MATCH REPORT: LINCOLN UNITED WFC 5 - 1 MANSFIELD TOWN LFC

A dominant performance from ‘The Whites’ led to them picking up another three points as they beat Mansfield Town 5-1 at Ashby Avenue.

Another quick start from the home side gave them the opening goal off the head of Annie Ward in the 6th minute. A well-worked corner routine produced a cross to the centre back who header into the bottom corner.

#TheWhites 1 - 0 Mansfield Town LFC

United continued to dominate possession and doubled their lead ten minutes later. Ellie Gilliatt’s run down the right took two defenders out of the game before the ball fell to Betsy Thomas who finished first time.

#TheWhites 2 - 0 Mansfield Town LFC

The visitors had a great chance to pull a goal back not long later but wasted the opportunity with a mis-kicked attempt. The hosts continued to control possession and had several opportunities to claim a third goal, however, the clinical edge wasn’t present.

Three minutes before half time, Mansfield gave themselves hope of getting back into the game as they grabbed a goal. The home side’s defence couldn’t clear the ball and a Town player took it before expertly lobbing it over Amy Hood and into the net.

#TheWhites 2 - 1 Mansfield Town LFC

Lincoln United WFC 2 - 1 Mansfield Town LFC (HT)

Another quick start in the second half restored the hosts’ two goal lead in the 54th minute. Gilliatt produced an incredible finish as she beat her opponent before thrashing a shot into the roof of the net.

#TheWhites 3 - 1 Mansfield Town LFC

Manager Chris Funnell made the game's first substitution as Tallulah Freeman replaced Sally Cairns. Frankie Wilson moved into Cairns’ left back position whilst Freeman moved to right back. An interesting ten minutes for the away side took place as one of their players was sin-binned for dissent towards the referee and another was asked to temporarily leave the pitch to remove a neck stud.

During this period, the home side scored their fourth goal in the 66th minute. A good link-up between Thomas and Lauren Churcher down the right wing led to Gilliatt’s initial header being blocked, but she made sure no one stopped her second attempt.

#TheWhites 4 - 1 Mansfield Town LFC

Another change came as Kaitlin Peaker replaced Tracey Duxbury-Mead in attack. The game became a bit quieter until a fifth goal for United came in the 86th minute. Churcher’s corner perfectly found Ward, who was unmarked in the box and directed her header past the keeper into the back of the net.

#TheWhites 5 - 1 Mansfield Town LFC

For a second, Demi Barai thought she had scored her side’s sixth goal of the game in added time, but the linesman signalled that she was in an offside position as she poked past the keeper.

The full time whistle brought an end to the dominant performance from ‘The Whites’

Lincoln United WFC 5 - 1 Mansfield Town LFC (FT)

.They move up into second place in the league table, with 28 points from their 13 games, and will hope to claim another three points next weekend in the return fixture away to Mansfield.

Match Report by James Ede, photo credit Ed Mayes Photography