Grimsby Town Women produced a superb performance on the road as they defeated a strong Chesterfield Women side 5–1, finishing the match with a ruthless attacking display and a flurry of late goals.
Town began brightly despite a brief delay to kick-off. Inside the opening minutes, Beth Wharton twice found space in behind the defence – first firing straight at the keeper, then seeing a powerful effort well held after a pinpoint pass from Eden Pedersen.
Moments later, Milly North caused early problems down the flank, her cross-shot flashing across goal with Abbie Emslie inches away from connecting. Town’s promising start continued as Liv Kershaw burst down the right, only for another dangerous delivery to evade a finishing touch.
Town Strike First
The breakthrough arrived on 15 minutes. A superb corner from Leah Wray picked out North, who nipped ahead of the keeper to guide home the opener and give Town a deserved 1-0 lead.
Town grew in confidence, with chances continuing to come. Kershaw rattled the crossbar from distance on 31 minutes, and Emslie forced a comfortable save shortly after. At the other end, Jasmine Lacey produced a smart stop from a Chesterfield free-kick to preserve the lead.
Right before the break, North was denied again, this time by the woodwork, after meeting a Kershaw corner with a thunderous header. Town went in at half-time narrowly ahead but fully deserving of their advantage.
Chesterfield Equalise, Town Respond
Chesterfield found a leveller on 56 minutes, capitalising on a rare moment of hesitation in the Town back line. But the response from Town was immediate and emphatic.
Just three minutes later, Dani Brighton threaded a perfectly weighted ball through to Alisha Dejonge, who bravely challenged the onrushing keeper and poked home to restore Town’s lead at 2-1.
Chesterfield pushed for another equaliser, but Lacey stood firm with a superb reaction save at close range.
North at the Double
Town extended their lead with 81 minutes played. Another inch-perfect ball over the top from Wray released North, who held off her defender and coolly picked her spot to claim her second of the afternoon, making it 3-1.
Late Goals Seal a Dominant Win
Town weren’t finished yet. Deep into stoppage time, Dejonge stung the palms of the keeper before a series of corners led to a dramatic finale.
In the 98th minute, Kershaw’s delivery caused chaos in the box and Demi Barai reacted quickest, smashing the ball home for 4-1.
Two minutes later, another Kershaw corner was met by Chloe Thorpe, whose header was bundled over the line by Barai for her second in as many minutes, rounding off a sensational 5-1 victory.
Full-Time: Chesterfield 1-5 Grimsby Town Women
A relentless finish capped an excellent team performance, with Town showing clinical edge, creativity, and resilience against tough opposition.
Best of luck to Chesterfield Women for the rest of the season.
Goalscorers
- Milly North x2 (sponsored by View From The Findus podcast)
- Alisha Dejonge
- Demi Barai x2 (sponsored by Major Plumbing & Heating)
Player Awards
- Opposition Player of the Match: Milly North
- Coaches’ Player of the Match: Eden Pedersen (sponsored by LHP)
Starting XI: Jasmine Lacey, Leah Wray, Sophie Gray (C) (75′ Thorpe), Chloe Thorpe (46′ Thomas), Eden Pederson, Dani Brighton, Milly North, Abbie Emslie (41′ Dejonge (90+2′ Emslie)), Olivia Kershaw, Demi Barai, Beth Wharton
Subs: Kloe Green, Betsy Thomas, Mia Westerman, Alisha Dejonge
UTM
