Nottingham Forest 5-0 West Bromwich Albion (FA Women’s National League North) 06.04.23

Another game, another win, and three more points closer to the FAWNL Northern Premier title as Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest swept aside West Bromwich Albion at the Halbrooke Stadium on Thursday night.

Fellow title rivals, Burnley, won 2-1 away to Huddersfield Town on Wednesday evening so, victory for the Reds, was paramount in what is a three-horse race, Wolverhampton Wanderers very much still in the mix.

Forest though, in hosting the third bottom side, weren’t going to pass up the opportunity to extend their current, unbeaten run, to eight matches in all competitions.

It’s been a run that has seen them register six clean sheets, and score an impressive, thirty-four goals, their goal-difference in the league, and extremely healthy, +60, after twenty games, yet it would be an own-goal that got them underway, under the Halbrooke lights.

A handful of chances had come by the way of the hosts in the opening exchanges before a cross from Georgia Hewitt was deflected past the visiting ‘keeper, Charlotte Clarke, after eleven minutes; Clarke’s goal would, at times, be seen to be leading a charmed life throughout the contest.

Immediately looking to double the lead, more after having beaten the Baggies 6-0 at their place earlier in the season, the Reds went for it straight away, Becky Anderson and Niamh Reynolds firing wide, before Clarke saved an effort from Charlotte Greengrass.

The lead would be doubled just after the half hour mark when a corner from home captain, Lyndsey Harkin, was headed home by the on-rushing Amy West, she registering her seventh of what has certainly been a productive season for the Reds in front of goal.

Somehow, the score stayed at two until the half, despite the visitors hitting Emily Batty’s crossbar minutes after the hosts’ second, Rosie Embley trying her luck from range, before Clarke saved a Greengrass effort, again, at the other end, Niamh Reynolds receiving the same fate shortly after.

Eight minutes after the restart though, and the Reds were out of sight, Niamh Reynolds supplying the cross for Sophie Domingo to slot home her eleventh of the season, this was fast followed up by a quick-fire brace from Mai Moncaster.

A low cross from Arryana Daniels was slotted home by Moncaster just before the hour, then following it up with her second, and Forest’s fifth, seven minutes later, firing home into the top corner her eighth of the season.

Phoebe Warner then tested Batty, the home shot-stopper equal to it, pushing away for a corner, before Clarke saved another effort from Hayley James in the closing stages, the hosts claiming a 5-0 win.

Victory for the Reds saw them move seven clear of title rivals, Burnley, the Reds having played a few more games than them, and third-place Wolverhampton, Forest having two league games remaining, travelling to Brighouse Town on 16 April, prior to FAWNL League Cup final on 23 April (against Watford), and finishing the season at home to Stoke City, at the end of the month, 30 April.

Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt (Hayley James, 54), Olivia Cook (Rosetta Taylor, 76), Sophie Domingo (Naomi Powell, 76), Mai Moncaster, Amy West, Niamh Reynolds (Charlotte Steggles, 76), Arryana Daniels, Becky Anderson, Charlotte Greengrass (Yasmin Mosby, 76)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen the Forest players celebrate during a great performance against the Baggies.