Grimsby Town Women produced a dominant display to round off their home campaign with a 5-1 victory over Lincoln United Women’s Development on Sunday afternoon at Clee Fields.

Already crowned league champions, the Mariners delivered another impressive performance in front of their supporters, with a Beth Wharton hat-trick, alongside goals from Abbie Emslie and Milly North, securing an eighth win from eight home games this season.

Town made the perfect start and took the lead inside the opening minutes. Liv Kershaw drove forward down the flank before threading a pass into the feet of Wharton, who made no mistake in finishing to put the hosts ahead.

Kershaw remained a constant threat early on and nearly doubled the advantage when her fierce strike forced the Lincoln goalkeeper into a smart save, palming the effort away.

The second goal soon followed though. Wharton broke the offside trap and showed great awareness to square the ball across the six-yard box, where Emslie arrived to slot home and make it 2-0.

Town were in full flow and added a spectacular third midway through the half. Leah Wray delivered a ball into the area which held up in the wind, but Wharton adjusted brilliantly to execute an audacious overhead kick that found the back of the net.

The Mariners continued to press and added a fourth before the break following a corner. The initial delivery was only half-cleared and North reacted quickest, hooking the ball over her shoulder and into the net to cap a dominant first-half display.

With Town holding a comfortable 4-0 lead at the interval, the hosts made a change at the break as Mia Westerman replaced Kershaw.

The second half began in similar fashion to the first, with Town immediately on the attack. Wharton came close to adding another but saw her effort crash against the crossbar before being gathered by the Lincoln goalkeeper.

Lincoln pulled a goal back shortly afterwards, but the visitors’ spirited response was unable to disrupt Town’s overall control of the contest.

Further substitutions followed as Tilly Burnett replaced Wray, before Alicia Davis came on for Laura Flecknor.

Wharton continued to threaten and was denied by the woodwork again just before the hour mark as Town pushed for another goal.

The fifth eventually arrived with just over 15 minutes remaining. In a scrappy passage of play inside the Lincoln penalty area, Wharton was on hand to finish and complete another hat-trick, restoring Town’s four-goal cushion.

Lincoln defended resolutely during the closing stages to limit further chances, while Eden Pedersen replaced Sophie Gray late on as the Mariners saw out the game comfortably.

The victory means Town finish their home campaign with a perfect record of eight wins from eight at Clee Fields, underlining the dominant form that has already secured the league title.

With one game remaining this season, the Mariners also look set to end the campaign with the league’s best defensive record and highest number of clean sheets, further evidence of a remarkable season for the champions.

Today’s Goal Scorers

• Abbie Emslie (sponsored by OceanBlue Logistics Limited)
• Milly North (sponsored by A View from the Findus podcast)
• Beth Wharton x3 (sponsored by the Mariners Trust)

Opposition Player of the Match: Abbie Emslie (sponsored by OceanBlue Logistics Limited)

Supporters’ Player of the Match: Beth Wharton x3 (sponsored by the Mariners Trust)

Starting XI: Jasmine Lacey, Leah Wray, Olivia Kershaw, Sophie Gray (C), Chloe Thorpe, Abbie Emslie, Dani Brighton, Beth Wharton, Laura Flecknor, Milly North, Pariss Welsh

Subs: Eden Pedersen, Alicia Davis, Mia Westerman, Tilly Burnett

UTM