Lady Mags End Season With Point

Out of their twenty-two league games, Notts County finished their second season in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, with a draw.

Having only been held in one other game this season, a 3-3 draw at home to Barnsley in early February; this time, it would be an entertaining, 2-2 draw, against Solihull Moors, at Meadow Lane, to close out the campaign.

All four goals arrived in the first half, including one for Shoniqua Barnes at the Lane; it was the visitors, who finished second bottom in the table, who opened the scoring after Georgia Neath netted following a high press after sixteen minutes.

Barnes then had her moment at the Lane when County equalised minutes later, beating the offside trap, on a quick counter attack, to slot into Zoe Millington’s bottom corner.

A free-kick for the visitors, twenty-five minutes in, was eventually put home by Alex Liddiard, but again County struck back, quickly; Moors gave away a penalty just before the half hour mark, Leah Hardy converting from twelve yards.

Both the end of the first, and end of the second, had lengthy stoppages added on, near twenty minutes total; Neath receiving treatment at the end of the first period.

Both sides had chances throughout the second period in which to add to the goals tally, Leah Hardy firing wide and Rhea Baily seeing her headed effort cleared off the line as the game moved into the final twenty, whilst late on beautiful work from Nya Chambers saw release Nikki Russell, but Millington saved the ensuing effort, the two sides settling for a point.

Notts County – Ashleigh Hind, Evie Brooks, Holly Fowler (Summer Reece, 84), Leah Hardy, Jessie Knott, Shoniqua Barnes (Rhea Bailey, 71), Laura Vine, Lily Stevenson (Neve Hincks, 66), Takiah Parkes (Nikki Russell, 71), Annie Taylor, Emily Brett

County finished the 2024/25 campaign with ten wins and two draws from their twenty-two outings, finishing in seventh place, two off sixth placed Barnsley; the outcome meant County registered their highest place finish, and their best points tally (31) for a season.

With Loughborough Lightning promoted as champions, and that of Solihull Moors and Lincoln City relegated, there’ll be a different look to next season, including the addition of East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League champions, Sheffield FC.