This past Sunday saw the opening round of the County Cup in Nottinghamshire and, although a couple of sides received walkovers, the victories, they were there for all to see.
Nottingham Forest Reserves hit thirteen, Sherwood seven, Mansfield Town six, and Mansfield Hosiery Mills five, as they all reached the next round.
In Mansfield, and facing East Midlands Women’s League rivals, Arnold Eagles, Andi Bell’s Stags side would be seen to romp to comfortable lead at the interval, before running out 6-1 victors.
Although the Eagles top-scorer, Natasha Leach, would net for the visitors, the hosts would fire five of their own as captain Amy Dawson led with a brace, Georgia Gladwin also added two of her own, whilst Ellie Marshall, also found the net.
The visitors tightened up in the second period, but were undone again late on when Chloe Hutsby added a sixth and seal progression to the next round, for last season’s runners-up.
MANSFIELD TOWN – Vanessa Kinnerley, Maia Taylor, Amy Dawson, Chloe Hutsby, Monica Bowley, Georgina Beckwith, Ellie Marshall, Gabriella Foulkes, Georgia Gladwin, Devonn Cousins, Mathilda Evans
The other Mansfield side in action was that of Hosiery Mills, who saw off Arnold Eagles Flyers, 5-1, at home.
Marie Wayne would be seen to notch a brace for the victors, she being joined on the score-sheet by that of Jazmin Heath, Amy Jones, and Bethany Wilcockson.
Sherwood Women progressed on the back of a 7-2 win away to Newark Town, Basford United defeated visiting West Bridgford Colts 3-1, whilst Forest’s Reserves, they routed their hosts, Notts Girls & Ladies League Seniors Division 2 side, Woodhouse Colts.
The gulf showed as the Reds’ second string registered eight in the first-half alone, Summa Betts with a 34 minute, four-goal haul, and this after Chelsea Bailey had opened the scoring just three minutes into the contest.
Isabella Hodson, Laura Dexter, and Amy Colledge added further goals to the first-half haul, Dexter boasting some good, first-team experience.
The ninth goal for the Reds came just after the hour mark, Emily Jacobs finding the net, and, whilst using all their substitutes, three of those also netted; Olivia Edwards was first, she netting twice in the closing stages, Jessica Melrose would net between Edwards’ brace, before a late, and lucky thirteenth, came from Takiah Burnett, Libby Bartlett and Evie Quinn having also come on.
Of the other, scheduled matches in the County Cup, they all resulted in walkovers as Notts County, Retford, and Nottingham Trent University, advanced to the next round following the withdrawals of Meden Vale Colts, Gedling Southbank, and Keyworth United, respectively.
In the leagues themselves, Adam Dunleavey’s Notts County are currently top of the East Midlands Premier Division, with four wins and a draw from their opening five matches, whilst Mansfield Town are fourth, with Basford in fifth place.
Division One Central currently sees that of Nottingham Trent University top, leading by one over Asfordby Amateurs and Dronfield Town, who’ve both got a game in hand; meanwhile, in the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League, Retford hold top spot, leading Mansfield Town Development by two points, after seven matches.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @MTFCLadies a convincing win for Mansfield Town Ladies.
