Lincoln United Women got one step closer to retaining the cup after a 0-3 win away at Gainsborough Trinity Women in the semi-final of the Lincoln Private Hospitals County Cup on Sunday.
Trinity entered the fixture with aspirations of making it to their first County Cup final since the relaunch of Women’s football in Gainsborough. Confidence was high for Tom Padden’s Trinity side, netting 24 goals in just three cup appearances this campaign.
The Whites stood in their way; the highest ranked side in the county and current cup holders looking to retain their title. Lincoln booked their ticket to this semi-final clash after a 2-1 home win against Stamford AFC earlier this year; recently departed Maddi Green with a stunning brace to secure victory in that game.
The First Half
The visitors stamped their authority early doors, controlling the game from the off. Chances fell to both Bella Bogg and Amanda Millar inside the first 20 minutes but both resulting efforts didn’t provide anything major for the Trinity keeper to worry about.
It wasn’t entirely one-way traffic in the first ’45 however; Trinity hit back with some well worked moves but struggled to produce anything that tested Chloe Gray between the Lincoln sticks.
Lincoln dominated the first half proceedings but nonetheless, we entered the break goalless after a competitive first half of football.
Flying in the second half
It took just four minutes of the second half for the Whites to break the deadlock – Holly Wilson’s through ball was weighted perfectly for Lucy Farrow to set chase and when left one-on-one with the keeper, there was no doubt of the result. The striker cooly slotted home to give the visitors the advantage with 40 minutes to play.
Lincoln continued to control the tie and were rewarded for their efforts in the 74th minute. Farrow again caused problems in the final third as she unleashed an effort that crashed down off the crossbar and into Lucia Booth-Roberts, who could do nothing but watch as the ball rolled into her own net.
With 15 minutes to play, Trinity committed bodies forward to try and grab something from the tie, giving the Whites attackers a lot of space to work in the final third. Bogg tried releasing Wilson through the final linebut a covering defender was quick to block the pass.
Farrow had a huge chance to earn herself a brace in the final five minutes – Wilson’s through ball again put her one-on-one with the keeper but her touch to try and get around was a bit too heavy and ran past the by-line.
With the final whistle looming, Bogg saw fit that she put her stamp on the tie. A rocket of a free-kick from 30-yards out evaded the Trinity wall and nestled into the bottom corner to seal the deal in the 95th minute.
The Whites’ efforts book them a place in this year’s County Cup final, where they will be looking to etch their name on the trophy for a fourth consecutive year.
They will face Spalding United in the final as they earnt their place after an eight-goal thriller against Grimsby Town which ended on penalties.