Forest Women Through To Semi's - the Nottingham Sport

Alnwick Town Ladies 0-1 Nottingham Forest Women (FA Women’s National League Plate Quarter Final) 06.02.22

An under-strength Nottingham Forest Women travelled north to Alnwick on Sunday afternoon, for a quarter-final match in this season’s FA Women’s National League Plate competition, the Reds narrowly edging their hosts thanks to a solitary goal from their stand-in captain.

Only fourteen players made the trip to Northumberland, absentees on the afternoon being, among others, Lyndsey Harkin, Becky Anderson, Rachel Brown, Charlotte Greengrass, and Katie Middleton; Charlotte Steggles took both the captain’s band, and the scoring plaudits.

Hosts Alnwick under the guidance of Peter Hately, proved a tough nut to crack for the more experienced visitors, they holding their own for over an hour whilst creating several chances of their own throughout with home ‘keeper, Katy Stark, no doubt disappointed to concede.

Forest debutant, Gianna Mitchell, would see plenty of the ball during her first outing, she producing several opportunities going forward, whilst Alnwick would twice have decent chances to break the Red wall, both from set-pieces.

The first, inside twenty minutes, would be pushed onto the bar by Emily Batty, whilst the second, with five minutes left of the half, would go wide of the upright.

Forest’s best chance of the half came with a couple of minutes remaining as Tamara Wilcock, in her first start for the club since joining, delivered a free-kick to which Steggles got on the end of; with Mitchell following up in an attempt to make sure, Stark proved equal in the home goal, saving well.

Goalless at the interval, Forest coach, Andy Cook, made his first change upon the restart, Batty being replaced between the sticks by the returning Aja Aguirre, the Canadian shot-stopper returning after a number of months on the sidelines.

The visitors would up the tempo in the second forty-five, and with it came their reward when, after a number of goals failed to bear fruit, the breakthrough arrived.

With a little over twenty minutes remaining, a free-kick from Hayley James was delivered into the box and stand-in captain, Steggles, reacted to power home with her head, the ball nestling in the back of Stark’s net.

It’s all that was needed and, although both sides continued to push, and create chances, the visitors would hold on for a narrow, hard-fought victory with Andy Cook saying afterwards: “Pleased to get the win.

“Alnwick Town had a game plan and we had to find a way round or through.

“It was a tough game today but we found a way and into the semi-finals.”

Whilst stand-in captain for the day, Charlotte Steggles, added: “A tough game, in tough conditions but we found a way to win, into the semi-finals we go!”

Nottingham Forest will be joined in the final four of this season’s Plate competition by Sporting Khalsa, Cheltenham Town, and AFC Wimbledon, after their respective victories over Leafield Athletic (3-1 aet), Exeter City (2-1), and Portsmouth (7-6 on penalties, after a 3-3 draw).

Next up for the Reds is a trip to AFC Fylde Ladies, on Sunday, 13 February, and with a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers to come at the end of the month, it’s getting interesting.

Forest: Emily Batty (Aja Aguirre 46), Olivia Cook (Rosie Axten 60), Charlotte Steggles, Mai Moncaster, Amy West, Niamh Reynolds (Alice Higginbottom 80), Grace Walters, Gianna Mitchell, Hayley James, Tamara Wilcock, Naomi Powell.

Forest’s second string meanwhile, coached by Sarah Richardson (Interview to come), continue to chase down Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Reserves Midlands Division (currently eight points), and saw off visitors Stoke City at the weekend.

Summa Betts continued her scoring form with a brace, taking her tally to eleven in thirteen, in the 4-1 win, whilst further goals were added by Arryana Daniels (ten in seven), and a third of the season from Devonn Cousins – they’ll host Doncaster Rovers on 13 February.