The recent storm has certainly affected the majority of football matches, the same which can be applied to those played in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League at the weekend.
However, one big plus for fans of women’s football across Nottinghamshire, was that the first league meeting between Mansfield Town Ladies (hosts) and Notts County Women (visitors) went ahead at the R&H Academy.
Both sides have enjoyed a decent start to the new season and, although the game finished in a 1-1 draw, the hosts perhaps would be more disappointed in the outcome, albeit remaining unbeaten in their first five games – the point being a big result for the visitors.
Andi Bell and Adam Dunleavy both named strong starting eleven’s for the derby, and it would be the visitors who were quickest out of the blocks, Bella Reed and Charlotte Taylor combining as early as the first minute, the latter of the two putting the ball past Vanessa Kinnerley in the home goal for the opener.
As entertaining as the encounter between the two Notts sides was, that early goal was all that could be mustered during the first period, and it would stay that way until the hour mark was upon them.
The equaliser, in what was a dogged, battling display from Monica Bowley, certainly added to her standing in the local game, she heading home a cross for the hosts, and having also had a battle with Philipa Davies’ post as well.
And so it finished as it had started, level pegging, with Bell and Dunleavy seeing their respective sides’ eke out a hard-fought, 1-1 draw, with the following, starting line-ups –
Mansfield Ladies – Vanessa Kinnerley, Amy Dawson, Monica Bowley, Georgina Beckwith, Kirsty Allen, Jess Parker, Ellie Marshall, Shannon Purdy, Gabby Foulkes, Georgia Gladwin, Beth Jones
County Women – Philipa Davies, Mollie-Mae Crump, Holly Fowler, Hannah Kiddle, Emma White, Nya Chambers, Charlotte Taylor, Ellie Rowson, Shoniqua Barnes, Amelia Holland, Bella Reed
The only other game played, featuring a Notts side, in the EMWRFL, came in Lincoln, as visitors Rise Park Ladies were put to the sword against hosts, Lincoln United Women.
Trailing by two at the break, Rise Park remained second bottom when suffering a seven-goal defeat, Abigail Murrell with five of them, including three in ten, second half minutes.
A handful of Notts sides were also in action in the Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies League as Keyworth United Ladies won 11-1 at Mansfield Town Ladies Development, in Division One, Shantay Wright with a six-goal salvo.
Arnold Eagles Flyers hit fifteen without reply in Division Two, whilst both Bingham Town Ladies (home to Newark Town Ladies) and Sherwood Women Development (away to Lowdham Colts Ladies), won 4-3, substitute Katie Fish with a hat-trick for Sherwood.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @DanWestwell action between Mansfield and Notts in the first ever women’s match between the two sides.
