Our Women’s team kicked off their League Cup campaign yesterday with a 1-0 victory over Gainsborough Trinity at Roses Sports Ground to secure passage to the Second Round.
After suffering defeat in the league last weekend against Chesterfield, Hayley Butts made two changes to the team with Harriet Dalton and Evie Revell coming in to replace Darcie Proud and Lily Jacklin.
Gainsborough proved tough opposition and the hosts started the better of the two sides, forcing the first chance of the match with a speculative long-range strike that didn’t trouble Chloe Grey in Town’s goal.
Shortly after the half-hour mark, a brilliant Grimsby move that started from the back saw Eden Pedersen slide a lovely through ball between Gainsborough defenders but Beth Wharton could only fire straight at the keeper with her effort.
With proceedings scoreless at the break, the match was there for both teams to attack and it was the Mariners who struck the first blow shortly after the restart.
A delicious through ball from Harriet Dalton sent Wharton through and the striker made no mistake this time, slotting past Gainsborough’s keeper and into the back of the net to put Town in front.
The Mariners continued to push for a second with Lily Jacklin an ever-willing runner, keeping the pressure on the hosts’ backline and winning possession deep in their half. Shortly after the hour mark, her pressure told when she forced a mistake from Gainsborough’s defender but the keeper’s pressure on Jacklin rendered her opportunity a challenging one. Her effort hit the bar and back out into play with the hosts surviving.
Charlotte Goodwin made her first appearance for the Mariners in the 80th minute having missed most of pre-season with a back injury.
In the dying moments, Gainsborough pushed for a late equaliser that would take the game to extra time but the hosts couldn’t capitalise on this pressure with Grey making a vital save in the last couple of minutes to help the Mariners advance to the next round.
LINE UP Chloe Gray, Harriet Dalton, Olivia Kershaw, Sophie Gray, Leah Wray, Eden Pedersen, Danielle Brighton, Evie Revell, Pariss Welsh, Bethany Wharton, Alisha DeJonge
SUBSTITUTES Evie Revell, Jade Appells, Lily Jacklin.
UTM
