Carly Davies and her Nottingham Forest charges returned from their winter break with another win at Grange Park, seeing off visiting West Bromwich Albion 3-0 in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division.
It was a fourth consecutive victory for the Reds, who sit in third place, ten points behind leaders Newcastle United, and with a game in hand, as well as it being a perfect warm-up for their FA Cup clash away to Plymouth Argyle on Sunday 14 January.
A stunning brace from Louanne Worsey, taking her tally to eight in her last seven outings, with one in each half, had the Reds on their way to three points, Holly Manders wrapping up the points shortly after Worsey’s second.
Birthday girl Sophie Domingo, created the opener, she releasing a perfect pass over the top of the visiting defence and Worsey fired past the ‘keeper with ease; Worsey added both her, and Forest’s second, a little over ten minutes after the restart when Abi Cowie found space on the flank before crossing for her team-mate to hit a deflected effort into the net.
Manders then produced a stunning third eight minutes later, she ghosting past the visiting defence before unleashing a strike into the top corner to put the seal on a great three points for the hosts.
Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty. Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson, Sophie Domingo (Ella Haughey, 85), Mai Moncaster (Alice Keitley, 65), Holly Manders, Louanne Worsey, Mollie Green (Olivia Cook, 85), Freya Thomas, Becky Anderson (Niamh Reynolds, 72), Abi Cowie
Meanwhile Notts County’s woes continued in the FAWNL Division One Midlands when losing 5-0 at home to Sporting Khalsa; defeat sees them sitting three points above the bottom two/relegation zone, having played a game more than those beneath them.
Several games were played in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, across both league and cup, with Basford United starting the year off in style when winning a ten-goal thriller away to Anstey Nomads.
Izzy Sullivan (who else) was on-hand to bag a first half hat-trick, Laura Porritt adding a fourth in a devastating, opening forty-five from the Amberettes.
The second period saw further goals added by Georgia Gladwin, Alana Crawford, and Jess Shaw, the visiting Notts club gliding to a 7-3 success and move into third place in the league, five points behind leaders Lincoln United having played a handful of games more than their rivals.
Basford United – Emma Porter, Stevie Gough, Keeley Butler, Maisie Plumb, Chloe Barkes, Phoebe Roe, Alana Crawford, Libbi Mancienne, Anna Butcher. Izzy Sullivan, Laura Porritt
In Division One North SJR Worksop won 2-0 at home to Gainsborough Trinity, Beth Gingell and Sarah Harvey with the goals; meanwhile, in Division One Central all three Notts-based clubs suffered defeat as Notts County Development lost 2-1 at home to Loughborough Foxes Vixens, Arnold Eagles went down 3-2 to visiting Asfordby Amateurs, and West Bridgford Colts were beaten 6-2 at Beaumont Park.
In the cups, Mansfield Town progressed in the League Cup following a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Grimsby Town, goals coming via Grace Shipman, Eve Shaw, Erin James, and Olivia Wheatcroft, whilst in the League Plate Sherwood won the local derby with visiting Retford, 3-1, Polly Lees-Collier with a brace, and Leicester City dumped out Sandiacre Town when hitting ten without reply.
As for the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League, Mansfield Town Development won 4-2 at home to Hucknall Town, Jessica Waplington with a brace for the victors, whilst Radcliffe Olympic and Arnold Eagles Flyers shared six in a 3-3 draw, Rania Turner-Ramadan with a brace for the hosts.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen action from Grange Park as Forest beat West Brom.
