Tuesday night’s third post-season friendly victory for Nottingham Forest Women, a 3-1 success away to Nottingham Trent University, would see Head Coach Andy Cook, blood some new players into his starting line-up.

In winning 3-1, goals coming from Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass and Charlotte Steggles, the latter with her third of the post-season, continues the confidence running through Reds as they prepare for a trip to the north-east at the weekend.

But it was also the appearance of the ‘Famous Five’ graduates making their first-team debuts – Summa Betts, Devonn Cousins, Cam Farthing, Lejà Harvey, Alice Higginbottom and Caitlin Hughes the lucky Reds to get run-outs.

Speaking afterwards, Andy Cook said of his debutants: “It was great to be able to give minutes to Alice, Lejà, Caitlin, Summa, Cam and Devonn. Forest prides itself on giving young players chances and we did that tonight.

“The hard work really starts for them now, they’ve had a look-in but now they need to realise what is required to stay with the first-team.”

It is a first-team that has seen everyone gaining much-needed game-time in recent weeks following months of no action whatsoever, and at the weekend Cook fielded pretty much his entire, first-team squad in the win over Long Eaton United.

Of the five players, four of them, Betts, Cousins, Harvey and Farthing, are all RTC graduates, whilst the remaining player, Hughes, has been with the club since junior level.

There are two more friendlies scheduled for Andy Cook and his Forest Women this month, trips to Newcastle United Women on Sunday 25, followed by Doncaster Rovers Belles on Wednesday 28; keep up-to-date via the Women’s social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen Head Coach Andy Cook surveying his charges.