Grimsby Town Women made history on Sunday as they reached the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup for the first time, beating Solihull Moors Women on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw.
Town created the better chances for much of the contest but fell behind early in the second half when a shot squirmed past Jasmin Lacey.
The Mariners looked to have been beaten in the closing stages, but Brooke Howe struck in the third minute of added time to force a shootout, before 16-year-old Brooke Mayall calmly converted the decisive penalty to send Town through.
First half
Town made a bright start at Studley Sports Centre, with Milly North firing wide inside two minutes.
The Mariners continued to threaten, with Rowen Crawshaw seeing an effort held after some excellent link-up play between Beth Wharton and North.
Abbie Emslie was then played through by Crawshaw on eight minutes, but her first-time effort flew over the bar.
Town continued to create openings, with North testing the goalkeeper again after cutting inside from the left, while Crawshaw also went close after intercepting a pass and driving forward.
The closest opportunity of the half came on 31 minutes when North’s clever chip sent Alisha Dejonge through on goal. She managed to get a toe to the ball beyond the goalkeeper, but a covering defender raced back to clear the danger.
Solihull also threatened, hitting the post with an effort, but Town had largely shaded the opening 45 minutes and went into the break level at 0-0.
Second half
Town continued to push after the restart, with Emslie seeing an effort from a short corner held by the Solihull goalkeeper before North tested her again from distance.
The hosts took the lead on 57 minutes when an effort squirmed past Lacey to put Solihull 1-0 ahead.
Town responded positively and went in search of an equaliser, with Wharton and North continuing to cause problems.
Wharton saw an effort saved after being played in by North, before another effort from the Town midfielder clipped the crossbar.
The Mariners then came agonisingly close again on 73 minutes when North produced some excellent work before setting up Wharton, whose shot thundered against the post.
Town continued to push in the closing stages, but time appeared to be running out.
Then, in the third minute of added time, the equaliser arrived.
Wharton saw her effort parried by the goalkeeper and Brooke Howe reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and send the tie to penalties.
There was still time for North to hit the crossbar again in the fifth minute of added time, but neither side could find a winner before the final whistle.
Penalties
Solihull converted their opening penalty, but Town showed tremendous composure from 12 yards.
The Mariners scored each of their first four spot-kicks, while the hosts missed their second and third attempts.
That left Brooke Mayall with the chance to send Town through.
The 16-year-old kept her cool to convert the decisive penalty and secure a historic place in the first round proper of the Women’s FA Cup.
Mayall, who has progressed through the Foundation’s ETC programme and is now part of the Shadow Scholarship, was also named the supporters’ Player of the Match.
The Mariners will now host Stockport County in the first round proper on Sunday 25th October.
Player of the Match
- Supporters’ Player of the Match: Brooke Mayall (sponsored by Chris Smith and James Bull)
Town: Jasmin Lacey, Leah Wray, Sophie Gray, Scarlett Norman, Rowen Crawshaw, Abbie Emslie, Milly North, Brooke Mayall, Parriss Welsh, Alisha Dejonge, Beth Wharton.
Subs: Maisie Wybrant, Tilly Burnett, Brooke Howe, Isobel Thompson.
UTM
