Grimsby Women 1 Gainsborough Ladies 4

Progression in the Lincolnshire County Cup Second Round for Gainsborough Trinity Ladies was the order of the day. And Liam McNulty's girls duly obliged, overcoming Grimsby Town Women by four goals to one. An incredible performance from the team, from the first whistle. The Ladies were on it from minute one today. They were hungry and ready to battle on a pitch that was less than ideal, and chances came at a consistent pace throughout the game for Gainsborough. And after Nadina Green and Lucia Booth-Roberts had gone close, Olivia Leslie then struck the base of the post.

Details

Some could be forgiven, if they had started to think this was going to be a repeat of the League Cup encounter, earlier in the season, which had seen Gainsborough unable to capitalise on their dominance. However, that changed when Booth-Roberts picked up a through ball, took a look at the opposition keepers' position, before floating the ball over the goalkeeper to take Gainsborough into the break 1-0 to the good.

Half Time: Grimsby Town Women 0 Gainsborough Trinity Ladies 1

Grimsby came out with renewed purpose in the second half and tried to get a foothold in the game. However, the press off the ball and the play with the ball gave Grimsby no chance to gain any sort of controlled possession. The excellent Nadina Green turned her marker and in a similar fashion to Booth-Roberts' opener, floated her shot over the 'keeper and nestling into the bottom corner to deservedly make it 2-0 to the girls in blue.

Grimsby soon had an opportunity from the spot following a rash tackle, which they cooly slotted home past the excellent stand in 'keeper Imogen Arnold. Gainsborough's heads didn't drop, and it wasn't long before Booth-Roberts picked up her second, slamming the ball in from 25 yards. The hat-trick quickly followed when she finished off a flowing, move first time, high into the roof of the net.

Ladies Manager, Liam McNulty, expressed his delight at today's performance and progression, as his side keep hopes of a league and Cup double, firmly alive:

"Today, it was an absolute pleasure to be the Coach of the team. We set up with a game plan on how to be successful, and the Ladies followed it to the letter. The effort from every single one of them today was exceptional. No one took their foot off the gas."

He continued, "The spirit in this team is something else. Every time i think we are playing our best football, we step up another gear again. The Ladies in the starting line-up are making it so hard to change things at the moment, and long may that continue!"

"I honestly could mention every player individually today, but there were a couple of real standouts. Imo (Imogen) Arnold for stepping up. Volunteering to goal is never easy, especially when you've never done it before, but she did that today, to great aplomb! Another player worthy of a notable mention was Lucia Booth-Roberts. Nothing much more to say than hat trick of quality goals and another accomplished performance."

The final one of the Trinity trio to be mentioned by the manager was captain, Lauren Crellin: "Lauren's performance today was a real captains performance. Crells' game isn’t about the big tackles and the nitty gritty, but today she led by example and got stuck in, setting an example for the rest of the team to follow."

Well done to the Ladies on a job well done! Through to the next round, and into the hat...

The Team

Gainsborough Trinity Ladies: Imogen Arnold, Laura Folegnani , Sam Wood, Shara Sykes, Shannon Carte, Izzy Anderson, Lauren Crellin, Nadina Green, Lucia Booth-Roberts, Megan Gower, Olivia Leslie. Substitutes: Alice Hill, Imogen Martin, Sky Woodhead.