Forest Women Win National League Plate

Nottingham Forest Women lifted their first piece of silverware this season when, on Sunday lunch-time, they saw off a stern challenge from AFC Wimbledon Ladies, 2-1, to lift the FA Women’s National League Plate.

All three goals would come in the first half, in fact the opening half hour, the Reds taking an early lead after thirteen minutes through Rachel Brown, she getting on the end of a cross from Charlotte Steggles, to poke the ball home, and set Forest on their way.

Shortly after the halfway stage in the first period and Wimbledon were level, a free-kick from Ashlee Hincks being headed past Emily Batty, in the Forest goal, by Kelly Highman, suddenly, it was game on.

That lead however lasted just seven minutes before the Reds got themselves back in front just after the half hour mark when Becky Anderson’s free-kick, on the edge of the area, was lashed into the top corner.

It would be all that was needed for victory, with Anderson continuing to pull the strings during the second period, several efforts from the Forest star heading over the bar including, just past the hour, a twenty-five yard free-kick.

For Wimbledon, their best chance of the second period would fall to Hincks who, as with her Forest counterpart, tried her luck with a free-kick from range, Batty though equal to it in the Forest goal and pushing the effort wide.

Afterwards, Andy Cook told Forest TV that: “This is what we’ve wanted, and this is what we’ve been working towards all week, and since we found out we were in this final.

“Over the moon to get the win with a good performance in the first half, and gritty in the second and to come away with this is brilliant.”

Watch the full interview here.

Andy Cook, who having made four changes from his sides’ last outing, bringing in Georgia Hewitt, Olivia Cook, Amy West and Gianna Mitchell, to the starting eleven, played the following – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt (Charley Docherty, 78), Rachel Brown, Olivia Cook (Charlotte Steggles, 68), Amy West, Niamh Reynolds (Naomi Powell, 76), Gianna Mitchell (Grace Walters, 90), Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass (unused – Aja Aguirre)

In the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division, the top four clash between hosts Mansfield Town Ladies, were held to a goalless draw against Lincoln United Ladies, the top four still holding hopes of winning the title.

With Chesterfield Women holding a seven point advantage on that Northampton Town Women, Mansfield, and Lincoln United, those remaining three sides having several games in hand, Mansfield with two on the leaders.

Mid-table Notts County Women kept up hopes of a top five finish with a 3-2 win away to third bottom Loughborough Students Women, four of the goals coming in the first half, County’s goals coming from Amy Wells, Shoniqua Barnes, and Mollie Crump.

Meanwhile, second bottom Rise Park Ladies were put to the sword when away to Oughtibridge War Memorial Women, the hosts racking up double figures, whilst conceding just the one.

Arnold Eagles finished their title-winning campaign, in Division One North, in style, Natasha Leach scoring twice in a 3-0 home win over Notts County Development, Emma Goddard with the other as she bagged her first of the season.

At the other end of the table, third bottom Sherwood Women, thanks to a brace from Rebecca Firth, as they won 2-0 away to SJR Worksop Women, whilst in the South, Nottingham Forest Development won 4-2 at home to Thrapston Town Ladies.

Jessica Shaw would score twice for the Reds third string, taking her tally to eleven in fifteen, whilst Caitlin Hughes and substitute Jayda Jenkins.

In the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League their Cup and Plate semi-finals were played, with Arnold Eagles Flyers and Mansfield Hosiery Mills Women winning their respective cup matches, 4-1 and 2-1, over Retford Women and Mansfield Town Ladies Development, whilst in the Plate, WBC Women won 6-3 at home to Keyworth United Ladies.