Bedworth United Ladies 1-5 Nottingham Forest Women (FA Women’s National League Plate Round Two) 09.01.22
Andy Cook’s Reds warmed up for their upcoming Vitality Women’s FA Cup Fourth Round clash with Manchester City Women, by dismantling hosts Bedworth Untied Ladies in the Women’s National League Plate competition.
Dismantling was perhaps an understatement as the Reds raced into a three-goal lead inside the opening five minutes, Cook having made a couple of changes to his starting eleven and bringing in that of Katie Middleton, Niamh Reynolds, and Sophia Bonser.
Of the trio, it would be Reynolds who’d open the scoring for the Reds after just two minutes, a lead that would be doubled, and trebled, within minutes.
Rachel Brown quickly added a second, and, moments later, the Reds were already out of sight, Bedworth caught completely cold as Hayley James grabbed the third.
On the opening goal for the Reds, home shot-stopper, Freeleigh Parnell was unable to react to an initial, great save, Reynolds on home to slot home the rebound.
The goal glut however didn’t quite materialise, Forest adding just two more in the remainder of the first half as Amy West made if four on twelve minutes, and, twelve minutes later, Forest’s goal-scoring was complete with Bonser completing what was a quick-fire rout of their hosts.
Parnell, although conceding five in the opening 25 minutes, was actually seen to have a reasonable half, pulling off some good saves to keep the on-fire Forest attack at bay.
The second period would carry on pretty much in the same vein as the first, one-way traffic for the visitors, with the hosts slowly, but surely, finding their feet.
In fact, they actually did enough to warrant themselves a goal when, with a little over twenty remaining, and following a mistake in the Forest defence, home substitute, Milly Miller, was on-hand to slot home, whilst Parnell was still keeping that back-line locked away.
Unfortunately for the hosts, they couldn’t find a way through any more, and suffered a 5-1 defeat, however, for their captain, it was to be a day she’ll never forget in a hurry.
Afterwards Liv Gilbertson took to social media and said of the occasion: “Honoured to captain Bedworth Ladies today vs. National Tier 3 Nottingham Forest Women in the cup.
“Lost the first half, but so proud of how the girls dug in and played to win the second half 1-0.
“Proud day for me at 17-years-old, really hope to captain the side again in the future.”
Next up for Andy Cook’s Forest Women, a trip to Huddersfield Town Ladies in the National League North on Sunday 16 January.
Forest: Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt, Rachel Brown, Charlotte Steggles, Katie Middleton, Amy West, Niamh Reynolds, Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Sophia Bonser.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @LadiesBedworth action at Bedworth United as Forest hit five.
