Reds Still Top Dogs

It is two-wins-from-two for Nottingham Forest after a second successive clean-sheet was registered on Sunday afternoon, following a 3-0 home win over mid-table Huddersfield Town.

The defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers, a few weeks back, has galvanised the promotion charge for Andy Cook’s side and, with Charlotte Greengrass firing on all cylinders, it could well be the happiest of endings this season.

She was on the score-sheet, it’s rare she’s not this season, but it was teammate, Charlotte Steggles, that afforded the hosts an interval lead, in what was a relatively quiet, first period.

A goalmouth scramble, twenty minutes in, saw the ball fall to Steggles and she stabbed home the opener from six yards out; Greengrass though, she was testing her shooting boots with a couple if chances, before Sophie Domingo fired a goal-bound effort from twenty yards out, it being blocked well.

Another effort came the way of the hosts, and again from distance, this time a rasping free-kick, from Becky Anderson, was saved by the visiting ‘keeper, she firing it goal-bound from twenty-five yards out, but the game stayed with just the one going into the break.

Early in the second period and Yasmin Mosby would have two chances, the first having been headed against the crossbar, whilst the second, it sailed over, before Greengrass, finally, scored her first of the afternoon, striking home just after the hour mark.

Mosby would again have a chance, this all of her own doing when, having picked the ball up in the Forest half, made a beeline for the opposition goal, her effort though, was saved well at the far post before, and with a little over fifteen remaining, the Reds moved three in-front.

Domingo would provide the assist, she setting up Greengrass who fires home her second, and the Reds’ third, from close range, before Cook made a trio of changes ahead of what became a tempestuous, closing quarter.

One of the substitutes, Gianna Mitchell, quickly saw on effort headed over from ten yards, whilst Becky Anderson followed suit shortly after, before the same player is on the end of a bad foul in the closing minutes, it resulting in the visiting player being dismissed; even Forest Head Coach, Andy Cook, got in on the act, he being booked in the closing stages as the hosts claimed their twelfth win, in fifteen outings, this season.

Next up for the Reds, it’s the semi-final of the FA Women’s National League Cup, they hosting Southern Premier Division leaders, Portsmouth, on 5 March (the pair could also meet in the promotion play-off at the end of the season).

Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Steggles, Sophie Domingo (Gianna Mitchell, 75), Yasmin Mosby (Rosetta Taylor, 75), Amy West, Arryana Daniels, Laura-Jayne O’Neill, Becky Anderson (Naomi Powell, 83), Charlotte Greengrass (Niamh Reynolds, 75)

The Reds’ Reserves suffered their first defeat of the season, when away to Derby County Development, in the East Midlands derby.

The 2-0 defeat would see the hosts move level with the Reds atop of the Reserves Midlands Division, they also having a game in hand on the visitors after a brace from Iesha Rollins, the first of which came from twenty-five yards, afforded them victory.

Although others have a couple of games in hand, the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division sees Notts County holding an eleven-point advantage after they won 1-0 away to bottom of the table, Arnold Eagles.

County, who recently added Katie Platts to their ranks, and who was making her debut, would be the match-winner when notching in the last minute.

Meanwhile, Mansfield Town slipped into joint-second, level with Chesterfield, after they won by the same score, and also on the road, Georgia Gladwin with the only goal there; and their next game, is the big one at the One Call Stadium, on Thursday night, against – Chesterfield.

In Division One North, SJR Worksop slipped to a lone goal defeat away to Grimsby Borough, the Notts side fifth, in a six team division; whilst in Division One Central, Nottingham Trent University returned to the top of the table following a comfortable, 7-2 win, away to Asfordby Amateurs, and mid-table West Bridgford Colts held Ilkeston Town to a 1-1 draw.

Retford, who are also through to the semi-finals of the County Cup, are joint-top of the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors One, with Mansfield Town, although have a game in hand, after they won 4-1 at home to Arnold Eagles Flyers at the weekend.

Emily North bagged a brace for a Retford side who’ve won ten, and lost three, of their thirteen outings, thus far, Emily Crompton, and captain, Isabelle Thorpe, also netting; Mansfield Devs meanwhile, they were held to a  1-1 draw when at Nottingham Trent University.

The remaining game would see Radcliffe Olympic edge a seven-goal thriller when away to Keyworth United, the visitors winning 4-3, keeping their hopes of a third place finish, alive.

UPCOMING CUP MATCHES (involving Notts clubs)

FA WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL (5 March)

Nottingham Forest vs. Portsmouth

(winner plays either Watford or Wolverhampton Wanderers)

EAST MIDLANDS WOMEN’S REGIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINAL (12 March)

Arnold Eagles vs. Oughtibridge War Memorial

(winner plays either Ilkeston Town or Lincoln United)

EAST MIDLANDS WOMEN’S REGIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLATE SEMI-FINAL (12 March)

Nottingham Trent University vs. Sherwood

(winner plays either Thrapston Town or Loughborough Foxes)

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen Charlotte Greengrass celebrates scoring.

 

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