It was County Cup weekend across the East Midlands this past Sunday as women’s clubs looked to book their place in the next round, and continue their road to potential silverware come the seasons’ end.
Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town side, runners-up in the each of the last two finals, eased through to the next round with a comfortable, double-figure success, on the road at Basford United Development, the Lady Stags winning 13-1.
Somewhat surprisingly considering the final score, it was only 4-0 to the visitors at the break, Maia Taylor’s brace being added to by goals from Grace Shipman and Mathilda Evans; the second half though saw the visitors turn on the gas, knocking in another nine goals.
After the restart Evans and Shipman both completed their doubles for the afternoon as nine of the thirteen player squad registered; with the Price’s starting for the visitors, neither of them scored, Monica Bowley (sorry Mon, get those shooting boots out), and (player) manager, Andi Bell the other not to as further goals came from substitute Chrystal Smiley with a brace, Olivia Standeven, Erin James, Millie Edwards, Martha Roper, and Eve Shaw.
Mansfield Town – Amy Price, Maia Taylor, Martha Roper, Alaya Price, Eve Shaw, Millie Edwards, Grace Shipman, Monica Bowley, Olivia Standeven, Erin James, Mathilda Evans (subs – Andi Bell, Chrystal Smiley)
Plenty of goals were netted elsewhere, along with a couple of penalty shoot-outs, one of which saw Basford United edge visiting Nottingham Trent University, 5-4 on penalties, following a 3-3 draw.
A see-saw encounter saw the visitors take the lead, from a corner, in the opening minutes, before Alana Crawford equalised midway through the half; shortly after equalising, the hosts led through Georgia Gladwin’s glancing header.
Again, the hosts would score, they levelling the contest at 2-2 before Gladwin’s second, and Basford’s third, saw them lead by the odd-goal-in-five at the break; collecting the ball some 25-yards from goal, she unleashed a shot that arrowed itself into the top corner.
Few efforts were, surprisingly, made in the second period, Gladwin hitting the bar with an effort early in the second period, NTU finding an equaliser in the closing minutes to send the game to penalties; NTUs goals came via Hannah Akers, Abigail Barham, and Piper O’Neill.
As with the game itself, there was little to separate the two sides during the shoot-out, Kaci Riley saving one of the ten that were taken to give the hosts the advantage, and Devon Cousins fired the decisive kick to send Basford into the next round.
Basford United – Kaci Riley, Anna Butcher, Keeley Butler, Katelyn McFarlane, Maisie Plumb, Chloe Barkes, Alana Crawford, Devon Cousins, Laura Porritt, Georgia Gladwin, Beth Curzon (subs – Emma Porter, Milly Wheldon, Megan Wood)
Mansfield Town Development progressed on penalties, 4-3 away to Underwood Villa, following a 3-3 draw, whilst the game between Newark Town and Radcliffe Olympic was a goal-fest; eight goals were shared during the ninety minutes as the two sides battled away to a 4-4 draw then, with spot-kicks being required to settle contest, the visitors were the ones to progress, winning that 8-7.
Both Arnold Eagles sides progressed, and with 2-1 wins, their first seeing off a tough challenge from University of Nottingham, and the Flyers winning at Southwell City; Retford edged a nine-goal thriller when away to Sherwood, and Keyworth United defeated visiting Hucknall Town 6-1, Jodie Ellis with three and Lily Chapman two.
Meanwhile, Sandiacre Town let slip a two-goal interval lead when home to Wirksworth Colts in the Derbyshire County Cup, Maddie Weatherall and Caitlin Want netting before the visitors regrouped in the second period to win 3-2, and SJR Worksop were away to Handsworth in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Cup.
As for Nottingham Forest, up in the FA Women’s National League Premier North quickly returned to winning ways following their East Midlands Derby defeat the previous weekend, easing to a comfortable home win over Liverpool Feds.
A quick-fire brace midway through the first half saw the Reds lead by two at the break, Chralotte Greengrass with both of them; her first saw the Forest striker beat the ‘keeper to the ball and slotting home, whilst the second saw her putting the visiting defence under pressure before charging down a clearance from the visiting ‘keeper to score.
With the Reds leading by two at the break, it would be Greengrass who’d score the third, completing her hat-trick, early in the second period, heading home four minutes after the restart; Holly Manders was soon denied by the upright, and Greengrass a fourth by the ‘keeper, in quick succession before the hour mark before Sophie Domingo replaced the hat-trick hero with thirty left on the clock.
Heading towards the final fifteen and Natalie Johnson sent an effort into the visiting top corner for the Reds’ fourth, the fifth arriving minutes later courtesy of Mollie Green, the Reds sitting in fifth place in the table, a point behind the joint-second trio of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Newcastle United, and Stoke City, with Burnley sitting top and boasting a seven-point advantage.
Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson, Olivia Cook (Laura-Jayne O’Neill, 79), Mai Moncaster (Chloe Dixon, 75), Holly Manders, Mollie Green (Niamh Reynolds, 79), Freya Thomas (Alice Keitley, 75), Becky Anderson, Charlotte Greengrass (Sophie Domingo, 63), Abi Cowie.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @BasfordLadiesFC Basford United win a thrilling tie against Nottingham Trent University.
