A goal, late in the first half, from Nikki Emery, was enough for Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County side to maintain a ten-point advantage at the top of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, at the weekend.
Hosting mid-table Anstey Nomads, Emery’s goal, having been played through following beautiful control and a pass from Shoniqua Barnes, was to be enough to separate the two sides, and keep dreams of promotion, well-and-truly, alive.
Stretching their unbeaten run, (all competitions) to five games, the Pies make the trip to bottom club, Arnold Eagles, later this month, before home games with Basford United, and Mansfield Town, as they look to keep that of Lincoln United, and Chesterfield, as well as a possible, late run, from the Lady Stags, at bay.
The clean sheet, for Pip Davies, was to be her fourth this season, and second in successive games (she’s also not conceded in the two games with Anstey, both of which finished with the same score, 1-0, Emery the scorer).
NOTTS COUNTY – Philippa Davies, Mollie-Mae Crump, Holly Fowler, Emma White, Elle Rowson, Emma Scoffham, Nikki Emery, Laura Vine, Emily Stretton, Shoniqua Barnes, Nya Chambers
Speaking of the Lady Stags, Andi Bell’s side, sitting fourth in the table, eleven points off top spot, with two games in hand, edged a five-goal thriller when home to Arnold Eagles.
The visitors, who are yet to win in the league this campaign, picked up just their second point in late January, and fell just short when on the road, Monica Bowley among the scorers for the hosts as they registered their sixth win in the league.
Devonn Cousins and Jessica Parker both registered their first goals this season, Parker snatching the winner to keep up the pressure on the top three ahead of a trip to Basford United later this month, then the big clash, at home to Chesterfield.
MANSFIELD TOWN – Vanessa Kinnerley, Maia Taylor, Jesika Timson, Alaya Price, Monica Bowley, Caitlin Hughes, McDonagh, Gabriella Foulkes, Georgia Gladwin, Devonn Cousins, Georgina Beckwith
Elsewhere in the EMWRFL Premier Division, Basford United suffered at the hands of high-flying Lincoln United, Ellie Gilliatt with a four-goal salvo in what became a 7-1, home success for the leaders; in Division One Central, third place Nottingham Trent University edged a local affair, 2-1, at home to Sherwood.
In the other game played in the Central, Notts County Development completed a good weekend for the Pies, Phoebe Roe completing a thirty-plus minute hat-trick, either side of the break, as Thomas Hodges’ side eased to a 4-0 win at home to fellow Notts side, West Bridgford Colts, Isla-May Theakstone with the other.
Meanwhile, in Division One North, SJR Worksop slipped to defeat when at home to leaders Gainsborough Trinity, Stacey Buxton’s brace seeing them fall short in a 3-2 loss, Amy O’Brien with a brace in reply.
The Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League saw cup action this past weekend, the leagues’ Cup and Plate being contested, fellow title contenders, Mansfield Town Development and Retford going head-to-head in a game that was, eventually, decided on penalties.
Extra-time was required to split the two, the game finishing 1-1 at ninety minutes, then 2-2 after the extra thirty, Retford progressing on the back of a 5-4 shoot-out success; Nottingham Trent and Newark Town both moved into the next round with 4-0 and 3-0 wins at Lowdham Colts and University of Nottingham IV, respectively.
In the remaining, League Cup match, Keyworth United romped to victory when away to West Bridgford Development, racking up thirteen without reply, six of those in the first period as Lily Chapman struck four, alongside braces for both Jenna Stocks, and Shantay Wright.
And in the League Plate, Teversal saw off Sports Gateway Hucknall 3-1, and Arnold Eagles Flyers won 5-0 away to Woodhouse Colts.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NCFC_Women action from Notts County earlier in the season v Oughtibridge.
