East Midlands was turned red on Sunday afternoon when, in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier, over at Pride Park, Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest emerged victorious at the home of rivals, Derby County.
Victory, 2-0 to Nottingham, was the first time in a decade that the Reds have actually achieved the double over their near neighbours, and didn’t they enjoy every second of success, in front of a derby record crowd of 5243 spectators.
The hosts would start the stronger of the two, Forest taking their time to get some rhythm, Emilia Wilson having a couple of chances inside the opening ten minutes, Emily Batty pushing away the second of those to keep her goal intact.
Charlotte Greengrass, twice, and Sophie Doming were then seen to both have chances for the visitors, the first cleared well, the second bringing a good save out of Imogen Maguire, whilst the third, Greengrass’s second attempt, brought a strong block.
Yasmin Mosby would be seen to be taking pot-shots at Maguire’s goal, Naimh Reynolds also having an effort saved before Batty, the visiting shot-stopper, required treatment, she’s able to continue minutes later (fortunate as no back-up on the bench)
The Reds though, they were building momentum, and soon took advantage of it when on the half hour, took the lead; Reds captain, Lyndsey Harkin, took a corner which swung deep, as far as Charlotte Steggles at the back post, who took great delight in heading home her 11th goal of the season.
As the game headed towards the interval, the Reds keeping their one-goal advantage intact, Wilson would again be seen to try her luck, this time from distance, however, Batty would see it sail over the bar, the interval seeing the score staying at just the one.
In a game that could swing either way, in a heartbeat, it would be the visiting Forest who’d land the killer, second goal; hitting the hour mark and Sophie Domingo would find herself gliding through the Ewes defence, her pass finding the ever-dangerous Charlotte Greengrass who fired home what was the 21st goal of a very productive season.
The usual, flurry of changes, broke up the final half hour, both sides jockeying for position, the hosts, looking to get back into the game, the visitors, aiming for what would have been a killer third – neither of which landed, despite efforts.
Greengrass was denied a second of her own as the game ticked towards the closing ten minutes, Maguire pulling off a fingertip save to keep the score down, followed by Mai Moncaster seeing hers drift agonisingly wide, whilst Amy Sims would see a late, stoppage time effort for the hosts, fly wide of goal.
Forest though, they held on for what was a huge, 2-0 win, and kept themselves out in-front in the race for the league title, and that, all-important, play-off match, against the winners of the Southern Premier, currently led by East Anglian outfit, Ipswich Town.
Ipswich, like Forest, have played two more games than the sides beneath them, however, in Forest’s case, their advantage at the top is greater.
Four points clear of second place Burnley, and six ahead of oft-title rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, the Reds’ remaining four matches, are all at home, starting with the visit of Burnley, on April 2.
Derby County – Imogen Maguire, Amy Sims, Sarah Jackson, Ella Hilliard (Megan Clarkson, 61), Emelia Wilson, Emily Joyce, Hannah Ward (Marli Rhodes-Andrews, 82), Becky McGrother, Kira Rai, Jessica Camwell (Anita Gaspar, 70), Molly Sutherland (Camille Jenkins, 46)
Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Steggles, Sophie Domingo (Georgia Hewitt, 82), Yasmin Mosby (Mai Moncaster, 74), Niamh Reynolds (Naomi Powell, 74), Arryana Daniels, Laura-Jayne O’Neill (Amy West, 82), Becky Anderson, Charlotte Greengrass (Rosetta Taylor, 90)
Meanwhile, in the Reserves Midlands Division, and following the second strings recent defeat to Derby County Development, its Ewes’ second string that lead Forest, by a point, after both won at the weekend.
Derby won 2-1 against West Bromwich Albion Development to keep their noses out in front, whilst Forest, they racked up another big win, seeing off visiting Sporting Khalsa Development, 5-1, Olivia Edwards with a brace.
Edwards would open the scoring shortly before the break with Takiah Burnett, notching her fourteenth of the season, seeing them in two to the good at the break; Isabella Hodson made it three within ten minutes of the restart, before Edwards grabbed her twelfth of the season, and second of the game, just after the hour.
A free-scoring side, on the main, this campaign, the Reds’ Reserves added a late fifth when Summa Betts, herself also prolific in front of goal, scored with seven minutes remaining, it was her fifteenth, in just thirteen outings.
In the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, the Premier Division saw a Nottinghamshire Monday Night delight at Meadow Lane, leaders Notts County welcoming Mansfield Town.
The leaders led by two goals at the break, Summer Gayle with the opener, and captain, Holly Fowler, leading by example with the second; early in the second period and home fans were delirious as Audrey Huskisson-Moore fired home the decisive, third goal.
The 3-0 victory for County saw them claim the title, opening up an unassailable, fifteen point lead at the top of the table, with the joint-second duo of Lincoln United and Chesterfield having played three games less, and just four games left – County have 40 points, the others can only make 37 .
County’s next game, their last of this league campaign, is away to Chesterfield. Mansfield meanwhile, they have back-to-back outings against Lincoln to come.
Notts County – Philippa Davies, Mollie Crump, Holly Fowler, Emma White, Nya Chambers, Nikki Emery, Elle Rowson, Jesse Knott, Emily Stretton, Summer Gayle, Audrey Huskisson-Moore
Mansfield Town – Vanessa Kinnerley, Devonn Cousins, Alaya Price, Chloe Hutsby, Monica Bowley, Georgina Beckwith, Gabriella Foulkes, Grace Shipman, Jessica Parker, Tia McDonagh, Mathilda Evans
Basford United meanwhile lost 3-1 at home to Anstey Nomads to remain third bottom, Summer Reece netting for the hosts; also, there was just one game involving Notts clubs across Division One, in the Central Division, Sherwood fell to a 2-1 defeat when hosting West Bridgford Colts.
Georgia Bannister netted for the hosts, who remain second bottom, whilst WBC scorers were Samantha Burton, and substitute Ellie Cook, solidifying mid-table.
Meanwhile, in the Notts Girls & Ladies League, clubs were in either League Cup, or League Plate action; a solitary goal, from Ruby Cole, saw Nottingham Trent defeat visiting Keyworth United 1-0, and Retford lost 2-1 at home to Newark Town, Isabelle Thorpe with her customary goal for the hosts, Jessica Hogg and Paxton Johnson replying.
As for the League Plate, Mansfield Town Development progressed on the back of a 3-0 win away to Teversal.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen Sophie Domingo in action against the Rams.