Carly Davies has, thus far at least, led her Nottingham Forest side into the Fourth Round of this season’s Adobe Women’s FA Cup following a battling win at home to Boldmere St Michaels on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts took an early lead when Natalie Johnson fired home her fifth of the season, striking the visitors bottom corner in the third minute; the result could have been well out of sight before the interval as the Reds had a number of chances in which to kill the game off.
However, ten minutes before the break, Boldmere found an equaliser when Jade Formaston found the back of Emily Batty’s goal; it was to be one that spurred on the home side more who finished the half with another two goals, in a matter of minutes, for a 3-1 interval lead.
The Reds retook the lead when Mai Moncaster pounded on her own rebounded effort to notch her fifth of the campaign then, as the game headed into stoppage time, Louanne Worsey got on the end of a cross from Johnson to head home the Reds’ third of the game, and her sixth of the season.
Both sides took their foot of the pedal in the second period, the visitors coming closest to adding a second and keeping themselves in the hunt however, with seven minutes remaining, they missed a penalty which could have made for a nervy close.
With Davies affording late run-outs to that of Chloe Dixon, Niamh Reynolds and Alice Keitley, the Reds will look to wrap up 2023 with another win, this Thursday (14 December) night, ahead of the winter break, when they travel to bottom of the table Huddersfield Town in the league.
The Reds will return to action on Sunday 7 January when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Grange Park with the next round of the Women’s FA Cup scheduled to take place on Sunday 14 January (draw will take place on Tuesday morning, 12 December, at 09:30, on the official cup Instagram account).
Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson, Sophie Domingo (Alice Keitley, 86), Mai Moncaster (Chloe Dixon, 81), Holly Manders, Louanne Worsey, Mollie Green, Freya Thomas (Niamh Reynolds, 86), Becky Anderson, Ella Haughey
It was also cup action lower down the Women’s footballing pyramid with games involving Notts clubs going ahead in both the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, and the Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies League.
With a number of ties being rescheduled for this coming weekend, there was progression for Basford United in the League Cup and for Nottingham Trent University in the League Plate, both winning big on the road; Basford picked up a 6-1 win away to Loughborough Foxes Vixens, and NTU won 5-1 at Grimsby Borough.
Meanwhile, SJR Worksop exited the League Cup on the back of a 5-0 drubbing away to Thrapston Town, and Notts County Development were dismissed from the League Plate when losing 3-0 at home to Rotherham United.
Upcoming ties to be played involving Notts clubs are as follows: LEAGUE CUP – ARNOLD EAGLES vs. Skegness Town; Grimsby Town vs. MANSFIELD TOWN; WEST BRIDGFORD COLTS vs. New Bradwell St. Peters; and in the LEAGUE PLATE – Leicester City vs. SANDIACRE TOWN; SHERWOOD vs. RETFORD
There was also League Cup action in the Notts Girls & Ladies League, with thrillers witnessed in both Mansfield, and Arnold, respectively.
Both the hosts went out, Mansfield Town Development losing 4-2 in extra-time against visiting Newark Town, the game featuring six different scorers as substitutes Elexis Steel and Jessica Waplington netted for the hosts, the victors replying through Connie Forman, Hollie Green, Tia Mcrae and Jessica Parker, to progress.
Meanwhile, in Arnold, the Flyers lost 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw with visiting NTU Pinks, NTU Blacks also progressed when winning 3-1 at home to Teversal, and Hucknall Town eased through with a 2-1 road win at Bingham Town.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen Captain Lyndsey Harkin celebrates Nat Johnson’s goal as Forest beat Boldmere.
