Nottingham Forest Women, and Mansfield Town Ladies, face each other in the upcoming, Nottinghamshire FA County Cup final later this month, and, on Sunday gone, in their respective leagues, Forest were held to a goalless draw in the last league game, at home to Brighouse Town, and Mansfield’s title challenge came to an abrupt end when losing 2-0 away to Northampton Town Women.
In the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier, Andy Cook’s Reds, in their last game of the season, played out a goalless draw; currently fourth, they are but a point ahead of the next two sides, Burnley (home to Middlesbrough) and Huddersfield (home to Hull City), so could still finish as low as sixth.
A major plus for Andy Cook was the first team debut of Reserves player, Aryana Daniels; having netted six in twelve for the Reds’ second string, Daniels came on for the closing twenty minutes of the National League season, replacing Niamh Reynolds.
Forest’s final, league line-up of the season was – Emily Batty, Lyndsey, Harkin, Georgia, Rachel Brown, Charlotte Steggles, Niamh Reynolds (Aryana Daniels, 72), Gianna Mitchell, Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass, Naomi Powell (Mai Moncaster, 81)
Meanwhile, in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division, Andi Bell’s side fell to a late, 2-0 defeat, away to Northampton Town, the title race now down to a three-horse race, between Chesterfield (leaders), Northampton (second) and Lincoln United (third), the second place side have a few games advantage.
As for the game itself, it was goalless heading into the final ten minutes, but, two goals in a matter of minutes, from Alexandra Dicks and Leah Cudone, gave the hosts the points, and, in turn, killed off the Stags title aspirations.
Mid-table Notts County Women also lost, Adam Dunleavy’s side falling to a 3-2 defeat against visitors Oughtibridge War Memorial; both sides pushing for a fifth place finish, County would be 2-1 down at the break; County’s scorers, Shoniqua Barnes and Ellie Rowson.
Elsewhere, bottom club Leicester City, defeated second bottom Rise Park Ladies 6-2, in the battle to avoid relegation, whilst in the Division One North, SJR Worksop were on the end of a nine-goal hammering when away to Grimsby Town; Kimberley Brown scored three along with braces from Alisha Dejonge and Libbi Wright, the hosts fighting for runners-up, and possible promotion.
The Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League meanwhile saw plenty of goals netted in the two games, Keyworth United romping to an 8-4 success against visitors Nottingham Trent University, and the spoils were shared in a 2-2 draw between Mansfield Hosiery Mills and Retford Women.
Leading 5-1 at the break, Keyworth adding three more in the second period to pick up the points thanks to goals from Shantay Wright (three), Sophie Beresford (two), and one each for Kereng Mrwata, Sammy Jacques, and Saffron McCann.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen the Reds held at home to Brighouse.
