Grimsby Town 1-2 Rotherham United 

Two late goals saw Rotherham United Women to a dramatic late win against a physical Grimsby Town side.

Alesha Gale and Rachel Hale came up with the goods in the last 15 minutes to overturn a 1-0 half-time deficit.

Gale, who was named Coach’s Player of the Match, turned in after Jess Jones had seen a shot saved, and Hale headed home from just inches out with just five minutes to go.

In windy conditions a stone’s throw from the east coast and to the occasional soundtrack of ice cream vans and wheeling seagulls, the first half proved a tight affair.

Chances were few and far between but Grimsby twice came close – a bouncing ball looped back off the bar in one alarming incident, and the Millers were grateful to Lauren Brogan for clearing off the line just before the break.

Relief was short-lived, though, and the hosts took the lead when the unmarked Leah Wray headed home the resulting corner.

The second half proved more open as Grimsby’s defence were posed more questions by the Millers attack.

Amy Nowell forced Chloe Gray into a fine stop with a fierce volley and, following one particularly meaty challenge in which Jessie Broadhurst was wiped out, Dina Sarayreh fired just wide from 25 yards.

Gale shot agonisingly across goal from the edge of the box as the Millers came closer, and the striker wasn’t to be denied, turning in the rebound when Gray parried Jones’ shot on 75 minutes.

Grimsby weren’t finished, and Georgia Ward had to be alert to tip over a long-range free kick.

But it was the Millers who had the last laugh. A cleverly-worked free kick saw Sarayreh freeing Gale down the left, and her clipped centre was headed goalwards by Hale.

It was blocked on the line but Lauren Winter followed up and her shot cannoned off a defender, bounced up and in off Hale, who celebrated gleefully with injured skipper Lori-Anne Tart on the touchline.

A smash and grab in one sense, this was a victory born from a second-half display a step up from what went before, with Gale at the heart of a revitalised Millers attack.

The win leaves Rotherham in third with three games to go, a crunch clash against second-placed Chesterfield up next.

Kick-off at Roundwood on Sunday is at 2pm. Admission is £3 for adults and free for children.

Meanwhile, Rotherham United Women Reserves had to dig deep to secure a draw at Penistone Church.

Following a 2-1 defeat by the same opposition three days earlier, a Millers side depleted by injuries fielded just ten players but held their hosts to a 1-1 draw.

Rayanne Haywood put the Millers in front early on but they were pegged back by a late Penistone goal.

Local rivals Brinsworth Whitehill Women are up next at Herringthorpe Stadium on Thursday.