Grimsby Town Women’s FC won 5-0 away to Lincoln United in their first game of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League season.

The Mariners started with the same intensity they had shown throughout the pre-season and took the lead after only four minutes. A lung-bursting run down the left wing from Emily Blyth left space in the centre for her to cut the ball back to Kim Brown on the edge of the area, her shot was blocked falling into the path of Danielle Brighton who unleashed a left-footed half volley with the outside of the foot from 20 yards which swerved away from the goalkeeper and into the top left-hand corner of the goal.

Grimsby continued to drive forward and after some lovely interplay between Laura Ibbert, Kim Brown and Danielle Brighton in the middle, the ball was played through the lines of the defence onto the on-rushing Emily Blyth who cut back onto her right foot and hit a dipping shot which cannoned off the crossbar before being cleared to safety by the bombarded Lincoln defence.

A second was soon to come for the Mariners and it arrived after twenty minutes. Grimsby kept the ball patiently before Libbi Wright spotted an opening and played a crisp pass along the defensive line to right back Lisa Comey who dribbled forward sliding a pass at the second time of asking to Evie Revell who got to the byline and fizzed a cross along the floor to the waiting Beth Wharton who had the simple job of tapping it in.

Only three minutes later Beth Wharton was played through by Kim Brown who was able to round the keeper but struck the post from a tight angle.

The Mariners were winning all their individual battles and continued to turn the screw. After a rare Lincoln United attack which was dealt comfortably by the ever-vocal Bethany French, she launched the ball forward to Danielle Brighton who took it down expertly and played a lovely one-two with Lisa Comey before sliding a beautifully weighted ball into the path of the marauding Alisha Dejonge who took two touches on the sprint before side-footing past the on-rushing keeper and into the bottom left of the net.

After the half-time break, the Mariners didn’t let up and continued to attack in the way they had the first half. It was soon 4-0 following a corner kick routine which came straight off the training ground. Emily Blyth drilled the corner in mid-height to the wandering Alisha DeJonge who had moved from her position at the far post losing her marker, the ball found her 10 yards out unmarked with an easy header into the top right of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.

A flurry of substitutions from both teams affected the flow of the game for a time until Town again found their rhythm. The final goal of the game came after seventy-two minutes. Crisp passing between Libbi Wright, Kim Brown and Harriet Dalton saw the ball land back at Kim Brown’s feet, playing a first-time through ball to set Beth Wharton free, tussling with the defender, Beth was able to find a half yard of space to clip a driven half volley from the edge of the area leaving the keeper with no chance.

Another glut of chances came and went for Grimsby with Lincoln United’s goalkeeper remaining under pressure throughout the rest of the second half but no further goals were to come. The match ended 5-0 to Grimsby Town Women to get Hayley Cox’s side off to a brilliant start to the season.

After the game, captain Kim Brown said “It was an all-round solid performance by the squad. It’s great to get 5 goals and a clean sheet in the first outing of the season. We had many more chances too which is another huge positive. We will kick on from today’s performance and go again Sunday in the FA Cup.”

Manager Hayley Cox was obviously delighted following the showing. “It was a good test for our first game of the season. The first goal of the season scored by Danielle Brighton was a thunderbolt of a strike right into the top corner. It was good to see some Grimsby Town debuts on show too – Harriet Dalton, Evie Revell, Laura Ibbert, Lisa Cromey, Charlotte Goodwin and Beth French.

Grimsby Town Women’s FC are now looking forward to their game away to Thackley in the FA Cup.