Forest Women Beat Derby At City Ground

Redemption, victory, record-breakers, and importantly, three points, came the way of Andy Cook and his Nottingham Forest Women on Sunday afternoon, following a 3-1 win over rivals Derby County, at the famous City Ground.

An FA Women’s National League Premier North record attendance of 5,082 (last season there was 4,443 in attendance) saw the Reds beat the Rams following a dominant, second half performance, the visitors finding the back of the net late in the game, following what was, surprisingly perhaps, a goalless first half.

Having lost both fixtures against their East Midlands rivals last season, Cook’s charges weren’t about to go through that again and, as the vociferous continued to get behind the home side, so the confidence for Lyndsey Harkin, Reds’ long-serving captain, and those on-field, grew.

It would not be until the second half however that the goals arrived, with Greengrass again at the double, taking her tally to seven for the seven, following her midweek brace against Loughborough Lightning.

The first came from a well-worked move which would see Hayley James find her way through and, with Greengrass joining her, played a low cross to her team-mate who placed her shot into the top, left-hand corner of the visiting net.

Ten minutes later and the home sides’ lead was doubled as Niamh Reynolds, who’d been running the midfield at will, found herself clean through on goal and finished calmly into the bottom corner; the killer third, and another ten minutes having elapsed, saw Greengrass latch onto a fumble from the Rams ‘keeper to tap home, much to the delight of those on the pitch, the sidelines, and in the stands.

Victory, and a comfortable one at that, sees Forest into third in the table, on sixteen points, and, with a game in hand on the two sides directly above them (Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley), are just three off top spot themselves.

Next up for Andy Cook’s side, a home game with ninth place Brighouse Town on Sunday 23 October.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt (Mackenzie Smith, 84), Charlotte Steggles (Olivia Cook, 74), Sophie Domingo (Arryana Daniels, 84), Mai Moncaster (Gianna Mitchell, 74), Amy West, Niamh Reynolds (Naomi Powell, 63), Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass

Afterwards, captain Lyndsey Harkin, and goalscorers Charlotte Greengrass and Niamh Reynolds, took to social media, paying tribute to the support they enjoyed, and of course a goal, saying –

Lyndsey Harkin: “What. A. Day.

“Thank you to the fans, you spurred us on to get that win and helped to create an amazing atmosphere.

“It was great to meet so many after the match.

“Unbelievably proud to captain this side. Proud of every single one of them today in a top performance.”

Charlotte Greengrass: “Absolutely incredible day at the City Ground. Proud to be a part of this club and play alongside these girls every week.

“Thank you to everyone who came out to support us today – atmosphere was phenomenal.”

Niamh Reynolds: “Great result today. Buzzing to score.”

Meanwhile, in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, only two Notts clubs were in action across the entire league, Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town Ladies moving up to fifth in the Premier Division following a 2-0 home win over rivals Basford United (fourth).

Both of the Stags’ goals came in the first half, Amy Dawson with her third of the season (in four games), whilst Monica Bowley grabbing her first of the campaign from a well-worked corner, whilst there was also a first clean sheet of the season for Vanessa Kinnerley following a recent return from injury.

Bowley, laughing, said afterwards: “About time I got on the scoresheet, just what I needed.

“Not bad for an old, not strong enough, not quick enough person, ey girls,” that should silence the ‘doubters,’ for a little while at least.

MANSFIELD TOWN – Vanessa Kinnerley, Maia Taylor, Amy Dawson, Chloe Hutsby, Monica Bowley, Georgina Beckwith, Caitlin Hughes, Gabriella Foulkes, Jessica Parker, Ellie Marshall, Mathilda Evans

Several other clubs were on County Cup duty with the First Round of the Notts FA Women’s County Cup as Arnold Eagles Flyers winning 5-4 on penalties, at home to Notts County Development, following a 1-1 draw.

The draw for the Second Round 9to be played 20 November), is as follows –

Mansfield Hosiery Mills vs. Arnold Eagles Flyers; Gedling Soutbank vs. Retford; Newark Town vs. Sherwood; Mansfield Town vs. Arnold Eagles; Basford United vs. West Bridgford Colts; Woodhouse Colts vs. Nottingham Forest Reserves; Keyworth United vs. Nottingham Trent University; Notts County vs. Meden Vale Colts/West Bridgford Colts Development

As for the Notts Girls & Ladies League, there was goals aplenty in the Seniors Division One, the three games played seeing some twenty-five goals scored.

Retford are currently holding top spot after they edged a nine-goal thriller away to Sports Gateway Hucknall, Emily Crompton bagging two in the 5-4 win; mid-table Keyworth United romped to a 9-2 win away to Univeristy of Nottingham as Shantay Wright claimed a hat-trick and Jenna Stocks two; whilst Teversal, in sixth, eased to a 4-1 home win over Nottingham Trent, Morgan Whale also scoring twice.