Two sides are putting in battling performances and grinding out results at the top end of the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division, with Newcastle United currently holding the aces over Nottingham Forest.
Carly Davies’s side, on the road at fourth placed Liverpool Feds were held to a battling 1-1 draw, whilst the Lady Mags claimed a hard-fought, 2-1 win, at home to Forest’s East Midlands rivals, Derby County.
On Merseyside, in what was the first draw of Forest’s season (from fourteen league games), the Reds stretched their unbeaten league run to six games, although they fell behind inside twenty minutes when the Feds opened the scoring when Aleesha Collins, bearing down on Emily Batty in the visiting goal, saw her cross spilled into the path of Bethany Donoghue, who wasted little time in slotting home.
That goal was enough for the Feds to lead at the break, at their Jericho Lane home, however, within a dozen minutes of the restart, the visitors were level when Abo Cowie won possession and released Sophie Domingo, the Forest striker calmly firing into Rachael Norney’s bottom corner.
The Reds had the chance to move in front with a little over twenty remaining when, having struck the bar, the melee saw Mia Parry bring down a visiting player but, from the resulting spot-kick, Holly Manders’ effort was saved by Norney.
Both sides therefore had to settle for a battling point, one which sees the Reds now nine adrift of the leaders, who’ve played a game more; a threat to Forest’s second place meanwhile are Burnley who, although five points further adrift of the Reds, have two in hand on them.
Road trips continue for Davies’ charges, with two more away days to come; next up they make the trip to Halifax on 3 March, before a trip to the West Midlands, and another meeting with their league rivals, Daniel McNamara’s Wolverhampton Wanderers – Forest having just seven games remaining.
Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson, Olivia Cook, Sophie Domingo, Mai Moncaster (Chloe Dixon, 70), Holly Manders, Louanne Worsey, Becky Anderson, Charlotte Greengrass (Ella Haughey, 84), Abi Cowie
Of the two Nottinghamshire FA County Cup semi-finals to take place, one went ahead, and the other was postponed as Basford United narrowly squeezed past visiting Mansfield Town to reach the final, whilst the other, between Arnold Eagles and Arnold Eagles Flyers, fell victim to the weather.
The visitors led in the first half when Olivia Wheatcroft opened the scoring after half an hour; the hosts levelled within ten minutes of the restart after Izzy Sullivan levelled from the spot then, with the contest heading towards penalties, the hosts snatched it at the death when Georgia Gladwin popped in the winner in the 92 minute.
Basford United – Kaci Riley, Devonn Cousins, Stevie Gough, Keeley Butler, Maisie Plumb, Chloe Barkes, Phoebe Roe, Alana Crawford, Zoe Meyrick, Izzy Sullivan, Laura Porritt
Mansfield Town – Amy Price, Maia Taylor, Martha Roper, Chloe Hutsby, Monica Bowley, Eve Shaw, Gabriella Foulkes, Olivia Wheatcroft, Chrystal Smiley, Olivia Standeven, Mathilda Evans
There was but a handful of games played elsewhere across Nottinghamshire, with the Sandiacre versus Notts County Development derby clash one of several postponed, whilst in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Division One North, SJR Worksop suffered a heavy, 6-1 loss, when away to Dronfield Town, Emily Myatt with SJRs consolation effort, Ruby Burns with a hat-trick for the victors.
Just two games were played in the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Seniors One as NTU Pink won 7-1 at home to Teversal, and Mansfield Town Development picked up a 4-2 win away to Radcliffe Olympic.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @BasfordLadiesFC United through victory as Basford beat Mansfield.
