Notts Win In The Snow

Notts County Women 3-2 Loughborough Students Women (East Midlands Women’s Regional League Premier Division) 28.11.21

Greenwich Avenue hosted a snow-fest goal-fest on Sunday afternoon in one of but a handful of games played across the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, courtesy of the aftermath of Storm Arwen.

A hectic first period would see County come from a goal down inside ten minutes, to take the lead, only to go in at the break level at twos-apiece.

The visiting Loughborough would open the scoring, on the counter-attack, after just seven minutes, breaching Pippa Davies line; however, a cross from Hannah Kiddle, just five minutes later, was met by Nya Chambers, who wasted little time in finishing.

Chambers’ equaliser would see her draw level with former County star, and England international, Jess Clarke, who spent six seasons with the Pies throughout the 2010s, who debuted for England in the run to the Euro 2009 final, in Helsinki.

Having fallen behind, County would be seen to take the lead on the half hour when a cross from Emma White was controlled, and brought down well by Shoniqua Barnes, it resulted in her finishing well from close range.

The visitors weren’t to be undone however, and, as the snow started to come down on Greenwich, the equaliser soon came, the Students levelling after a goalmouth scramble. But, with four goals netted in a hectic, yet cold first, the sides went in level at the break.

Chambers and Barnes’ goals for County being matched by the Students’ scorers, Sarah Brown, and Flossie Jones.

As the snow fell throughout the second period, concentration was, understandably, harder to maintain, and its’ credit to both teams that they’d see the game through, especially as the majority of other matches were either postponed, or abandoned.

A plethora of late substitutions from County boss, Adam Dunleavy, four of the five made in the second period coming in the final quarter, the most inspired was the late introduction of Lashea Francis, the last of the changes made.

Replacing Emily Stretton with nine minutes remaining, it would be Francis who’d pop up, in the last minute, to grab the decisive, third goal, she breaking free and proceeding to lob the visiting ‘keeper to cap off an impressive, snow-bound, 3-2 victory.

Afterwards, County captain, Holly Fowler said: “Playing in this today and during the snow was a challenge in itself.

“Proud of the girls’ commitment to get the job done in difficult conditions; 3 points, against a strong side.”

Victory, coupled with non-activity elsewhere, would see County move into fifth in the table, three points behind leaders Northampton Town Women, but having played a game more than both them, and their next opponents.

As the top three sides in the EMWRFL sit on twelve points, each, County’s next outing, scheduled for Sunday 5 December, is a little trip over to the One Call Stadium, and a date with Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town Ladies.

Other scheduled matches for Notts-based sides in the EMWRFL next time out are that of – Lincoln United Women vs. Rise Park Ladies (Premier), Nottingham Trent University Women vs. Grimsby Town S & E Trust (Div. 1 North), Notts County Women Development vs. Grimsby Borough Ladies (Div.1 North), Sherwood Women vs. Cleethorpes Town Ladies (Div. 1 North), Sleaford Town Ladies vs. Arnold Eagles Women (Div. 1 North), SJR Worksop Women vs. Appleby Frodingham Ladies (Div. 1 North), and Ilkeston Town Ladies vs. Nottingham Forest Development (Div. 1 South)

Notts County: Philipa Davies, Mollie-Mae Crump, Holly Fowler, Hannah Kiddle, Emma White (Hannah Daniel 71), Nya Chambers (Bella Reed 74), Charlotte Taylor (Zoe Meyrick 74), Ellie Rowson, Shoniqua Barnes, Emily Stretton (Lashea Francis 81), Amy Wells (Sam Brooks 60).