MATCH REPORT | Opening day victory thanks to late Simmons stunner

Rotherham United Women 1-0 Grimsby Town

Rotherham United Women began the league season with a deserved victory over newly-promoted Grimsby Town thanks to another late thunderbolt from Sidni Simmons.

The full back, who smashed in a free kick against SJR Worksop two weeks ago, seized on a loose ball 30 yards out and thumped a low drive beyond Town keeper Chloe Gray.

The winner came just a few minutes before full time and was just reward for a second-half performance which saw the Millers coming close through Halima Essa and Caitlin O’Callaghan.

Grimsby may feel hard done by, having thought they were ahead before the break when Beth Wharton’s long shot crashed down off the bar and onto – or over – the line and away.

All eyes were momentarily on the assistant referee – and Millers hearts in mouths – before the “goal” was waved away. In front of a sunsoaked crowd, Pete Jarvis’ side otherwise enjoyed the lion’s share of possession but couldn’t capitalise.

The second half opened as a cagey affair, with both sides largely restricted to long shots and Simmons covering well to snuff out a break after Lori-Anne Tart was caught in possession, before Essa took a grip on the game.

The winger dribbled in-field from the right before switching onto her right foot and striking a low shot which was diverted wide for a corner, before feeding O’Callaghan.

The striker will feel she should have taken at least one of two opportunities, shooting just wide from Essa’s pullback.

Moments later, Gray made an acrobatic save from another fierce Essa drive, the lively Lauren Winter crossed on the rebound and O’Callaghan’s header beat both Gray and the far post.

As Grimsby went more direct in search of a winner, Simmons nipped in to control the clearance from a corner before grabbing the deciding goal.

There was still time for one more anxious moment as Grimsby threatened, but sub Jade Appell’s shot from 18 yards beat Georgia Ward’s left-hand post.

An at-times ill-tempered and scruffy encounter finished in a narrow home win – and the Millers are off and running.

Next up is a trip to Chesterfield Ladies FC on Sunday, September 10.

Millers: Georgia Ward, Sidni Simmons, Lori-Anne Tart, Amy Nowell, Dina Sarayreh, Rachel Hale, Halima Essa, Abbie Staples, Lauren Winter, Milly Colford, Jessie Broadhurst.

Subs: Lauren Brogan (for Nowell), Molly Corke (for Sarayreh), Hannah Iguchi, Caitlin O’Callaghan (for Broadhurst), Georgia Harris.