The FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division title race is looking as though it’s going to go down to the wire following results on Sunday afternoon.

National League Cup winners, Nottingham Forest, dropped points for only the fourth time in the league this season when being held by visitors Hull City, whilst rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers moved level on goal-difference with a home win over Burnley.

The two Midlands side, one in the East Midlands, the other in the Black Country, find themselves tied on 49 points, with the former, Carly Davies’ Reds, having a game in hand, heading into the home straight.

Hosting third bottom Hull, it would be the Reds that took an early lead, Holly Manders netting after cutting inside and lifting the ball over the visiting ‘keeper from range; however, no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t open the floodgates and were eventually pegged back late on.

A lone-goal interval lead got even nervier as the game wore on, Davies making wholesale changes in the last half hour, but to no avail and, after the second set of substitutions, the visitors struck, Ellie Tanser netting as the visitors grabbed a point.

It continues to be an unbeaten league campaign for the Reds, in fact, their only defeat thus far was their exit from the FA Cup, back in mid-January, a 1-0 reverse against Newcastle United.

Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson (Sophie Domingo, 65), Melanie Johnson (Holly Turner, 65), Holly Manders (Millie Chandarana, 80), Charlie Wellings, Hollie Olding (Megan Bell, 65), Mollie Green (Kate Longhurst, 80), Freya Thomas, Caragh Hamilton, Katie Dungate

The victories for the Reds, they’ve been plenty, but they may yet not be enough; Daniel McNamara’s Wolves are snapping at the Reds’ heels, and are being led from the front by a former Red, in Charlotte Greengrass.

It would be her brace on Sunday that would see the Gold & Black pick up a narrow, 2-1 win, at home to Burnley, and move them level at the top of the table – a slip from either side, in the closing matches, could now well prove costly.

Forest’s Run-In: Liverpool Feds (a, 13 April), Stourbridge (a, 20 April), West Bromwich Albion (h, 27 April)

Wolves’ Run-In: Halifax (a, 13 April), Liverpool Feds (h, 27 April)

A handful of matches involving Notts clubs were played in both the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, and the Notts Girls & Ladies League, the former of which saw the first of two league meetings in the Premier Division’s closing stages between SJR Worksop and Mansfield Town.

Town drew first blood in winning this one, both the goals from a 2-0 win, on the road, coming in the first half, via Olivia Standeven and Shannon Purdy.

A goal in each half from title-chasing Sheffield gave them a 2-0 win also, they at home to Basford United, whilst lowly Nottingham Trent University won 5-2 against visiting Anstey Nomads.

West Bridgford Colts edged a five-goal game at home to Sleaford Town in Division One Central, and Kitty Ward bagged the winner for Arnold Eagles as they won 2-1 at Sherwood in Division One Central.

Only a few games were played in the NGL Seniors One also, University of Nottingham sitting top with a three-point lead after they won 1-0 at home to Lowdham Colts.

Mansfield Town Development won 3-0 at home to Basford United U23s thanks to goals from Tia Richards, Elexis Steel, and Molly Allsop, and it was honours even in the game between Hucknall Town and Calverton Miners Welfare, they sharing the spoils in a 2-2 draw.

NTU Pink meanwhile progressed to the semi-finals of the Seniors Plate competition, following a home walkover against Blidworth Welfare, and Shirebrook Rangers also made the final four after they won 3-1 at Radcliffe Olympic.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen a rare point dropped as Forest only draw with Hull.