The FA Women’s National League Northern Premier division title race continues following Sunday’s results, victories for both second place Burnley, and third place Nottingham Forest, just about keeping them on the coat-tails of runaway leaders, Newcastle United.
The chasing pack both have a game in hand on the leaders, with the Lady Mags agonisingly close to both title success, which earns automatic promotion to the Championship; Carly Davies’ Forest side, sitting third, are some eleven points off the pace heading into the final weeks.
On Sunday, away to Stourbridge, a side the Reds hit for seven without reply back in August, on the opening day, conceded just the two this time around, Davies’ charges headed back to Nottingham with a 2-0 success courtesy of a first half double from prolific scorer, Charlotte Greengrass who in the process netted her fiftieth Forest goal.
The opening goal arrived inside five minutes, Abi Cowie and Moai Moncaster linking up brilliantly on the right, the latter putting in a low cross for Greengrass to fire home at the near post; that lead was doubled twenty minutes later when Sophie Domingo burst through on goal before squaring for Greengrass to net.
Leading by two at the break the Reds had numerous chances to increase their advantage in the second, Moncaster and Domingo both having chances missed before Ella Haughey and Holly Manders rocked the home crossbar in quick succession, with twenty-five remaining.
A flurry of changes was made by the Reds in the closing quarter of the contest and with it, in the closing minutes, a debut for young Lily Stevenson, she having been promoted to Davies first team squad from Forest’s U16s – valuable experience gained.
Now for the Reds, as they look to pull off the near impossible, are their final four games, with a trip to Huddersfield Town next up on 11 April, followed by a trip to rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers (21 April), and a home finale against Stoke City (5 May) – the game with Halifax still to be arranged.
Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Natalie Johnson, Sophie Domingo, Mai Moncaster (Laura-Jayne O’Neill, 79), Holly Manders (Lily Stevenson, 93), Mollie Green, Freya Thomas, Becky Anderson (Olivia Cook, 83), Charlotte Greengrass, Abi Cowie (Ella Haughey, 62)
In the FAWNL Division One Midlands, Notts County continue to battle relegation following their hefty, 6-1 defeat, at home to title-favourites Loughborough Lightning, in midweek.
It was a game that would see Nya Chambers make her hundredth appearance for the club, whilst Nikkie Emery would be seen to grab the consolation goal, with a little over twenty remaining; with just two games remaining County host Lincoln City at home in their next outing (21 April) before a trip to Northampton Town on the final day, in early May.
There was contrasting fortunes for the two Nottinghamshire-based clubs in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division, Mansfield Town cruising to an 8-0 win on the road at Long Eaton United, whilst Basford United were unfortunate to fall to a 2-1 reverse when at Ilkeston Town.
Mansfield’s win saw them move level on points with fourth place Rotherham United, and two behind third place Ilkeston, with two games in hand; four goals in each half would afford Mansfield a big win with Grace Shipman bagging a hat-trick, Eve Shaw two, and one apiece for Maia Taylor, Millie Edwards, and Olivia Standeven.
Basford meanwhile are sixth, five points off the top five having played a game or two more than those directly above them in the table, Alana Crawford’s first half goal scant reward for the visitors’ efforts.
There was mixed fortunes for Notts clubs across Division One, SJR Worksop keeping their hopes of promotion for the North alive with a narrow, 1-0 win at home to Dronfield Town, Lauren Cundy netting in the second half, whilst Retford won 2-1 at home to Sleaford, whilst in the Central Olivia Hemborough bagged a brace in Nottingham Trent University’s 4-0 home win over Loughborough Foxes Vixens, Arnold Eagles saw off visitors Notts County Development 3-1, whilst Sherwood were beaten 2-1 at Beaumont Park, and Sandiacre Town were dismissed, 6-0 at home to Asfordby Amateurs, Sarah Brown with an hat-trick for the victors.
Action in the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League would see Hucknall Town progress in the Plate competition, winning 3-1 at Woodhouse Colts, whilst in the league, Radcliffe Olympic won 2-1 at Arnold Eagles Flyers, and there was a ten-goal thriller at Keyworth United, they drawing 5-5 with visitors Newark Town – Jenna Stocks (2), Sammy Jacques, Saffron McCann and Lucy Belz netting for the hosts, Connie Forman (2), Jessica Hogg (2) and Shelley Forster scoring for the visitors.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NFFCWomen Charlotte Greengrass celebrates fifty Forest goals.
