For the 3rd match in a row I was taking a look at a women's football match in the regional women's football league, only this time it was a trip over to the neighbouring East Midlands set up and to get an early season look at Nettleham Ladies as they travelled to the north east of Lincolnshire to play Grimsby Borough Ladies.
In the early stages of the new season both teams had won one and lost one going into the match. Grimsby Borough Ladies were Solar Ladies last season, back then they won promotion to the Premier Division from the Division One North league below. Since then have formed a partnership with the Grimsby Borough mens club and been renamed.
Nettleham Ladies have a new management team in place following a strong campaign last time out that saw the club narrowly miss out on promotion to the FAWPL Midlands Division One by eventual winners Steel City Wanderers.
I like to take in the odd women's football match in Lincolnshire following my time supporting Lincoln Ladies in the WSL see how the sport is doing within the county and this midweek clash between two of the highest league place clubs within the county was a great opportunity and a chance to catch up with a few friends from those past seasons.
Grimsby Borough play at the Bradley Playing Fields, a newly build venue offering a club house with bar and meeting room facilities, numerous playing pitches including a 3G surface. Tonight's match on grass though the main problem it looked like was going to be the fog. A heavy covering lay in and around Grimsby, made the air feel cooler and damp the playing surface looked fairly slick, a large pitch the far side stand was barely visible as the teams emerged from the tunnel.
Grimsby Borough Ladies starting XI - Bethany French, Rebecca Pleasants, Clodagh Summers, Charlotte Summers, Katie Pye, Lisa Cromey (C), Suzanne Green, Charlotte Townsend, Laura Flecknor, Lottie Soar & Toni McHamilton
subs - Natalie Aird, Lauren Bamber & Daniella Whitworth
Nettleham Ladies starting XI - Rosie Davidson, Leanne Woodhead, Shelley Futter, Jessica Maclean, Amy Compton, Sammy Wiggan, Katie Davison (C), Jennifer Purnell, Zuzana Pramukova, Stacey Aisthorpe & Kirsty Dalzell
subs - Jodie Levick & Claire Green
The fog and floodlights were a bad combination for trying to get any pictures to add to the report so the camera stayed in my bag as Nettleham lined up in white shirts, navy shorts and socks got the match underway against Grimsby lined up in sky blue shirts and socks with navy shorts.
The ball wasn't on the deck for much of the opening few minutes travelling rapidly from one sides defensive line to the other. As the ball came back to the Nettleham defence again everyone had gotten drawn to the left, there was a huge amount of grass for Nettleham's Sammy Wiggan to run into on the right, her run spotted the ball was played forwards for her to chase, getting to the by line she fires a fierce cross back along the edge of the penalty area where Stacey Aisthorpe is arriving to meet the ball and slot it into the back of the net to give the visitors an early lead 0-1.
Aisthorpe is played in again shortly after an over the top ball to run onto Grimsby goalkeeper Bethany French comes charging out of the box and stands her ground claiming the ball as Aisthorpe barrels into her.
Grimsby are getting the ball forwards trying to use their wide players on the right Lottie Soar and captain Lisa Cromey play a good one two the latter passing the ball into Charlotte Townsend central her back to goal, Nettleham won't allow her to turn and get a shot away eventually crowding her off the ball inside the box.
Nettleham have a corner, the ball coming in from the right is met by the head of Aisthorpe the attempt on goal over. The ball bypassing midfield much of the time with attackers looking to run off the shoulders of their markers, it's Aisthorpe who looks the most likely to get on the end of something, is running after one ball coming into the box is being closed down attempts the shot with her left foot drags the ball wide of goal.
Grimsby with a great chance to pull the scores level as Lottie Soar plays in an inviting cross from the right of the penalty area into the far post at close range Toni Mchamilton is there to meet the ball her header is blocked by Nettleham keeper Rosie Davidson, the ball is loose their is a scramble for the ball Davidson shutting out another stab goalwards before the ball is fired into the side netting.
On their next attack Grimsby have better luck, the past out wide to Lisa Cromey on the right 20 yards from goal she shapes to shoot early sending in a low drive with pace Davidson has no time to set herself and react as the ball is past her and into the far corner to level the scores 1-1.
Grimsby are on top for a spell, Soar with and effort from outside the box drilled wide, then a 2nd ball cross/shot from Soar is dropped by Davidson, she recovers quickly to recover the ball as Grimsby's Laura Flecknor closes her down.
