Our Women’s side’s eight-game unbeaten run was put to an end by league leaders Gainsborough Trinity as the Holy Blues ran out 4-2 winners at Clee Fields yesterday afternoon.
The Mariners found themselves two goals down inside 15 minutes but managed to bring the score level before the break, through Abbie Emslie and Pariss Welsh.
The score remained a stalemate for a large period of the second-half, before the visitors from West Lincolnshire scored two goals to take the three points back to Gainsborough.
Ben Challen made just the one change to the side who put eight past Deeping Rangers in the Lincolnshire FA County Cup, with Chloe Gray returning in between the sticks, with Laura Flecknor returning to the matchday squad after a period on the sidelines.
Harriet Dalton made her 50th appearance in black and white, playing in a more advanced role to her usual right-back position; a change in role which has seen her flourish in recent games.
The visitors started off on the front foot and took the lead inside ten minutes, firing the ball into the roof of the net from close-range take an early lead.
The first chance created by the home side came when Chloe Thorpe played a brilliant ball into the feet of Dalton who was in a dangerous position in the final third, but she dragged the ball out wide and a Gainsborough defender was able to intercept the danger.
Minutes later, there was a penalty appeal for Town, as Beth Wharton was brought down inside the area, but the referee waved away the shouts for a spot kick.
Gainsborough doubled their lead soon after. Winger Grace Jones carried the ball with speed down the left-hand side and cut inside, before slotting the ball past Gray.
The visitors surged forward to find a third, but a brilliantly-timed challenge from Sophie Gray broke up the attack, before the defender came off the field in discomfort and was replaced by Lily Jacklin who was also making her 50th appearance in black and white.
Emslie was on target to close the gap just after the half hour mark, looping the ball over Sia Drewry in the visiting net from close-range.
Welsh then got herself on the scoresheet for the first time this season and as a Mariner, as she unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the box to bring us on level terms heading into half-time.
The best chance for Town in the second period of the game came when Wharton played an inviting ball into Emslie in front of goal following a brilliant passage of play into the final third. All that was needed from Emslie was a tap to place the ball into the back of the net, but instead, she sent the ball straight into the hands of Drewry.
Gray was called into action to make the best save of the game with the score still level. Gainsborough looked to be on target for their third, but the Grimsby shot-stopper did excellently to open her body and deny the Holy Blues.
Ben Challen made a couple of changes, brining on Rosie Barker in place of Harriet Dalton and Flecknor returned to action in place of goalscorer Welsh.
Gainsborough got their third from close-range, before extending the cushion to two goals when they spotted Gray off her line and sent a looping effort from distance into the back of the net to seal the three points.
The Mariners are next in action on Sunday when they make the short journey to the Bradley Development Centre to take on Grimsby Borough Ladies.
Town: C. Gray, Dalton, Wray, Brighton, Kershaw, Thorpe, Emslie, Wharton, Dejonge, S.Gray, Welsh
Subs: Flecknor, Jacklin, Fawcett, Barker, Clapham
