Nottingham Forest are currently on course for a double-double this season with both their Seniors, and Reserves, leading the way in their respective leagues, and both into the latter stages of cup competitions, as they head into the business end of the season.
Andy Cook’s Senior team re-opened a five-point gap at the top of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier with a comfortable, 4-0 home win over Boldmere St. Michaels (they’re in the semi-final of the National League Cup), whilst Sarah Richardson’s Reserves made the final four of the Nottinghamshire FA County Cup with a 4-1 win away to Nottingham Trent University (they also lead the Reserves Midlands Division).
At the Halbrooke Stadium, in the National League, the Reds raced to a three-goal, interval lead courtesy of a brace from Charlotte Greengrass, and a Yasmin Mosby effort sandwiched between.
The opening goal arrived midway through the first period as Greengrass finished off some great link-up play between Charlotte Steggles and Mosby, Forest’s top-scorer slotting into the bottom, right-hand corner, after 24 minutes.
Less than five minutes later that lead was doubled, Steggles again involved in the build-up, playing in Mosby, who proceeded to round the visiting ‘keeper and slip the ball into the empty night.
With the game heading towards the interval the games third was added, Greengrass doubling her tally for the afternoon, she also rounding the ‘keeper to finish.
Despite chances, for both sides, it would not be until the closing stages that a fourth goal was added, and Greengrass, after several, previous attempts, completed her hat-trick, firing home what was her fifteenth of the campaign, and in doing so, moved the Reds five clear at the top of table.
Derby County jumped over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Burnley, into second place in the league after they won 2-1 at Stoke City, Wolves on County Cup duty, Burnley inactive; next up for the Reds, they host mid-table Huddersfield Town on Sunday 26 February, prior to their League Cup semi-final, at home to Portsmouth, early next month.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Steggles (Rosetta Taylor, 53), Sophie Domingo (Gianna Mitchell, 68), Yasmin Mosby (Emily Jacobs, 84), Amy West, Laura-Jayne O’Neill (Arryana Daniels, 68), Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass
Richardson’s Reserves were on Notts FA County Cup duty, reaching the semi-finals when away to Nottingham Trent, Hollie Lewis with a consolation effort for the hosts as Olivia Edwards (2), Takiah Burnett, and Isabella Hodson sending the visitors through.
Other County Cup matches for Nottinghamshire sides saw Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town side progress to the final four with a 4-1 win of their own, Grace Shipman notching three in the win away to Basford United, Bethany Jones also scoring whilst Jessica Shaw pulled one back.
Retford knocked out Sherwood, 4-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw, whilst the game between Mansfield Hosiery Mills and Notts County was postponed (outcome pending via Notts FA).
The one game played in the East Midlands Women’s Regional League, involving a Notts side, came in Division One North, Eden Pedersen and Danielle Brighton scoring the goals as Grimsby Town won 2-0 away to SJR Worksop.
Meanwhile, in the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors One, hosts Arnold Eagles Flyers, and Radcliffe Olympic, picked up wins, the former seeing off Sports Gateway Hucknall, 3-1, Jodie Corthorn with a brace, to strengthen fourth place; the latter on the other-hand, they won 2-1 against visiting leaders, Mansfield Town Development as Summer Button and Rania Turner-Ramadan netted to move into fifth.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen Sophie Domingo in action for Forest.