They may have exited the Vitality Women’s FA Cup at the Third Qualifying Round stage, but Nottingham Trent University Women, and the journey of discovery they are partaking, together, this season, continues regardless.

Presently sitting in third place in the East Midlands Women’s Regional League Division One North, with a game in hand on the top two (Grimsby Town Sport & Education Trust Women, and Arnold Eagles Women), NTU also tasted success in the early rounds of the FA Cup, achieving what they’ve not done before.

Away to Hinckley United Ladies in the 1QR, then home to Bugbrooke St Michaels in the 2QR, NTU proceeded to hit an impressive twenty goals, ten in each, much to the surprise of both Head Coach Daniel Corlett, and their Club President/Captain, Grace Miller.

“Last year, it was all so new to us,” explained Grace, a third year BSc Hons Psychology student at NTU.

“With us being a university side as well, we just went into this years’ competition wanting to win a game.

“We didn’t expect one, let alone two, 10-0 wins in the competition though, far from it, and everyone went out there and put in a great shift.

“We didn’t have a clue about any other teams in the competition either, we just went out there and played our own brand of football and hoped we were the better team.”

In those first, two qualifying rounds, consecutive, ten-goal victories, Alice Rogers fired seven, and Julia Kings six, between them, they’ve also been firing goals in the league, a potent strike pairing which NTU possess.

When the draw was made for the 3QR though, NTU were perhaps shocked that they’d be travelling to the six-time former winners, Doncaster Rovers Belles and, although the visiting Nottinghamshire side would find themselves rocked when conceding three, early goals, they did hold their own, exiting on the back of a 3-0 reverse.

It never felt like a defeat though, NTU taking deserved credit from their performance on Sunday (24 October) afternoon – holding the Belles to three was victory enough for them, but to add a goalless, second period, whilst also creating chances that, on any other day, could well have swung the tie their way.

“We went in there and believed that we could put in a good performance against them (Doncaster Belles),” explained the NTU centre-half.

“We deserved the second half performance in which we had, we stuck to it and never gave up right to the very end.

“In fact, it did seem as though they were getting more and more frustrated as the game wore on.

“We came off the pitch, after the game, smiling, happy, which was really weird, but we’re pleased as to how far we’ve come, and we’ve done it whilst playing for each other.”

Motioning towards the increased levels of skill, challenge, and mind-set, between the EMWRFL, and the Notts Girls & Ladies League where NTU previously resided, on paper, it looks like the university have taken to it like the proverbial ‘ducks to water.’

Far from it, even though they’ve won three and drawn one of their four league outings to date, being held, on the second game of the season, away to Notts County Women Development, whilst also being taken to the wire before winning, by the odd-goal-in-nine, away to Sleaford Town Ladies.

“We’re really enjoying ourselves even though we know that we have to really turn up, all of us, for every game, and with a 100% attitude,” continued Grace.

“Yes, we’d love to win every game 10-0, who wouldn’t, but there’s more pride, more feeling, when it’s a much closer encounter.

“The game against (Notts) County Devs, that was a tough one, as was the win away to Sleaford, and it shows, in games like those, how hard it is playing at a higher level.”

Considering the increased difficulty NTU face on the field this season, and being able to turn their focus on regional affairs following their dismissal from the FA Cup, what is their target in which they have this campaign, how far can they really go?

With an EMWRFL League Cup clash away to Leicester Road Ladies 9sixth in Division One South) to come early next month, focus already has turned, albeit one game at a time, to a local affair this Sunday (31 October) away to Arnold Eagles.

Victory at Arnold, will see NTU leapfrog them into second, with that game in hand in their favour, they’ll continue doing what they do though, and whatever happens, happens.

“We go into every competition looking to win it, and we’ll always play our strongest, possible team,” concluded Grace,

“But yes, we’re just taking it one game, one step at a time, and we know that they (Arnold Eagles) are a very good side, but we know we’re capable of going there on Sunday, and doing a good job.

“For a few of us here, this could be their last season at the club (a lot will, once their degrees finish, move on to pastures new).

“Therefore, our aim this season, it has to be promotion, whilst also staying true to ourselves – the door though, at NTU, is always open, for those who want to remain, as a few are at a present.”

Keep up-to-date with all things NTU Women’s Football via their Twitter and Website.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NTUWFC Grace Miller (left) with team-mate Julia Kings