Lincoln United Women won yet another game to continue their unbeaten run, as they defeated an in-form Mansfield Town at the Sun-hat Villas and Resorts stadium.
The Whites came into the game after a 4-1 win against Anstey Nomads Women last weekend, while Mansfield travelled to Lincolnshire after a 1-0 victory over Basford United Ladies.
Kate Davison made no changes to the team since the last game.
First-half:
It was a cold but perfect day for football at Ashby Avenue, as the Whites carried on their form from the previous game.
This brought a very good start from Lincoln United Women and it only took three minutes for them to score, The ball came in from a free kick then flicked on by a Mansfield player where Ellie Gilliatt was waiting and she converted a free header from an acute angle. A dream start for Lincoln United and the first ten minutes were all Lincoln.
Gilliatt ran the show in the first half, creating many opportunities down the right–hand side and linking up well with Paige Crossman. However, there was an injury scare for the goalscorer as she went down holding her hand.
She received treatment on the bench and came back on after five minutes with a cast on her left-arm.
As the 25-minute mark approached Lincoln had a great goal-scoring opportunity, however a good challenge from Mansfield’s centre-back Beckwith denied the opportunity. Betsy Thomas and Ellie Gilliatt were linking up very well and they were unlucky not to score a few more before the break.
Mansfield were applying a lot of late pressure in the later stages of the first half and their hard work paid off in the 41st minute. The ball looped over Rosie Davidson in net as they scored directly from the corner.
Second-half:
The perfect start for Lincoln United as they came out flying in the second-half, a great ball was played through to Gilliatt were she slotted the ball into the net from the right-hand side of the six-yard box, giving Gilliatt her second of the match and her 42nd of the season.
Mansfield Town responded instantly seeing a shot go just wide of the post, but still didn’t have the killer edge to get a second goal.
Gilliat was on fire again in the second-half and was creating more and more chances that should have been scored by The Whites.
Ten minutes into the second half, Thomas had a shot from the left, which took a horrible deflection off a defender giving the goalkeeper no choice to save it.
Eight minutes later and another goal was scored by Lincoln. A goalmouth scramble was eventually turned in by Brock-Taylor from about six yards out, making it 4-1.
The second-half was all Lincoln United. The Whites were dominating possession and controlling the game, while having many chances which should have been converted.
Lincoln United Women 4-1 Mansfield Town Ladies:
Overall, it was a very dominant performance from Lincoln United.
However, Mansfield didn’t make it easy and will be one of the tougher teams that United will face this year.
The Whites keep their unbeaten status in the Premier East Midlands Regional Football League this season, with an eight-point gap and two games in hand over second placed Ilkeston Town Ladies FC. They played very good football at times, with Ellie Gilliat making the difference.
Lincoln now focus their attention to the cup where they face Dronfield Town Ladies.