Our Women’s First Team bowed out of the Lincolnshire FA County Women’s Cup at the quarter-final stage in a 3-0 defeat away at Lincoln City yesterday afternoon.

Despite controlling large parts of the game and having a chance to capitalise on the hosts going down to ten players in the second-half, it wasn’t enough to stage a comeback in the tie.

Following two postponements, Ben Challen’s side began 2025 on the road, coming up against a team two divisions higher for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

Debutant Ellie Gribbin started in between the sticks, with a backline of Olivia Kershaw, Chloe Thorpe, Sophie Gray and Holly Smith operating in front of her.

Captain Dani Brighton and Laura Flecknor sat in the midfield positions, with Lily Jacklin, Alisha Dejonge and Ray Swallow sitting behind Beth Wharton who started up top.

Town started off on the front foot and struck the woodwork inside five minutes through Kershaw who clipped the bar with a cross.

Another chance fell for the visitors when Beth Wharton laid the ball into Dejonge, but the number ten’s shot was deflected wide for a corner that headed straight into the hands of the Lincoln keeper.

Lincoln took the lead from a corner with almost 15 minutes on the clock as the ball was bumbled past Gribbin in goal.

Town’s top goalscorer Wharton fancied her chances following some great play out from the back and charged towards goal, but her effort glanced wide.

Dejonge struck a powerful shot which was frustratingly gathered by the Imps’ shot stopper before having another go on goal; her shot edging wide of the post.

A cross came into the box as the Mariners continued to put the pressure on the hosts. The ball evaded every red shirt in the area and fell to the feet of Lily Jacklin, but she couldn’t steer her effort goalwards, and the Mariners were a goal down at the break.

Lincoln extended their lead shortly after the restart with an unstoppable 30-yard strike that soared over the head of Gribbins in the Town net and followed up with a third when a short back pass fell nicely to a Lincoln forward who slotted the ball home.

Town were awarded a free-kick just inside the Lincoln half, with Dejonge taking aim, but the ball nestled comfortably in the hands of the Lincoln keeper.

Lincoln found themselves down to ten players following a straight red card, with 20 minutes of the second-half still to play, but the Mariners couldn’t capitalise on having an extra player.

The Mariners are next in action on Sunday when they travel to face Belper Town in the league with a 2pm kick-off.

Town: Gribbin, Brighton, Kershaw, Thorpe, Flecknor, Wharton, Dejonge, Jacklin, Smith, Gray, Swallow

Subs: Dalton, Barker, Emslie