Forest Women Felled By Rams

Football Nottingham Forest info@nottinghamsport.com October 4, 2021

Nottingham Forest Women 0-2 Derby County Women (FA Women’s National League North) 03.10.21

It was an historic day in Nottingham on Sunday afternoon as the famed City Ground, home to Nottingham Forest, played host to a women’s fixture in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division, and it lived up to expectations, more for the visitors.

Granted the result may not have gone the way Forest Women, and Head Coach Andy Cook, would have wanted it to, East Midlands rivals Derby County pulling off a 2-0 win thanks to two, first half goals, but the occasion, that matched expectations.

A record attendance of some 4,443 turned out by the Trent as the two, derby rivals, battle it out at the top end of the division, currently led by Fylde Women, with County leapfrogging Forest into third place.

A cagey opening quarter would see both sides jostling for position, neither side creating much opportunity in front of goal however, after 2 minutes, the Garibaldi saw their first, couple of chances, go begging – what a difference putting these away would have made.

Firstly, a quick free-kick from Becky Anderson was floated into the box, connecting with the head of Amy West, only for it to connect with the wrong side of the upright; six minutes later and the biggest chance of the game for the hosts was afforded.

Freya Thomas found herself being brought down in the box on the half hour mark, the referee pointing to the spot following a mazy, slalom run through County’s back-line, only to be felled by a combination of a pair of visiting defenders.

Forest striker Rosie Axten would be charged with the spot-kick and, having connected hard and true, aiming for the top left corner, visiting ‘keeper, Charlotte Clarke, was a match for it, pulling off a momentous save to keep the scores level – even the rebound, followed up on by Laura-Jayne O’Neill, was headed agonisingly wide.

Still goalless heading towards the interval, those final five minutes of the half would prove costly for the Garibaldi, their East Midlands rivals registering twice in a matter of minutes, for a two-goal, interval lead.

Emily Joyce would open the scoring on 42 minutes, capitalising on a mix-up at the back and slotting the ball into an open goal, then, a matter of minutes later, Ellie Gilliatt would double the visitors lead from a free-kick, after Amy Sims was fouled 25 yards out, and arrowed it into Emily Batty’s the bottom corner, Forest boss, Andy Cook, having plenty to do at the break.

A much quieter, second period, would see an early, Forest chance, after captain, Lyndsey Harkin, was brought down ten minutes into the half; just outside the box, Anderson would send in an inch-perfect free-kick that, as with the first-half, was headed goal-wards, this time by Jade Arber – but wide.

Few highlights were witnessed during the second period, from both sides, until the closing ten minutes that.

Forest, having battled away all game, found the visitors defence hard to break down, marshalled well by ‘keeper Clarke, and captain Hannah Ward pulling strings throughout – in quick succession though, in the closing throes, Sims would see an effort blocked, followed quickly by a last-ditch challenge from Laura-Jayne O’Neill to keep out a bursting run from County substitute, Sophie Domingo.

This was immediately followed up by a couple of late chances from the hosts, the late introductions of first Katie Middleton, then Mai Moncaster, adding some renewed vigour in the attack, even a late effort from West being to no avail, Forest falling to a loss that will, without doubt, be tough to take, but will dust themselves off to go again.

Speaking of going again, that is tomorrow (Tuesday 5 October) night, when they make the trip to West Bromwich Albion Women, followed by a home game, on Sunday (10 October) against Middlesbrough Ladies.

Forest: Emily Batty, Charlotte Greengrass (Mai Moncaster 83), Lyndsey Harkin (capt), Olivia Cook (Charlotte Steggles 87), Laura-Jayne O’Neill, Becky Anderson, Amy West, Freya Thomas, Rachel Brown (Georgia Hewitt 87), Jade Arber (Naomi Powell, 87), Rosie Axten (Katie Middleton 75)