As Nottingham Forest saw their Vitality Women’s FA Cup Third Round clash away to Sheffield United was postponed at the weekend, due to freezing/wintry weather conditions, Andy Cook’s Reds were in the hat for the Fourth Round draw, and with it, a sense of déjà vu emerged.
The rearranged clash, with the Blades, has been pencilled in for the first weekend on January (Sunday 8), with the Reds making the trip to the Steel City hoping to get one over a couple of former teammates in Bex Rayner and Rachel Brown.
Should the Reds get past the challenge of the Barclays Championship side, its Women’s Super League opposition that have been drawn in the Fourth Round, and a trip to Manchester City.
Cook’s side will no doubt still have the occasional nightmare of last seasons’ 8-0 drubbing, at the same stage of the competition, in January 2022, current Bayern Munich and England star, Georgia Stanway, with a second half hat-trick, alongside two for Khadija Shaw.
Granted, it’s a challenge, for any side, but Andy Cook’s Forest are more than up, for any challenge; speaking of challenges, January will also see the Reds on FA Women’s National League, League Cup action when, on Sunday 22, they make the trip to Burnley in the quarter-finals
The Reds will be looking to add the League Cup to last seasons’ League Plate success, where they defeated AFC Wimbledon 2-1 in the final, Rachel Brown and Becky Anderson netting for the victorious Reds.
In the East Midlands Women’s Regional League, a handful of games went ahead at the weekend, Notts County Women suffering a 5-0 drubbing when at home to Chesterfield Ladies, Georgina Wilkinson with a brace.
Victory for Chesterfield saw them move within three points of County, who currently lead the EMWRFL Premier Division with nineteen points from their opening eight matches, having played a game more.
In the Division One Central, Nottingham Trent University have a two-point advantage following their 3-1 win at home to fellow Notts side, West Bridgford Colts, the hosts’ fifth win of the season coming courtesy of goals from Eloise Hembrough, Ellie McKeegan, and Mia Pinkham (her fourth in seven outings), the visitors replying through Hannah Luk.
SJR Worksop meanwhile lost by the odd-goal-in-five in Division One North, when away to Gainsborough Trinity, the Notts side falling to two, late goals, from Amy O’Brien, who netted a brace in the final ten minutes with Worksop netting via Stacey Buxton and Deysha Pressley.
The draw has also been made for the EMWRFL League Cup, and League Plate, competitions, with ties to be played the first weekend in January.
These games, in regards Notts clubs, are as follows –
EAST MIDLANDS WOMEN’S REGIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, CUP & PLATE DRAW (ties to be played, Sunday, 8 January)
LEAGUE CUP SECOND ROUND Basford United vs Chesterfield; Kettering Town vs. Arnold Eagles; Northampton Town vs. Mansfield Town; Notts County vs. Rotherham United
LEAGUE PLATE FIRST ROUND
Nottingham Trent University vs. Notts County Development; West Bridgford Colts vs. Lincoln United Development (Byes – Mansfield Hosiery Mills, Sherwood, SJR Worksop)
Meanwhile, the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League saw a handful of games go ahead in their League Cup, Keyworth United and Newark Town, both progressing.
Keyworth claimed a 5-1 win at home to Gedling Southbank thanks to a brace from Shantay Wright and further goals from Lucy Belz, Sophie Beresford, and substitute Lily Chapman, Ella Mehew replying for the visitors, whilst Newark Town edged their hosts, Sherwood Development, 4-2, as Jessica Hogg bagged a double, Paxton Johnson and sub Karolina Wielgos scored, the hosts netting through Georgia bannister and Cecile Swann.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @PatrickPristas the Reds were well beaten by City in last seasons cup.
