly over the bar.
Town responded with a promising attack on 32 minutes. Dejonge played Crawshaw into space down the flank and the defender reached the byline before pulling the ball back for Wharton, whose effort curled narrowly over the crossbar.
The Mariners continued to show the determination that had carried them through the qualifying rounds, but Stockport found a second goal just before half-time.
A well-weighted pass split the Town defence and BRADSHAW ran through before slotting the ball underneath Lacey to give the visitors a two-goal advantage.
Five minutes of added time were played, with Stockport unable to add to their lead before the break.
SECOND HALF
Town returned for the second half looking to find a way back into the contest, but Stockport extended their advantage on 56 minutes.
A delivery from the right-hand side found BRADSHAW in space in front of goal, and the forward finished into an empty net to claim her second of the afternoon.
The Hatters continued to threaten, with Porteous-Williams pulling a ball across the face of goal before Gray got in the way and Lacey gathered.
Stockport made it four on 69 minutes when LIGHTFOOT rifled the ball into the net from inside the Town penalty area.
The Mariners continued to battle, with Norman producing an important block to deny Porteous-Williams before Lacey dealt with the danger.
Town made a double substitution on 68 minutes, with Howe and Thompson replacing North and Dejonge, before Wybrant came on for Wray seven minutes later.
Norman then produced another crucial intervention on 73 minutes. After Lacey came out to challenge Lightfoot, the ball broke towards a Stockport player who looked to lift it into the unguarded net, but Norman cleared off the line to prevent a fifth.
Burnett replaced Norman on 82 minutes as the Mariners continued to work hard until the closing stages.
Lacey made another strong save in stoppage time to deny Bradshaw, but Stockport added a fifth in the fifth additional minute when STUBE rolled the ball into the net to complete the scoring.
The final whistle confirmed Town’s exit from the competition, but the afternoon remained a landmark occasion for the Mariners, who had reached the first round proper for the first time in the Club’s history.
A crowd of 575 attended the historic fixture at Blundell Park, providing fantastic support for the women’s team.
Town: Lacey, Wray (Wybrant, 75), Gray, Norman (Burnett, 82), Crawshaw, Emslie, Wharton, Dejonge (Thompson, 68), North (Howe, 68), Mayall, Welsh.
Subs not used: Davis, Barai.
UTM
