Three goalless draws, eight clubs failing to register a goal, and a second consecutive goalless game involving Mansfield Town, it was certainly an interesting weekend of action in Nottinghamshire’s women’s football scene – on the plus side, there was to be a he win in the North East for Nottingham Forest, and a first league defeat of the season for Newcastle United.

Away to the, now previously unbeaten, FA Women’s National League Premier North leaders, a couple of milestones were witnessed by the emotional Reds, midfielder Mai Moncaster having made her hundredth appearance for the club, and shot-stopper Emily Batty donning the goalkeeper’s jersey for the seventy-fifth time.

It was the high-flying hosts that took the lead, as early as the fourth minutes, heading home a corner, from the middle of the box, her seventh of the season; Grace Donnelly however, in the home goal, had to be on top form to keep the Reds at bay prior to the equaliser.

That came on the half hour when Alice Keitley battled well to win back the ball before passing to Louanne Worsey, unfortunately for her, the effort struck Donnelly’s upright, but fell into the path of Keitley who had continued her run into the box, and was on hand to level proceedings.

Level at the break, the two promotion contenders continued their battle throughout the second, with neither side making inroads, Moncaster coming on for hundredth appearance with a little over twenty remaining.

Minutes after the introduction of Moncaster, visiting shot-stopper, Batty, pulled off several big saves which kept the Reds in the game, and on-course for at least a point.

Further introductions were made as the closing stages wore on, Carly Davies introducing first Niamh Reynolds, then Charlotte Greengrass, as both sides probed for the winner; that arrived deep into stoppage time, and went to the visitors.

All three of Davies’ changes combined to grab what proved the winning goal, and a huge three points when Moncaster produced some great work out wide and picked out Greengrass with a lovely pass, she in turn calmly controlled and played the ball back to Reynolds who wasted little time in firing past Donnelly.

WATCH THE WINNING GOAL HERE

Victory for Forest strengthens third place, opening a four-point advantage on fourth place Liverpool Feds, and closes the gap on the leaders, Newcastle United, to seven points, Davies’ charges also having a game in hand as they head into the business end of the season.

The win also stretched the Reds unbeaten run to six matches (in all competitions) ahead of a return to Grange Park, and a home, league encounter, with second placed Burnley, this coming Sunday (28 January) afternoon.

Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson, Sophie Domingo, Holly Manders (Niamh Reynolds, 76), Louanne Worsey (Charlotte Greengrass, 86), Mollie Green, Freya Thomas, Becky Anderson, Alice Keitley (Mai Moncaster, 68), Abi Cowie

Notts County picked up a valuable point in their battle to avoid relegation from the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, albeit a goalless draw, when home to mid-table Sutton Coldfield Town – County ‘keeper, Philipa Davies happy to take the clean-sheet.

Speaking of goalless draws, and in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division, Mansfield Town followed up the previous weeks’ blank against Anstey Nomads, with another, this time at fellow promotion hopefuls, Rotherham United.

The point for Mansfield sees just three separate that of Chesterfield, Basford United, and Ilkeston Town (joint-second), and Dunton & Broughton in seventh (fourth bottom), Andi Bell’s charges sandwiched in the middle, sitting fifth, on a dozen points.

SJR Worksop edged a narrow, Division One North derby, away to Retford, Sarah Harvey with the only goal of the game, a result which sees them second in the table, three points behind leaders Gainsborough Trinity, and with two games in hand.

Meanwhile, in Division One Central. There was a few goals scored, Arnold Eagles leading the way, by a point from Nottingham Trent University, after the latter won 3-0 at Arnold, and in the other game in the division, Notts County Development won 3-1 at home to Sherwood to push into third place.

Sandiacre Town meanwhile were dismissed from the Derbyshire FA League Plate, losing heavily at home to Pride Park.

As for the Nottinghamshire Girls and Ladies League, Radcliffe Olympic lead Arnold Eagles Flyers on goal-difference at the top after they won 6-0 away to Teversal, Demi Draycott with three, and substitute Thea Bishop two; Chloe Cockayne meanwhile was on-hand to net a brace in the Flyers’ 4-1 home win over Newark Town.

The third goalless draw of the day came between fifth place NTU Pink, and sixth place Hucknall Town, whilst Mansfield Town Development are joint-third with Newark following their 2-1 home win over bottom of the table Keyworth United, Bethany Jones with a brace for the victors.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen late celebrations as Forest win in the North East.