MATCH REPORT: MANSFIELD TOWN 0-1 LINCOLN UNITED

‘The Whites’ booked their place in the League Cup final to accompany their County Cup final fixture with a close, one-goal win at Mansfield Town.

United were the dominant side throughout the game but struggled to create enough clear chances, whilst the hosts’ keeper also displayed a good range of shot-stopping. Betsy Thomas was forced off due to injury after twenty minutes before a range of opportunities were created. Amy Kay, Ellie Gilliatt (who had a goal ruled out for offside) and Lauren Churcher (who hit the bar) all came close to finding the first goal of the game.

Into the second half, Gilliatt continued to find space behind the defence but was continuously denied by good saves from the keeper. Like Churcher, she also hit the bar, with a header from a corner.

With 25 minutes remaining, Alice Hayes was introduced into the game and it only took her ten minutes to provide the winning goal. Another one of Churcher’s corners causes mayhem in the Mansfield box before it was poked into the bottom corner by Hayes.

The home side had a brilliant opportunity to equalise with ten minutes left, but two attackers both missed the ball when presented with an open goal. Minutes later Churcher was brought down in the penalty box as she was about to tap home, by a defender who was nowhere near to winning the ball, but the referee refused to listen to the complaints of the United players.

Nevertheless, the full-time whistle signalled that ‘The Whites’ had clinched their spot against Basford United in the League Cup, who are interestingly their opponents in next week’s league fixture. That tie is sure to be a preview of the action to take place in the final.

Written by: James Ede

Photo Credit: Ed Mayes Photography