Trinity Ladies 2 Retford Ladies 1

Gainsborough Trinity Ladies played their first match at the Kal Group Stadium on Sunday afternoon, due to late issues with the opposition's pitch. And with Ladies' manager Liam McNulty keen to maintain the recent form exhibited by his side, hosting the game at the Northolme made sense to all parties involved. An even opening five minutes at the Kal Group Stadium, saw both sides feeling their way into the game, before Trinity created the first chance of the game, Megan Gower doing well over on the far right side, her cross into the box finding the head of Nadine Green who wasn't quite able to work the visiting 'keeper.

Details

Five minutes later, Retford had their first chance of game. Ellie Sims, the Retford centre forward with a sight of goal - unable to test Vicki Mann as her shot also whistled just wide of the far post Moments later, a chance fell Trinity's way, as the action swept back down the other end, Olivia Leslie received the ball from Megan Gower and Leslie was denied by the Retford goalkeeper, who made a strong save.

Midway through the first half, Leslie was involved again, fizzing a ball across the box. The ball finding the feet of Green who crashed her shot off the near post and out of play. Alert defending from Shara Sykes managed to keep the scoreline level, the centre back doing brilliantly to get back and clear off the line after the threatening Ellie Sims had rounded Mann, but could not beat the retreating Sykes.

Just before the half hour mark, Liam McNulty turned to his subs bench, and introduced Alice Hill in place of Lucia Booth-Roberts. Hill, fresh from. Her exploits in the Boxing ring less than 24 hours earlier, keen to quickly pull her boots back on. Trinity's Izzy Anderson was next to test Chloe Rose in the Retford goal, when she took aim from 25 + yards out, forcing the save, as neither side could find the break through in the opening period.

Half time: Gainsborough Trinity Ladies 0 Retford Ladies FC 0

The Holy Blues got the second half under way & quickly established the lead within three minutes of the restart. Lauren Crellin firing her shot into the bottom corner, from Izzy Anderson's pass. Trinity Ladies only held their lead for four minutes, as Harriet Hill found the top corner of the Trinity goal, from the edge of the box. Her effort giving Mann no chance in the Gainsborough goal.

Looking to re-establish their lead, Trinity's Izzy Anderson free-kick ball into the box forced the Retford 'keeper to punch ball clear, before the home side struck the woodwork for a second time. Megan Gower found herself through on goal, her shot striking the upright denying the Blues the chance to retake the lead.

Gainsborough were beginning to turn the screw. Getting closer. As the hosts tried to up the tempo, Gower was on the receiving end of some tough challenges, Retford's Hannah Robertson going into the Referee's notebook seventeen minutes from time.

Lauren Crellin fashioned a chance of her own, but Rose was equal to her effort as the game entered the final ten minutes. Latching onto a defensive mistake, Olivia Leslie further compounded the error as she forced Rose into a further misjudgement, before looping the ball over the stricken 'keeper and into the back of the net to seal the tie for the home side, making it five wins from five... and keeping the winning streak building.

The Teams

Gainsborough Trinity Ladies: Vicki Mann, Laura Folegnani, Sam Wood, Shara Sykes, Shannon Carte, Izzy Anderson, Nadina Green, Lauren Crellin, Lucia Booth-Roberts, Megan Gower, Olivia Leslie. Subs: Imogen Arnold, Alice Hill, Charlotte Bellamy, Jemma Green

Retford FC: Chloe Rose, Chantelle Johnson, Hannah Robertson, Emily North, Hannah Storey, Stainsby, Ellie Sims, Isabelle Thorpe, Emma Gray, Harriet Hill. Paris Smith. Sub: Georgia Lewis

Match report by Rob Hughes (@AATM_Media)
Thanks to Liam Gale for the updates