Northampton Town Women regained leadership of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division at the weekend, seeing off a depleted Notts County Women at their Harpole Playing Fields home.

Shorn of several stars due to covid infections, Adam Dunleavy took a weaker squad and were made to pay in the opening half hour, the hosts racing into a three-goal lead; Gracie Williams had the hosts a goal up inside five minutes, Leah Cudone quickly doubled that with quarter hour gone, and Rachel Mumford added a third just after the twenty minute mark.

Victory for the hosts moved them a point clear at the top, with games in hand on those around them, including that of third-placed Mansfield Town Ladies, who are joint-second with Oughtibridge  War Memorial on fourteen apiece.

Two Nottinghamshire sides were in action in Division One North as four of the top six sides are from the county, mid-table Notts County Women Development holding second place Grimsby Town Sport & Education Trust Women, to a 1-1 draw, Ellie Kirk netting for the hosts

Sherwood Women meanwhile, second bottom of the division, were comfortably beaten 3-0 at Gregory Boulevard, off fourth place Grimsby Borough Ladies, Mia Allen with a brace, and Phoebe Lonsdale the other.

Nottingham Forest Women Development are the only Notts side in Division One South, and moved into fourth place, fifteen points off the leaders, Derby County Women Academy, with two games in hand.

Jayda Jenkins would be seen to fire a four-goal salvo as the Reds’ third string defeated visitors Kettering Town Women, 6-2, Isabella Hodson adding a brace to the win and boosting their goal difference.

The draw was also recently made for the Notts FA Women’s Senior Cup quarter-finals, the following matches, to be played on 20 February 2022 being made:

Arnold Eagles Women vs. Sherwood Women; Mansfield Town Ladies vs. Nottingham Trent University Women; Nottingham Forest Women vs. Teversal Ladies; Notts County Women vs. Rise Park Ladies.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @PeteNortonPhoto a tough ask for Notts beaten by Northampton who go top.