It was double delight for Nottingham Forest Women on Sunday afternoon (30 October) as both their seniors, and reserves sides, collected big wins.
Andy Cook rang the changes as he took the first to his native Teesside, opposing that of Norton & Stockton Ancients (National League Division One North) in the FA Women’s National League Cup, giving starts to Aja Aguirre, Lauren Purchase, Olivia Cook, Yasmin Mosby, Arryana Daniels, Mackenzie Smith and Naomi Powell, whilst Charlotte Steggles donned the captains band for the cup outing.
Prior to the game, Cook told the Forest website here that: “Cup games always offer up different challenges and we want to progress in the competition so we’ll be preparing as normal.
“Norton will be up for the challenge because they’ll want to prove they can compete at our level, but we’re full of motivation ourselves because we want to progress as far in this competition as possible.”
The Reds had numerous chances to progress via a much bigger margin, however, as the game wore on, the hosts found themselves looking to get back into the game; the three, first-half goals though, proved sufficient to see the visitors through.
Yasmin Mosby would open the scoring after just fifteen minutes then, with the game inching towards the break, the Reds made their dominance in the first forty-five, count, first the captain, Charlotte Steggles, registered, before Arryana Daniels got in on the act on the stroke of half-time.
Coach Cook made numerous changes throughout the second period, it showing as the foot was taken off the gas somewhat, allowing the hosts back into the contest, putting away a penalty with ten minutes remaining, Forest holding for a 3-1 win, and progression into the next round.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Aja Aguirre, Lauren Purchase, Olivia Cook (Rosetta Taylor, 60), Charlotte Steggles, Mai Moncaster (Becky Anderson, 73), Yasmin Mosby, Amy West (Hayley James, 60), Arryana Daniels, Charlotte Greengrass (Niamh Reynolds, 73), Mackenzie Smith, Naomi Powell (Sophie Domingo, 73)
Meanwhile, the reserves were in action in the FA Women’s National League Reserve Midland Division, hosting Forest’s old foes, Wolverhampton Wanderers Women Reserves, the Reds coming out on top with a comfortable, 2-0 win, both goals coming in the second half.
Victory for the Reds keeps them in touching distance of the divisions front-runners, they albeit having played two games more (West Bromwich Albion, 13pts), and a game more (Derby County, 10pts; Wolves, 9pts) – forest, alongside Sporting Khalsa Development, who won 4-1 away to Long Eaton Development, also have nine points.
In the East Midlands Women’s Football League Premier Division, Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town moved into fourth place with their third straight win (and second, successive, clean sheet), thanks to an Ellie Marshall brace, and an own-goal, when home to Anstey Nomads.
Meanwhile, Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County side were, heart-breakingly, held to a 3-3 draw when home to second bottom Rotherham United; Nya Chambers, Emma White, and a rocket from Elle Rowson had the hosts three to the good with twenty remaining.,
However, having pulled one back with eleven minutes remaining, the visitors bagged two more in the closing exchanges to snatch what, at one stage, looked an unlikely point, the hosts holding second in the table.
Division One Central would see both Mansfield Hosiery Mills and Notts County Development both fall to defeat on the road, to Ilkeston Town (5-3) and Asfordby Amateurs (4-2) respectively, whilst two goals from Bella Reed helped Sherwood to a 4-3 win away to local rivals West Bridgford Colts.
Just six points separate the eight sides in the division with Nottingham Trent University top of the pile, on nine points (level with Asfordby and Dronfield Town), and Mansfield HM propping them all up with three points at the other end.
There was also a fourth defeat in four in Division One North, SJR Worksop falling to a 2-1 loss when away to Grimsby Borough, they’re already twelve adrift of leaders Grimsby Town S&E Trust.
As for the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors One, Retford currently lead Mansfield Town Development by two points after they romped to a 6-1 win away to lowly University of Nottingham, goals coming from Emma Broome and Isabelle Thorpe 9two apiece), Ellie Sims, and substitute Charlotte Johnson, whilst Sports Gateway Hucknall won 4-2 at home to Radcliffe Olympic, Georgia Graham bagging a double of her own.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen the Forest women celebrate during their win in the North East.