Leanne Woodhead in the right back slot for Nettleham makes a great tackle to deny Grimsby's McHamilton a free run on goal as Flecknor wins the ball in midfield and looks to play her in on the left.
Nettleham's Kirsty Dalzell receives the ball, turns with the ball on the left, drives into the box and unleashes a strike sending the ball high past French and into the goal to restore Nettleham's lead 1-2.
Another Nettleham chance from the left this time from Zuzana Pramukova with a forceful run has a strike from long range sends her effort in but behind the goal. Aisthorpe with the ball breaks into the box her shot is blocked inside the six yard box spinning away for a corner.
Grimsby's Flecknor is alert to win the ball back from Nettleham high up the pitch looks to play a good pass into the run of Soar, just a little too much on the pass allows Davison to come off her line a claim the ball before Soar can reach it.
Townsend plays in Cromey on the right coming inside she shoots from outside the box the strike over the crossbar. Flecknor has a chance to put another good ball in late on which Nettleham head clear off the line.
Half-time Grimsby Borough Ladies 1-2 Nettleham Ladies
A lively 1st half of football the ball not spending much time in midfield, both sides are physical the slick surface meaning challenges have to be perfectly timed, both teams have covered alot of ground.
Grimsby to kick off the 2nd half. It's Nettleham with the early attacking play as a move breaks down Pramukova on the left stays up the pitch the ball won back is passed into her she heads for the by line puts in a good cross for Dalzell and Aisthorpe to attack, French though makes a vital catch.
Nettleham break after a spell of possession in and around thier box from Grimsby comes to an end, it's Pramukova again on the left puts another cross in but again straight at the keeper.
French has to come off her line again outside her box to clear the ball with Aisthorpe closing her down the ball spinning wide for a throw. From the dead ball the ball is crossed into the box at the near post 6 yards out Dalzell meets the ball powers the shot wide of the post.
Peeling out into the left channel Grimsby's Cromey, has good vision to play her cross towards the far post looking for the run from Flecknor, Woodhead though makes an important black the ball going behind for a corner, the ball coming in low a shot is blocked as it's fired into the crowd before Nettleham clear.
Grimsby make a change Katie Pye coming off for Natalie Aird. At the back it's Grimsby's Charlotte Summers with a good tackle to deny Aisthorpe as she looks to push her way through the centre.
Grimsby don't stop Aisthorpe for long though, this time though it is Pramukova on the left who unlocks their defence stealing past her marker to put in a perfect cross into the middle to give Aisthorpe an easy tap in to give Nettleham their 3rd, 1-3.
3 becomes 4 in quick succession this time a good piece of individual skill from Aisthorpe to bring up her hat-trick. Head down she runs forwards with the ball form the middle coming to the edge of the box strikes the ball low and hard into the corner of the net to give Nettleham a 3 goal cushion 1-3.
Grimsby are struggling to get any forward moves going, their full back busy dealing with the threat from Pramukova on the left and Wiggan on the right, Aisthorpe and Dalzell strong in the centre, Townsend is booked for a late tackle on Aisthorpe as the visitors make a double change bringing off Wiggan and Katie Davison for Jodie Levick and Claire Green.
Grimsby take off Clodagh Summers bring on Lauren Baumber. Pushed back by Nettleham, Cromey does her best to make herself available for the out pass on the right there is space there, when she does get the ball Nettleham's Amy Compton does well to come back on the cover and win the ball.
Cromey get's some support from Aird, they combine get the ball into the Nettleham area, Aird's shot is blocked. Grimsby have a corner late on the ball is half cleared by Nettleham, but with numbers up Grimsby retain the ball as Aird wins it back in a central position, passes the ball out wide to Soar on the edge of the box she lashes the ball towards goal firing it across the keeper and into the back of the net to pull one goal back 2-4.
Into the closing stages both teams are tiring Nettleham still have a 2 goal cushion, no need to press for more look to keep the ball prevent Grimsby mounting any late revivial, do their job as the referee blows the final whistle and Nettleham win by 4 goals to 2 taking the 3 points.
Were much the stronger team in the 2nd half with Aisthorpe getting her hat-trick a phyiscal game their will be a few briuses to show come the morning. The fog and damp a reminder the winter months will soon be here.
I thank both clubs for helping me out with team details and wish them well for the rest of the season.
A fan of the sport doing my small part to help promote the women's game
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