Forest Beat Belles In Plate

Doncaster Rovers Belles 0-1 Nottingham Forest Women (FA Women’s National League Plate Round One) 07.11.21

Sunday was a good day to be a follower of those in red as all three under the women’s umbrella at Nottingham Forest picked up victories.

Andy Cook’s first team travelled to Doncaster in the First Round of the FAWNL Plate competition, and came away with a hard-fought, 1-0 win, Mai Moncaster notching the only goal of the game, heading home Georgia Hewitt’s cross.

Both sides created plenty of chances ahead of the only goal being scored, the visitors having their best chance in the 16^th minute with a counter-attack from a Forest corner, however, the resulting shot goes harmlessly wide of goal after Lindsey Tugby plays a ball through to Jasmine Saxton, who won through to have a shot on target.

Shortly after, Naomi Powell has Forest’s best chance ahead of the goal after a corner from Becky Anderson is connected with by Sophie Tudor and, although her effort was scrambled away, Powell rifles a shot back towards goal, the home keeper, Ellie Sharpe, doing well to get down and save.

Moncaster would be seen to have an effort on goal in the minutes before she opened the scoring, and when she did, it was on the end of the cross by Hewitt, nodding the ball past Sharpe.

The second half would go pretty much the same way, just without any further goals, not through lack of trying though, from either side, the Belles having a number of chances before the hour mark in which to level proceedings.

At the other end, Sharpe was proving equal to everything Forest were throwing at her, including efforts from Moncaster and Bonser, whilst into the closing stages, and with the Belles gaining some sort of upper-hand, Emily Batty’s goal came under some pressure.

Firstly, and from another counter-attack, Batty gets to down well to save a powerful effort on goal after a move between Tugby and Saxton, then, minutes later, and after Bonser had rattled the crossbar, the hosts quickly counter but the cross whistles out of play for a goal-kick.

Forest went for the last, both sides constantly probing until the death, and in stoppage time a through-ball from Anderson would meet the onrushing substitute, Katie Middleton whose drive and shot is pushed away well by the diving Sharpe – victory, and with it progression to the next round of the Plate however, secured.

Afterwards, captain Olivia Cook said after the game: “It’s always an honour putting on the armband and today was no different, especially returning to Doncaster.

“I am very grateful for this opportunity and it was even better sealing it with a win.

“It was a tough battle today and there were periods in the game we are really happy with and periods when we felt we could’ve given more.

“Ultimately the end goal was to get through and that’s what we did, so we’re delighted to be progressing through the plate.”

Scorer of the games only goal, Mai Moncaster added afterwards: “We are absolutely buzzing to get through to the next round of the plate.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to win some silverware this season as a club and we will continue to work hard to ensure that we push to win this competition.

“I thought the first half was good, we moved Doncaster around the pitch and created a lot of chances.

“It was an amazing feeling to score the winning goal and I will take this momentum into training and the game next week.”

In the FAWNL Midlands Reserves League, top-of-the-table Forest ran riot when away to Bedworth United Ladies Development, Sarah Richardson’s side racking up an impressive e, 16-1 success.

Arryana Daniels would help herself to a, double hat-trick, Mia Chairizia also scored three, whilst there was a brace for Charlotte Steggles, the Reds second-string showing no mercy in front of goal – especially with the opening goal coming after just 18 seconds of the opening whistle.

Head Coach Sarah Richardson said of her sides’ victory that it was: “A great win for us today with a dominant performance.

“Each goal was a team contribution with some colossal executions from great vision and superb finishing.

“A successful week from the training ground being carried into today’s game.”

The hat-trick of Garibaldi successes was completed when the Forest Development side progressed in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, League Cup competition, winning 2-1 at home to St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop Women, Olivia Standeven and Jessica Abdy with the goals.

Its cup day for Cook’s charges on Sunday (14 November) afternoon, they facing that of Lichfield City Ladies (West Midlands Regional League Premier Division) in the First Round Proper of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup. The match takes place at Eastwood, with a kick-off scheduled for 2pm – tickets can be purchased HERE

Forest: Emily Batty, Georgia Hewitt, Olivia Cook, Mai Moncaster (Rosie Axten 80), Niamh Reynolds (Katie Middleton, 62), Sophie Tudor, Becky Anderson, Hayley James (Grace Walters 62), Charlotte Greengrass, Alice Higginbottom (Rachel Brown 80), Naomi Powell (Sophie Bonser 62).