A flurry of late goals secured a Lincoln City victory, as Toni McHamilton starred with a hat-trick.
McHamilton opened the scoring in the first half, before completing her hat-trick after Lucy Farrow doubled the lead.
Both sides came into the game on level points in the FAWNL Division One Midlands, having each won one, drawn one and lost one.
The Imps sat a couple of places higher, in fifth, due to their superior goal difference, but it promised to be an even game at Moorlands. After a midweek defeat at rivals Peterborough United, Lee Mitchell’s side were hoping for a return to winning ways.
First-Half
The first-half started in frantic, end-to-end fashion. Northampton produced the better chances in the early goings, before the home side grew to have a level of dominance.
Faith Horner saw a long-shot fly high and wide as Lincoln City had their first real chance of the game with ten minutes gone. Jade Bell had a shot saved for the visitors prior to this, as the game moved quickly.
After a quarter of an hour which lacked goalmouth action, Toni McHamilton fired Lincoln into the lead. Former Peterborough player Cassie Steward flicked the ball into her path as she charged into the box, leaving her to place the ball perfectly into the bottom corner.
Chantelle Robinson looked lively throughout the half and had a chance saved with a good low spot from Katie McLean.
On 20 minutes, it was time for referee Ryan Jennings to enter the spotlight as Lincoln centre-back Tilly Fantom and Northampton forward Ona Ndefo had a coming together in the box. It appeared as if Fantom had tripped her, but the referee waved away Northampton’s loud appeals.
As the half progressed, City began to control the game more and more. Steward had a shot saved and Leah Hardy had a couple of great chances, as she struck the bar and had a long-shot saved before the end of the half.
Despite Lincoln’s good play, Northampton ended the half with a chance of their own. Tilly Fantom produced a strong challenge to stop what would’ve been a likely equaliser.
Lincoln retained their deserved lead as half-time was signalled, however the game still hung in the balance as both teams sought shade to get away from the 29 degree heat.
Second-Half
The second half began in much the same fashion as the first, as Lincoln City had a dangerous corner in the first couple of minutes.
At the other end, Northampton Town produced a good chance as Kitty Crouch fired a snap-shot just wide of the post.
Lincoln began to make some substitutions as Sinead Fletcher, the booked Leah Hardy and Chantelle Robinson made way for Millie Quaintance, Lucy Farrow and Katie Williams.
McHamilton had a tame effort stopped by McLean as the hour mark passed. Cassie Steward fired a couple of efforts high and wide, as Lincoln produced an extensive list of chances.
As Lincoln struggled to seal a second goal, Northampton had hope. Kitty Crouch rolled another shot just wide of the near post in what turned out to be her side’s best chance of the half.
Katie Williams volleyed at McLean as Lincoln kept the pressure on.
Jemima Footitt came on for her City debut as the game ticked past 75 minutes before 2022/23 player of the season Chyna McIntosh carried the ball superbly from her own half to the edge of the Northampton box. She laid it off to Steward who couldn’t convert the chance.
Then as the game entered the last ten minutes, the metaphorical floodgates and the literal skies opened up.
On 85 minutes, substitute Lucy Farrow doubled the Imps lead, putting the ball beyond McLean at the second time of asking. Her first effort was saved, but the goalkeeper could only parry the ball back into Farrow’s path.
Then, McHamilton added her second, slotting the ball just beyond McLean as the game entered extra-time.
A couple minutes later she completed her hat-trick. The ball fell to her in the box and she easily rolled it into the back of the net to seal a good win.
Lincoln City Women 4-0 Northampton Town Women
Lincoln City Women return to winning ways with a handsome 4-0 victory over Northampton Town. The game was closer than the scoreline indicates, as the Imps were only 1-0 up as the clock hit 85 minutes.
The late flurry sealed the deal as Lee Mitchell’s side showed a ruthless edge to add to the scoreline in the dying embers. Toni McHamilton’s hat-trick will steal the headlines, but it was an afternoon filled with great individual performances.
After the match, manager Lee Mitchell said: “To get the third and the fourth goals, that was the girls being relentless. We could’ve put the ball in the corner, but we are an attacking side.”
Lincoln City look ahead to their next game, at home to Boldmere St Michaels on Sunday, September 17th.