Reds Beaten In Table Top Clash

Daniel McNamara’s Wolverhampton Wanderers side are the only losses in Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest loss column thus far this season, the Black Country outfit inflicting a second defeat, this time 3-1, when at home, in the top-of-the-table clash at the weekend.

Forest, who’ve been doing great, in all competitions, took the lead in this battle of the top two in this FA Women’s National League Northern Premier clash, when after the hosts had missed a few early chances, and the visitors’ Charlotte Greengrass had hit the bar, the same player would open the scoring – and all of this inside the opening ten minutes, Greengrass firing past Nina Wilson, and into the bottom corner.

The lead didn’t last long however, Destiney Touissant levelling straight from the restart, firing home from close range; the tempo continued as the half wore on, neither side giving much.

Both side had chances, the Reds seeing efforts from the two Charlotte’s, Steggles and Greengrass, miss the target, whilst Laura-Jayne O’Neill would see hers cleared off the line with ten minutes of the first remaining, Amy West and Sophie Domingo also having chances, but to no avail.

All those missed chances though, they proved costly for the league leaders when, deep into first half stoppage time, Wolves took the lead for the first time when Katie Johnson crossed for Touissant who’s goal-bound header was cleared, but only as far as Jade Cross, who took delight in tapping home the rebound.

And, with that, an interval lead…

Just after the hour mark and the hosts had increased their lead, Cross adding her second of the afternoon when connecting with a through-ball, and, at the near post, getting there before Emily Batty and putting the ball home.

Again, both sides continued to create chances, but neither goal would be breached, despite efforts, including second half substitute, Yasmin Mosby, who saw two chances, late on, go over Wilson’s bar in a game which could easily have finished 4-4.

However, it would be the hungry Wolves taking the points with a 3-1, and narrowed the gap at the top to three points, and with a game in hand on their rivals; they’ll dust themselves off ahead of their two, upcoming, home games, against Boldmere St. Michaels (19 February), and Huddersfield Town (26 February).

NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook (Gianna Mitchell, 63), Charlotte Steggles, Sophie Domingo (Yasmin Mosby, 63), Mai Moncaster (Mackenzie Smith, 63), Amy West, Laura-Jayne O’Neill, Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass

Forest’s Reserves side meanwhile continued their impressive form, although they had to fight for the three points when home to Stourbridge Reserves in the Reserves Midlands Division; Summa Betts scored the only goal, four minutes after coming on for Takiah Burnett, early in the second period.

Leading the table, the Reds Reserves currently have a five-point advantage on second place West Bromwich Albion Development, and six on Derby County Development, the latter having two games in hand.

The East Midlands Women’s League would see the quarter-finals of their League Cup, and League Plate, competitions taking place, of which there was plenty of Nottinghamshire interest, in both, seven clubs in action.

A Natasha Leach hat-trick saw Arnold Eagles progress as they edged visitors Chesterfield 3-2, in the League Cup, whilst Notts County bowed out on the back of a 4-0 defeat at home to Ilkeston Town, Daisy Allen with a brace for the victors – Arnold are joined in the final four by Lincoln United, Oughtibridge War Memorial, and Ilkeston.

In the Plate meanwhile, it’s two in, two out, as Nottingham Trent University and Sherwood progressed, the former, 1-0 at home to SJR Worksop, Bailey Sipors netting, and the latter, on penalties, following a goalless draw with Grimsby Borough.

West Bridgford Colts were dismisses 3-0 away to Thrapston Town, and Mansfield Hosiery Mills suffered a 6-0 drubbing at home to Loughborough Foxes, Renae Huggan-Broughton with a twenty-minute, first half, four-goal haul.

As for the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors 1, the game between Keyworth United and Arnold Eagles Flyers, was abandoned, Retford, regaining top spot, won 5-1 at home to Sports Gateway Hucknall, and Radcliffe Olympic won 4-1 away to University of Nottingham IV.