By Jonathan Byrne at Blundell Park

A solitary second half goal from midfielder Charlotte Goodwin clinched promotion for Grimsby Town Ladies in a hard-fought victory over Winterton Rangers at Blundell Park on Sunday.

The game was actually a home game for Rangers, but Town's victory has severely dented the North Lincolnshire club's own promotion aspirations.

The two teams played out an exciting 2-2 draw at King George V Stadium back in September, and have both been amongst the league's frontrunners ever since.

Grimsby's recent run of form had seen them rise to the top of the Lincolnshire County Women's League, whilst Winterton were unbeaten throughout the league campaign going into Sunday's tussle.

It was the proverbial game of two halves at Blundell Park, with defence coming out on top in a tense first half, before Town's attacking prowess took control in the second period.

There were few chances in the opening 45 minutes, as Winterton's offside system kept the Town attack at bay, whilst the Grimsby back-line staved off any Rangers attack.

The second half was an entirely different affair though as Grimsby came out with a more attacking mindset, and the front triumvirate of Gemma Hopkin, Emily Mumby and Laura Ibbett really stamped their authority on the game and caused the Rangers defence a whole host of problems.

Top scorer Hopkin was the first to try her luck. Mumby, Lindsey Dye and Ruth Ashton forged the opening with a neat interchange of passes; Hopkin cut in from the left and saw her shot saved down low at the near post.

Ibbett was seeing a lot of the ball in her position just off the front two and she tried her luck with a delicate lob on the hour that was well held.

Then from a Mumby corner, Ibbett headed over when well placed inside the six-yard box.

At the other end a free kick from the left wing was tipped away by Kassie Wallis who limped out of action soon after.

Town moved things up another gear after that and Hopkin again tried her luck. Faced by three defenders the Grimsby striker twisted and turned one way then the another before getting a 20-yard drive in that was straight at the Rangers' 'keeper.

Grimsby did take the lead with 15 minutes left on the clock. Ibbett breezed down the left hand side and her right foot cross was miscued away for a corner.

From the resulting set piece Mumby floated the ball in and a clearing header rebounded off Ibbett into the path of Goodwin who smashed the ball home via the underside of the crossbar.

Winterton were now forced to press on and find an equaliser and Grimsby were indebted to the crossbar again, which came to their rescue at the other end.

A deep cross from the right was hooked back goalwards by a Winterton attacker. The ball seemed to spend an age in the air, finally crashing against the woodwork and dropping to safety.

The final whistle sparked jubilant scenes on the pitch, as well as rapturous applause from the healthy crowd of 200-plus present in the Main Stand.