‘The Whites’ progressed into the Third Qualifying Round of the Women’s FA Cup in style as they thrashed Grimsby Town 8-0 in their trip to the seaside.

From the beginning of the game, United appeared to be the stronger team and it only took fourteen minutes for them to take the lead. Lauren Churcher, playing as a striker this week, crossed into the box from the right and found Betsy Thomas at the back post. She touched the ball past the keeper before drilling it into the bottom corner.

Grimsby Town 0-1 #LUWFC


Five minutes later the lead was doubled, thanks to a moment of luck. A clearance from the hosts deflected off Thomas and fell into the path of Ellie Gilliatt. She drove towards the goal and went around the keeper before calmly slotting into the open goal.

Grimsby Town 0-2 #LUWFC

It became 3-0 after 27 minutes when Gilliatt’s cross from the left was turned into the goal by one of Grimsby’s defenders.

Grimsby Town 0-3 #LUWFC

The remainder of the first half was mostly uneventful until, with one minute remaining, Gilliatt made it four. She was initially fouled in the penalty area and then stepped up to take the spot kick, and convincingly smashed it into the top right corner.

Grimsby Town 0-4 #LUWFC

It only took three minutes into the second half for the fifth goal to come. Liv Smith’s corner was met by a well-timed run from Stacey McConville and her header was fired past the keeper’s reach.

Grimsby Town 0-5 #LUWFC

Five minutes later, Gilliatt claimed her hat-trick, for the fifth time out of five games this season. Midfielder Becks Ward slid the ball into her feet, she flicked it past the defender with ease before hammering the ball past the keeper.

Grimsby Town 0-6 #LUWFC

It became seven after 67 minutes after good passing between Smith and Churcher on the right wing. Churcher’s cross was put into a dangerous area and Demi Barai beat substitute Abbie Murrell to the ball to fire home.

Grimsby Town 0-7 #LUWFC

Seven minutes later Bella Bogg added her name to the scoresheet, shortly after coming off the bench. The home keeper’s punch away from goal fell to the left-winger, positioned on the edge of the area. She took one touch before curling the ball into the top right corner, with the keeper unable to get her full hand to it.

Grimsby Town 0-8 #LUWFC

Chloe Brock-Taylor and Barai were both shown yellow cards as the game became stretched. Murrell, who made her comeback last week, was still looking for her first goal back and was handed a glorious opportunity to find it by the unselfish Gilliatt. However, perhaps being slightly surprised at receiving the chance, the striker only managed to tamely clip the ball into the keeper’s hands.

The game came to an end and left ‘The Whites’ excitedly looking forward to the cup draw to find out their opponents in the next round. Before that game, they will have to re-focus on the league, as they head to Mansfield Town next Sunday.

FULL TIME - Grimsby Town 0-8 #LUWFC

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