Town Women produced a ruthless attacking performance to secure an emphatic 6-0 victory over Belper Town Ladies, ending the afternoon eight points clear at the top with a game in hand.

The Mariners started brightly and threatened inside the opening minutes when Beth Wharton tested the Belper goalkeeper with an early effort that was comfortably held. Set pieces proved a recurring route to goal in the early stages, with Eden Pedersen playing a clever short free-kick to Liv Kershaw, whose cross was met by Abbie Emslie but drifted wide.

Leah Wray thought she had opened the scoring when she powered home a header from a corner, only for the offside flag to deny her. Pedersen later tried her luck from distance, while Milly North showed neat footwork to beat two defenders before firing narrowly off target.

Belper offered a reminder of their threat on the break midway through the half, but Jas Lacey was equal to the striker’s effort, making a strong save before Town cleared the resulting corner.

Town continued to press, and Wharton came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 27 minutes with a thunderous strike that crashed back off the crossbar. Further chances followed, including a Pedersen corner that found Fleck, but her header flew high and wide.

The breakthrough finally arrived on 38 minutes. North did superbly to create the opening, squaring the ball for Wharton to tap home and give the hosts a deserved lead.

Just three minutes later, North got the goal her performance warranted. Lining up an effort from range, her strike took a touch from the goalkeeper but still nestled into the corner to double Town’s advantage.

There was still time for a third before the interval. After North’s audacious overhead kick went wide, Laura Flecknor recycled possession back into the box. Wharton was unable to apply the finish, but Emslie was on hand to convert, with the goal awarded following a brief offside consultation. Town headed into the break firmly in control at 3-0 after a blistering spell in front of goal.

The Mariners picked up where they left off in the second half. North forced a save from a well-struck free-kick before seeing another effort fizz just over the bar. Changes saw Alicia Davis and Chloe Thorpe introduced as Town looked to maintain their intensity.

The fourth arrived on 66 minutes in fortuitous fashion for the hosts. The Belper goalkeeper spilled a cross under pressure, and North reacted quickest to smash the loose ball home.

Further substitutions brought fresh legs, and one of them made an immediate impact. Mia Westerman delivered a low cross into Wharton’s path, and the forward took a touch before finishing confidently to grab her second of the afternoon and Town’s fifth.

Wharton was not done there. With three minutes remaining, North threaded a perfectly weighted pass through the defence, allowing the striker to side-foot home her third and bring up her landmark 100th goal for Grimsby Town Women – a fitting moment for a true club legend.

It capped an accomplished all-round display from the Mariners, who combined defensive solidity with clinical finishing to claim another important three points.

FT: Grimsby Town Women 6-0 Belper Town Ladies

Another milestone was also celebrated on the afternoon as Leah Wray made her 100th appearance for Grimsby Town Women. A consistent and influential presence for the Mariners, Wray has been instrumental in the club’s progress and continues to lead by example with her commanding performances. Marking the occasion with another assured display at the heart of the action, it was a fitting way for the defender to reach a century of appearances in black and white.

Starting XI: Jasmine Lacey, Leah Wray, Sophie Gray (C) (61′ Thorpe), Tilly Burnett, Pariss Welsh (75′ Brighton), Eden Pedersen, Abbie Emslie (67′ Westerman), Milly North, Laura Flecknor (45′ Davis), Olivia Kershaw (67′ Dejonge), Beth Wharton

Subs: Chloe Thorpe, Dani Brighton, Alicia Davis, Alisha Dejonge, Mia Westerman

Goalscorers:

• Beth Wharton (sponsored by the Mariners Trust)
• Milly North (sponsored by A View From The Findus Podcast)
• Abbie Emslie (sponsored by Ocean Blue Logistics)

Supporters’ Player of the Match:

• Beth Wharton (sponsored by the Mariners Trust)

Opposition Player of the Match:

• Milly North (sponsored by A View From The Findus Podcast)

UTM