The Mariners scored six goals as they registered their first League win of the 2024/25 campaign.

Braces from Beth Wharton and Alisha Dejonge as well as a goal from Ellie Wilson and an own goal saw Town cruise to a comfortable victory on home soil.

Head Coach Ben Challen made two changes to the team that bowed out of the FA Cup last weekend, bringing back Laura Flecknor and Parris Welsh who operated in the middle, with Harriet Dalton and Lily Jacklin taking their places on the bench.

It took the Mariners just three minutes to find the opener. The first corner of the game was swung in by Olivia Kershaw and it was met at the near post by a Sherwood defender who turned the ball into the back of her own net.

Town built the pressure from there and a marauding run from Beth Wharton saw Alisha Dejonge run onto to meet it, but her header went wide.

Town continued to build the pressure and this time it was Dejonge who played the ball into the box to find Wharton, but the Sherwood keeper nipped to claim it before the Town striker could get on the end of it.

Another Kershaw Corner caused issues for the visiting defence, but Dejonge’s header went wide of the post.

The Mariners doubled their lead and this time, Dejonge met an in-swinging Kershaw corner and made no mistake as she put the ball into the back of the net.

Minutes later Town had their third. Wharton was played through by Pariss Welsh and calmly slotted the ball past the Sherwood keeper and the Mariners headed into the break with a three-goal advantage.

The Mariners came out for the second-half and mounted the pressure on the visitors from the blow of the whistle.

A Kershaw free-kick headed over the bar and a Wharton shot headed wide as Ben Challen’s side searched for more opportunities on goal.

Wharton got her brace and the Mariners fourth as a rasping shot headed goalwards, and although the Sherwood shot-stopper got a hand to it, the power on the shot was too much and rippled the net as it nestled itself in the right-hand corner.

Wilson got her first goal of the season and although the Sherwood keeper was there to block her initial shot, the ball fell to her a second time and she slotted home with no mistake.

The Mariners sixth goal came minutes before the full-time whistle. Dejonge found herself in plenty of space with the ball and poked the ball past the keeper to round of an excellent performance in Black and White.

The Mariners are next in action as they host Belper Town Ladies in the first round of the League Cup.

Town: C. Gray, Wray, Brighton, Kershaw, Thorpe, Emslie, Flecknor, Wharton, Dejonge, S. Gray, Welsh

Subs: Dalton, Jacklin, Smith, Wilson, Barker