Only two games across the Nottinghamshire women’s scene managed to go ahead amidst the wintry snap this past weekend, Nottingham Forest Women romping to victory in the FA Women’s National League Reserves Midlands Division, and Notts County Women atop of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division.
In the first of the two games. Forest’s second string went top of the Reserves Midlands Division on the back of a comfortable, 8-1 win, at home to Lincoln City Development.
Four goals to the good at the interval, Olivia Standeven opening the scoring after just two minutes for her seventh of the season, Mia Charizia adding the third either side of a brace from Takiah Burnett, she taking her total thus far to eleven, in just nine outings.
A further four goals were added in the second period, whilst the visitors also snatched a consolation, through Holly Wilson, with twenty remaining; it was too little too late by then though, Jessica Waplington having already grabbed the Reds’ fifth of the game.
After Wilson had knocked in the consolation, Olivia Edwards grabbed a late brace for seven, home goals, before second half substitute, Laura Dexter, bagged a late eighth with five minutes remaining.
Victory for the Reds, actually their third highest of the season having won 13-0 and 9-1 in recent weeks as well, saw their far superior goal-difference move them above Derby County Development at the top of the table, both sides having played seven games apiece.
Meanwhile, the only other game to go ahead on the Sunday, was the top-of-the table clash in the EMWRFL, Notts County Women finishing the year with another win, their seventh (and a draw) from nine outings, edging visiting Lincoln United, sitting third, 3-2 at home.
Although having played two more games than their rivals, Chesterfield, and Lincoln, County do boast a comfortable, six-point advantage, going into the festive break; leading by one at the break, County’s Summer Gayle scored twice before Amy Wells added a third just before the hour mark.
However, the visitors afforded themselves hope of snatching at least point when, in the latter stages of the second period, pulled two goals back as Tracey Duxbury-Mead pulled one back with a little over twenty remaining, and Betsy Thomas tapped in the second with minutes left.
Now, heading into the festive break, the Notts clubs in the EMWRFL, sees that of Notts County topping the Premier with those seven wins a draw (22 pts), and Mansfield Town holding fourth place having won three and draw two of seven (11 pts); Basford United are in sixth on seven points, whilst Arnold Eagles are adjusting to life at the top, and are currently bottom with one point.
Division One North has SJR Worksop struggling on three points (one win from seven), in a six-team division, joint-bottom with Lincoln United Development, whilst Division One Central, top-heavy with Notts clubs, with the following, from top-to-bottom, making up the table – Nottingham Trent (16 pts, first), Sherwood (7 points, fifth), West Bridgford Colts (7 pts, sixth), Mansfield Hosiery Mills (4 pts, seventh), and Notts County Development (4 pts, eighth).
As for the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors Division 1, Retford Women (24 pts) lead the way going into the festive break, by two points from Mansfield Town Development (22 pts), they both having played nine games apiece, whilst Arnold Eagles Flyers are sitting third, with three games in hand, on fifteen.
At the other end of the table, University of Nottingham IV, and Radcliffe Olympic, are joint-bottom, on four points each, the former with a game in hand.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NCFC_Women Notts are six points clear of second placed Chesterfield who have two games in hand.
