Forest Drop Points In Title Race

Can it really get much tighter than what’s happening atop of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier – Nottingham Forest still lead the way, Burnley are just two points behind them in second, and Wolverhampton Wanderers are third, just an extra point back.

To make things that little more spicy, second travel to third in their respective, game in hand, this coming Sunday (23 April) whilst Forest, they’ll be looking to lift the League Cup when opposing Watford at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium.

Sunday gone, well, Forest were held to a 1-1 draw away to fifth-place Brighouse Town; Burnley edged past hosts, lowly West Bromwich Albion, 2-1; and Wolves, they were held to a goalless draw when home to fourth-place Derby County.

In a game of minimal chances it would be the hosts that would take the lead against the league leaders when, after just fifteen minutes, Lucy Sowerby snatched up a loose ball in the box, and rounded Emily Batty to score.

Becky Flaherty, in the home goal, saved a free-kick from Becky Anderson, whilst both Charlotte Steggles and Mai Moncaster saw chances blocked, the Reds trailing at the break.

The second period began somewhat tetchily, but the Reds equalised within ten of the restart, an Anderson free-kick coming back off the crossbar and rebounding into the goal; it wasn’t the only effort the Reds saw crash back off the bar in the second half though.

Flaherty would tip an effort from Moncaster over just before the hour, before Charlotte Greengrass headed over minutes later, from a Lyndsey Harkin corner.

Both sides continued to look for a seemingly unlikely winner, although Forest rattled Flaherty’s bar in the closing minutes, twice in quick succession, Greengrass, and second half substitute, Hayley James, but the score stayed level.

With Burnley closing the gap to two, there’ll be glances at the Wolves – Burnley clash, before the curtain comes down at the end of the month, and Forest, hopefully, lifting the title, and going into the play-off with the Southern champions.

Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt (Hayley James, 62), Olivia Cook (Niamh Reynolds, 74), Charlotte Steggles, Sophie Domingo, Mai Moncaster (Naomi Powell, 87), Amy West (Yasmin Mosby, 74), Arryana Daniels, Becky Anderson, Charlotte Greengrass

After Wolves – Burnley, the final weekend in the Northern Premier will see Forest host Stoke City, Burnley host Liverpool Feds, and Wolves, still with an outside chance, travel to Brighouse Town.

As for the Southern Premier, Oxford United lead by a point from both Watford and Ipswich Town (who both have a game in hand), whilst Portsmouth are four points further back after Oxford won 2-1 at Portsmouth at the weekend.

Nottingham Forest Reserves meanwhile continue their challenge for the Reserves Midlands title, winning 2-1 away to Wolves Reserves, and sit a point behind leaders Derby County Development, who they face next, with a handful of games remaining.

Wolves led at the break, but the Reds’ second string equalised early in the second period through Summa Betts, she netting her fifteenth goal in just seventeen games, before Jessica Melrose grabbed the winner with just minutes remaining.

In the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, there was more late drama, both Notts clubs in Division One Central, and at home, lost 2-1; Notts County Development fell to Dronfield Town, and Sherwood were beaten by Asfordby Amateurs.

Phoebe Roe scored for County’s seconds before conceding twice in the final half hour, Kristine Humble with a last minute winner for Dronfield, whilst Bella Reed registered for Sherwood but were undone by Sarah Brown’s second half brace, her second coming in the closing minutes.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t anywhere close for SJR Worksop in Division One North, they falling to a heavy, 6-2 defeat, when home to Sleaford Town; Beth Gingell scored a brace for the hosts and Lauren Alderson with two in reply.