Grimsby Town Women moved to the brink of the league title with an emphatic 5-0 victory away at Belper Town Ladies yesterday.

Town knew another three points would edge them closer to silverware, and a dominant second-half display ensured they returned to North East Lincolnshire firmly in control at the top of the table.

Bright Start Rewarded

Beth Wharton got the game underway and Town quickly looked to assert themselves, winning a couple of early corners inside the opening seven minutes.

Milly North was lively in the early exchanges, dancing past defenders on nine minutes before delivering a dangerous cross that just evaded Abbie Emslie in the middle.

The breakthrough arrived on 21 minutes. A well-weighted ball was played into the right channel for Kershaw to chase. She drove towards goal before squaring perfectly for Wharton to fire home and give Town a deserved lead.

There was an enforced change shortly after as Mia Westerman was replaced by Eden Pedersen on 28 minutes, but the substitute made an instant impact.

Instant Impact

With her very first touch of the game, Pedersen delivered a free-kick into the box. Wharton reacted quickest, heading the ball down before finishing clinically to double Town’s advantage on 29 minutes.

Pedersen nearly added a third herself before the break with a free-kick from 20 yards, but her effort was straight at the keeper.

It may not have been Town’s most fluent first-half performance of the season, but they went into the interval two goals to the good and in full control.

Second Half Control

The Mariners continued to press after the restart and added a third on 52 minutes. Kershaw was again the provider, delivering another excellent ball into the area. Emslie showed superb composure with her first touch before rifling home to make it 3-0.

Belper threatened briefly, flashing a dangerous cross into the box on 54 minutes, but the striker could not convert. Shortly after, goalkeeper Jas Lacey produced a fine save to preserve Town’s clean sheet.

Further changes followed as Chloe Thorpe entered the action, with Dani Brighton and Sophie Gray later replaced by Mia Westerman and Tilly Burnett.

Wharton Seals It In Style

Town’s fourth arrived on 75 minutes and it was a familiar story. Kershaw drove forward once more and unselfishly squared for Wharton to complete her hat-trick.

There was still time for more. North came close on 81 minutes after neat midfield interplay but dragged her effort wide.

Moments later, it was a carbon copy of the fourth goal – Kershaw racing down the right and delivering for Wharton to finish again and claim her fourth of the afternoon, sealing a comprehensive 5-0 victory.

On The Brink

The result sees Grimsby Town Women maintain their perfect league record, 12 wins from 12, with 59 goals scored and just eight conceded.

The Mariners now sit top of the table on 36 points and know that victory on Sunday would secure the league title.

Today’s Goal Scorers

• Beth Wharton x4 (Sponsored by Mariners Trust)

• Abbie Emslie (Sponsored by Ocean Blue Logistics)

Opposition Player of the Match: Tilly Burnett

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

Town now look ahead to Sunday with the title firmly in their sights.

Starting XI: Jasmine Lacey, Leah Wray, Sophie Gray (C) (71′ Burnett), Tilly Burnett (55′ Thorpe), Dani Brighton (71′ Westerman), Pariss Welsh, Abbie Emslie, Milly North, Mia Westerman (28′ Pedersen), Olivia Kershaw, Beth Wharton

Subs: Chloe Thorpe, Eden Pedersen

UTM