Nottingham Forest Women made the trip to Merseyside on Sunday afternoon, to face Women’s Super League side, Everton, in the WSL Cup, the Reds putting up a good showing of themselves to earn a point in the group stage match-up following a 1-1 draw.

It would however be Everton who’d take the extra point as they won the penalty shoot-out, 4-3, in one of two, of the nine games played, to be concluded this way (the other being Manchester City away to Newcastle United, City winning 7-6pens after a thrilling, 3-3 draw).

On Merseyside though, a goalless first half and the game finally sprung to life ten minutes after the restart; Everton conceded a penalty in the 55th minute and up stepped Aimee Claypole to open the scoring from twelve yards.

That lead would last but a matter of minutes though when Kelly Gago equalised just before the hour mark; onto a shoot-out, for the extra point, and the Reds would see Claypole, Hollie Olding, and Mollie Green net theirs, with Emily Ramsey, in the Everton goal, saving from Charlie Wellings and Chantelle Boye-Hlkorah – Gago would net her spot-kick, with the winning score coming from Mayumi Pacheco.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Emily Batty, Jessica Stapleton, Chloe Mustaki, Amy Rodgers, Aimee Claypole, Ebba Hed, Mollie Green (capt), Freya Thomas, Nahikari Garcia, Kirsty Smith, Chantelle Boye-Hlkorah (subs – Georgie Ferguson, Natalie Johnson, Vivienne Lia, Charlie Wellings, Hollie Olding, Caragh Hamilton, Casey Howe)

Notts County were also on cup duty, they playing at home to Leicester City Academy in the FA Women’s National League Plate and, despite falling two behind inside the opening, 22 minutes, rallied to pick up the victory.

Goals from Sammy Kaczmar and Izzy Palmer had the visitors two goal in-front, but the hosts pulled it back to go in level at the break, Evie Brooks with the first on the half hour then, three minutes later, Leah Hardy equalised.

The winner arrived just after the hour, Shoniqua ‘Smurf’ Barnes with the deciding goal and sending County into the Second Round.

There was only one game in the East Midlands League involving a Notts-based club, SJR Worksop falling to a narrow, 2-1 defeat, at home to Anstey Nomads in the Premier Division, Sarah Roberts with the hosts’ goal.

Elsewhere, it was cup duty as five of the seven games played in the Nottinghamshire FA County Cup resulted in away wins, the biggest result however being the 10-1 win for Notts County, at home to Basford United.

Summer Oliff fired home a four-goal salvo in the double-figure success, she being joined on the scoresheet by Chloe Newens’ hat-trick, and one apiece for Gemma Cornes, Ellisia Douglas-Needham, and Chloe Snodin, the visitors’ consolation coming from Aleksandra Dzikowska.

Of the side winning on the road, Mansfield Town top-scored when easing to an 8-1 win away to Newark Town, Ainsley Allan and Millie Edwards both grabbing doubles alongside efforts from Olivia Standeven, Shannon Purdy, Millie Mellors, and Monica Bowley.

University of Nottingham progressed with a 6-0 win at Lowdham Colts, Southwell City won 5-2 at home to East Leake, whilst there were 4-1 wins for both West Bridgford Colts, Nottingham Trent University, and Arnold Eagles, at Hucknall Town, Notts County Development, and Mansfield Town Development, respectively.

The remaining contest was settled by a lone strike by Eleandra Mota, as Radcliffe Olympic won 1-0 at home to Sherwood.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFC celebrations cut short as Everton take shootout victory in the WSL League Cup.