Its derby time in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier this coming weekend as Nottingham’s famed City Ground plays host, for the second successive season, to the ‘East Midlands Derby’ between Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest, and Sam Griffiths’ Derby County.

Last season, it was all about the Rams however, they winning at home, and away, without conceding, as the game at the City Ground, in front of near 4,500 spectators, saw the visitors claim a 2-0 success, Emily Joyce and Ellie Gilliatt netting.

In fact, it has been a number of years since the Reds tasted any serious success over their neighbours, but, having enjoyed their current start to the 2022/23 campaign, Cook and his charges are hopeful Lady Luck shines on them this time around.

Recent seasons, that has seen just two wins and a draw for Nottingham’s finest, in seven meetings, netting just six times; of those two successes, Charlotte Steggles and Rosie Axten scored in a 2-0 at the start of the 2020/21 (unfinished) season, whilst Hazzanna Parnell was the lone scorer in a 1-0 win back in September 2017.

Looking ahead to the weekend’s action (Forest also had a local affair with Loughborough Lightning on Thursday night), Reds Head Coach, Andy Cook told the Forest website: “We’re really excited to be coming back to The City Ground, especially for a game of this magnitude against our biggest rivals.

“The support has been fantastic for the team since I’ve been here and to break the record last season for the highest ever attendance in our division was superb and it would be special to improve on that even further.

“We saw how much the nation got behind the Lionesses at the Euros this summer and it was a great advert for women’s football.

“We’d love to see as many supporters at The City Ground as possible because it really does make the difference and all the players really do appreciate all the support you give them.

“We’ve started the season really strongly and we’re looking to build on that, so to have a massive league game at The City Ground to look forward to gives us even more motivation to keep striving forward and improving.”

Prior to Derby though, Forest looked to get back to winning ways having dropped points in their previous two, league outings, a 1-1 draw away to Burnley (09/10/22), and 4-2 reverse when home to rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers (18/09/22).

Opposing Loughborough, Coach Cook named the following, starting eleven – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Steggles, Amy West, Arryana Daniels, Gianna Mitchell, Beccky Anderson, Charlotte Greengrass, Naomi Powell

Recent Reds signings, Rosetta Taylor, who’d previously spent seven years in Spain, with Valencia CF Feminin, started on the bench for the second, successive match.

Facing Loughborough, a goal in each half from Charlotte Greengrass, taking her tally to five (in all competitions this season) which was added to by further goals from Georgia Hewitt (her first of the campaign), and Sophie Domingo (second since joining), sealing a well-earned, 4-1 win; victory would see the Reds move into third place, on goal difference, alongside Stoke City (they have two games in hand on the top two, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley).

Elsewhere, and in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County side are currently joint-second in the Premier Division (with Lincoln United, and leaders Chesterfield, with a game in hand).

They collected their third win from three last time out, winning 3-1 away to Oughtibridge War Memorial, Nikki Emery with a brace; whilst Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town picked up their first win of the season, captain Amy Dawson with a hat-trick in a 3-2 win away to Rotherham United.

Notts County XI (vs. Oughtibridge) – Philippa Davies, Elizabeth Queen, Molly Boultbee, Holly Fowler, Emily Stretton, Laura Vine, Emma White, Elle Rowson, Nikki Emery, Alice Hughes, Audrey Huskisson-Moore

Mansfield Town XI (vs. Rotherham) Vanessa Kinnerley, Kirsty Allen, Amy Dawson, Chloe Hutsby, Monica Bowley, Georgina Beckwith, Caitlin Hughes, Gabriella Foulkes, Georgia Gladwin, Tia McDonagh, Mathilda Evans

Nottingham Trent University meanwhile lead the way in Division One Central (joint-top with Dronfield Town) after they eased to a 4-1 win at home to Asfordby Amateurs, Bea Hembrough bagging a hat-trick of her own.

As for cup competitions, the third qualifying round of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup sees the presence of five Nottinghamshire clubs; with ties to be played on Sunday 23 October, they are as follows –

Crewe Alexandra vs. Sherwood; Oughtibridge vs. Nottingham Trent University; Basford United vs. Sedgley & Gornal United; Peterborough United vs. Mansfield Town: Solihull Moors vs Arnold Eagles

Meanwhile, the draw has also been made for the First Round of the FA Women’s National League Cup, in regards Nottingham Forest, who make the trip to the north-east, and Coach Cook’s native Teesside, when they face Norton & Stockton Ancients, on Sunday 30 October.

As for this Sunday’s big game, at the City Ground, against Derby County, tickets can be purchased via here.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen the Reds impressed to win 4-1 against Loughborough om Thursday night.