Cup progression, achieved, as Nottingham Forest Women won their first cup outing of the season, away to Leek Town, in the FA Women’s National League Cup Determining Round, 5-0, on Sunday afternoon.
Ringing the changes from the side that lost against Wolverhampton Wanderers Women the previous, Head Coach Andy Cook afforded first starts of the season to ‘keeper Aja Aguirre, as well as Gianna Mitchell and Naomi Powell, whilst there was also starting debuts for three of the summer signings in Iris Achterhof, Lauren Purchase, and Mackenzie Smith.
A dominant performance from the Reds would see them take the lead just over the halfway mark in the first period, Becky Anderson heading home her third of the season, from a corner, and, ten minutes later, Achterhof capped her debut with her first goal for the club, knocking home a rebound after her first shot was parried back to her.
A two-goal, interval lead, was built upon during the second, further goals being added after Cook had made five substitutions, just after the hour mark, two of whom would find the net.
Within minutes of joining the fray, Charlotte Greengrass notched her second of the campaign before Gianna Mitchell put the game beyond doubt minutes later for her second of the campaign, and Forest’s fourth of the game.
With both sides creating chances, and with the visitors looking to move out of sight, it took until ten minutes from time before the fifth, and final goal, was added, another of the second half substitutes, Mai Moncaster, claiming her third goal in five games, and wrap up progression.
Nottingham Forest – Aja Aguirre, Lyndsey Harkin (Mai Moncaster, 64), Georgia Hewitt (Hayley James, 64), Lauren Purchase, Olivia Cook (Niamh Reynolds, 64), Iris Achterhof (Sophie Domingo), Amy West, Gianna Mitchell, Becky Anderson (Charlotte Greengrass, 64), Mackenzie Smith, Naomi Powell
Other, standout results, saw both Wolves Women, and Liverpool Feds, hit five on the road, at Northampton Town (5-0) and West Bromwich Albion (5-1) respectively, Stoke City win 4-2 at Boldmere St. Michaels, and Burnley win 3-1 at Hull City.
There was mixed fortunes for Nottinghamshire clubs in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League however, as Basford United Ladies slip into second place, two points behind leaders Chesterfield Ladies, following their 5-0 home win over Arnold Eagles Women.
Katie Platts helped herself to a hat-trick for the hosts whilst further goals were added by Grace Ablett and Thea Duncan, the hosts enjoying their start to the new campaign; Mansfield Town Ladies meanwhile, they slumped to another defeat when losing 1-0 at home to Oughtibridge War Memorial Women.
In Division One Central, Nottingham Trent University Women currently share leadership (top on goal-difference) with Asfordby Amateurs and Dronfield Town Ladies, after they claimed a derby win, 3-0 away to Sherwood Women, at the weekend, Alice Rogers netting twice alongside a goal from Faye Wheatley.
Asfordby meanwhile romped to victory when home to Mansfield Hosiery Mills Women, taking a 5-0 win, whilst the spoils were shared in the game between West Bridgford Colts Women and Notts County Women Development, that finishing in a 3-3 draw.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen the Reds in yellow impressed at Leek.
