Second in the FA Women’s National League Premier North, three behind leaders, and rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, and with a game in hand following seven wins and a draw in eight matches, it’s certainly been an enjoyable start to the season, so far, for Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest.

Making wholesale changes from the starting line-up that saw off Norton & Stockton Ancients, in the FA WNL League Cup, the previous week, the Reds found themselves two goals to the good, when away to Stoke City, come half-time.

The Reds though, they were made to wait until the closing stages of the first period, to notch the opening goal, well two in fact – Charlotte Steggles would be on hand to head home the opening goal eight minutes before the break and, three minutes later, Sophie Domingo would double the lead.

A number of changes were made in the opening period of the second period, Forest settling into a new rhythm before going on to add three further goals to their afternoon’s tally.

One of those substitutions, Yasmin Mosby having replaced Domingo on the hour, would proceed to notch a brace with her sides’ third and fourth of the game, the latter, a screamer, past a beleaguered, home ‘keeper, and in turn doubling her tally for the season.

In the closing stages meanwhile, Olivia Cook, having put in a sterling, ninety-minute shift herself, was rewarded with a goal of her own, she being one of thirteen Reds to net this season.

Next for Andy Cook’s Reds, a trip to East Midlands Women’s Premier Division side, Oughtibridge War Memorial, in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, on Sunday 13 November

Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Steggles (Naomi Powell, 60), Sophie Domingo (Yasmin Mosby, 60), Amy West, Gianna Mitchell (Mackenzie Smith, 70, Becky Anderson, Hayley James (Arryana Daniels, 46), Charlotte Greengrass (Rosetta Taylor 82)

The Reds reserves sides, in Midlands Reserve league duty, are joint-second following a comfortable, 5-1 win, at home to Doncaster Rovers Belles Development.

Takiah Bennett would fire home four of the Reds’ five goals, Isabella Hodson the other, Burnett’s haul taking her tally to five-in-five for the season; as for the table, Forest find themselves level with Wolves’ second string, in joint second, on twelve points, but with a game in hand, whilst the joint-leaders of West Bromwich Albion Development (played six games) and Derby County Development have thirteen apiece.

In the East Midlands Women’s League, it was League Cup day, four of Notts’ ten representatives progressing to the next round including Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County, with a little bit of history, and Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town.

County, away to Loughborough Foxes Vixens, afforded a debut to sixteen-year-old starlet, Skye Lakin-Wright, and she impressed, setting up the opener for Summer Gayle, who scored three, and notched a late brace of her own.

Lakin-Wright’s double would see her create a little piece of Notts history, becoming the youngest scorer for the club, Dunleavy saying afterwards that: “Today is what we all do this for!

“Skye Lakin-Wright at 16, a graduate from our Notts County Girls junior section, got an assist and two goals on her first senior start, becoming our youngest ever goalscorer!

“Lots of hard work & progress to come but great to see our pathway in action.”

Alongside Gayle’s hat-trick, and Lakin Wright’s brace, was a further double for Shoniqua Barnes, with Alice Hayes notching the eighth, at the death.

Mansfield meanwhile saw off local rivals Nottingham Trent University, 3-1 at home, the Stags netting through Georgia Gladwin, Caitlin Hughes and Ellie Marshall, Mia Pinkham replying for the university side.

Arnold Eagles and Basford United both scored four each, at home, to progress to the next round, the former seeing off Peterborough United Development and the latter, Mansfield Hosiery Mills, whilst there was defeats for SJR Worksop (8-1 at home to Oughtibridge), West Bridgofrd Colts and Notts County Development.

Meanwhile, the fame between Dronfield Town and Sherwood was a heart-breaking one for the Notts side, they having led 3-1 at the break, seen the game go to 4-4 at full-time., 5-5 after extra-time, before crashing out 4-3 on penalties.

The two, Division One Central sides, certainly battled to the death, with Bella Reed notching a hat-trick, and Katie Fish a brace for the visitors, Kristine Humble with a brace for the hosts, as they shared an impressive, ten goals.

Retford Women meanwhile boast a five-point advantage at the top of the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors 1, after a 2-0 win at home to second place Mansfield Town Development; goalless at the break, a second-half brace from Isabella Thorpe gave the hosts maximum points.

Other results saw Keyworth win 5-0 at Teversal, Shantay Wright with a four-goal salvo, including a seven-minute, first-half hat-trick, and Nottingham Trent won 2-0 away to Radcliffe Olympic, Holly Fitzgerald and Lana Wearne scoring.

*Main image @NFFCWomen the Reds girls celebrate a thumping five goal win.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @worksoptownfc the Tigers roar as Liam Hughes scores at the double.