Lincoln United Women completed their historic treble over the weekend by winning the league cup final.
The Whites won the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League (EMWRFL) Cup final 5-0 against Basford Town. The win meant they finished the season with a historic treble, having won all 27 games they played.
Katie Davison, who took over an interim manager for the game after Chris Funnell departed, said: “We are over the moon with the victory and to pick up the treble. At the start of the season, our aim was the treble. The girls achieved something really special yesterday with a professional performance.”
She added: “We hadn’t played for four weeks so it was a bit rusty but we grew into the game and gave a dominant performance. We limited the opposition to very little and scored five, and it could’ve been more goals.
“Early doors the target was promotion but as the winning run went on, we realised we could go all the way. Our only tight game was the Mansfield semi-final but even then it was quite comfortable. Today was just one more game to reach this unbelievable achievement.”
United sealed the final piece of an invincible treble this season, avoiding defeat on their way to winning the EMWRFL Premier Division, while also retaining the League Cup and Lincolnshire FA County Cup.
The Whites’ attacking options has impressed all season, as the interim boss said: “Four different scorers shows our depth and that we have goal threats from all over the pitch. We know we are strong at the back but our true asset is how many goals we can score.”
Lincoln scored some 110 goals across their 18 league games in 2023/24, conceding just ten at the other end.
Davison added: “We were able to make changes as the game went on and that freshened us up so we had chances until the end. The subs made an impact which we maybe didn’t have last season. All the 11 and the subs can always contribute and keep the quality high.”
The cup final was Ellie Gilliatt’s last game in football, as the former England U23s international announced her retirement. The striker finished the season as top scorer for the Whites.
Davison said: “We knew it was going to be her last season, so we gave her a guard of honour as she left the pitch. She won the golden boot and received a standing ovation; it was the send off she deserved. I’ve been lucky to play with her and against her and coach her, it’s been a great experience.”
Lincoln United dominated the women’s game in their region this season and will make the leap up to step four next season. They will have to do it without Chris Funnell, as the club continue the search for a new manager.
Feature Image Credit: Ed Mayes Photography