It was disappointment at home for Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County Women on Sunday afternoon when losing 4-0 to visiting Solihull Moors in the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands.
Often, heavy defeats can perhaps be berated, and rightly so for woeful performances, County though, they were undone by a red card for Emma Scoffham early in the second period, and the hitting of the woodwork on FOUR occasions.
The visitors led midway through the first half, surprisingly the only goal, when Eva Rogers pounced after County failed to clear their lines; less than ten minutes earlier however, County hit the woodwork for the first time in the game, Jessie Knott’s effort striking Lucky Bicknell’s crossbar (0-0).
Then, in the aftermath of the goal, Bicknell first saved a goal-bound effort from Laura Steele, before Katie Platts struck the inside of the post (0-1), visiting Moors clinging to that one-goal advantage.
The second period though was but minutes old when County shot themselves in the foot, Scoffham seeing red for a pull in the box, Ridhi Ruparelia burying the resultant spot-kick; Platts again saw an effort strike the inside of Bicknell’s upright (0-2), the hosts bemoaning a lack of luck throughout, even more so in the build-up to the upright being struck, County also had a penalty appeal waved off.
With Moors leading by two, and with twenty minutes remaining, County hit the woodwork for the fourth time, this being Emily Brett’s turn to see an effort come back off the upright (0-2), before two goals from the visitors in a matter of minutes killed the game off, Cheyanne Jarvis and Tiana Russell-Cartwright both netting.
It was a tough lesson for Dunleavy’s side, but one which they’ll learn from, both sides having plenty of opportunities throughout and welcome AFC Fylde next (1 October) in the next round of the League Cup.
Notts County – Philipa Davies, Mollie-Mae Crump, Holly Fowler, Laura Steele, Nya Chambers, Elle Rowson, Jessie Knott, Emma Scoffham, Emily Stretton, Takiah Burnett, Katie Platts (subs – Amy Wells, Emily Brett, Laura Vine, Nicola Russell, Summer Reece)
In the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League it was League Cup First Round day, and with mixed outcomes for Nottinghamshire clubs.
SJR Worksop and Basford United both enjoyed big wins on the road, whilst Mansfield Town (AET), Arnold Eagles, and West Bridgford Colts, also progressed.
Emily Myatt bagged a four-goal salvo as Worksop won 6-3 away to Cardea, Emily Murphy and Lily Brown also netting in the nine-goal thriller; Basford won 5-0 at local rivals Sherwood thanks to goals from Anna Butcher, Ella Dorman, Laura Porritt, Georgia Gladwin and Maisie Plumb.
Mansfield Town required extra-time before seeing off visiting Leicester City 3-1, Arnold Eagles eased past their visitors, Rotherham United, 2-0, whilst West Bridgford won another local dust-up, edging Sandiacre Town 3-2 at home.
Elsewhere in the League Cup, Nottingham Trent shipped a number of goals when away to Lincoln United, Ellie Gilliatt with a double hat-trick in a 13-0 rout, Retford lost 3-0 at home to Loughborough Foxes Vixens, and Notts County Development went down 2-0 at Dronfield Town.
Two games were also played out in the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors 1, both resulting in away wins; Nottingham Trent Pinks winning 5-1 at Mansfield Town Development as Cerys Griffiths-Jones scored twice, and Radcliffe Olympic won 4-2 at Newark Town, Taylor Johnson and Connie Forman notching braces for their respective sides.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NCFC_Women a bad weekend for Notts who were thumped 4-0.