Progression to the Nottinghamshire FA Women’s County Cup final, on a freezing cold, Sunday afternoon in Eastwood, was just what a delighted Mansfield Town Ladies captain, Chloe Hutsby, had hoped for, and, having edged hosts Notts County Women Reserves on penalties, she stopped to give the Nottingham Sport a few words.

Player of the Season back in 2023, Hutsby (pictured in action against NCWFC Reserves, courtesy of Tim Meakin Photography) was made club captain for the 2023/24 season, a role retained this season and one which, thus far, has seen her help lead the Lady Stags to a County Cup final, the semi-finals of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Plate competition, as well as the ongoing battle for promotion to the FA Women’s National League.

Now, as the current campaign hits its final stages, there’s a lot still on the table for Mansfield, and stage one, was getting past County’s part youthful, part experienced, second string.

Speaking after the penalty shoot-out success, Hutsby said; “It was certainly a very cold day, and always tough when facing Notts County.

“We’ve not only got history with them, but with it being a local derby rivalry, it’ll always be a tough game and I feel that both teams never stopped working throughout the game.

“Obviously they’ve got quite a few young players, and it’s perhaps because of that they brought a lot of energy and determination.

“We can play better football and it was in the air a lot during the game; even in the final third we maybe rushed it a little but, in games like that, a derby like that, sometimes it’s just the way it goes.”

Although not necessarily a game if two halves, despite each scoring one a half, the semi-final contest was pretty much non-stop for the full ninety minutes.

Even the shoot-out contained its own little slice of drama, the hosts crashing two of their spot-kicks off the crossbar.

“We were understandably chuffed to take the lead and it was a great goal from Liv (Olivia Wheatcroft),” explained Hutsby.

“But we were also disappointed to conceded in the second half as we didn’t want it to go to penalties.

“We stuck it out to the end though, and got the result we wanted, something we’re pleased about.”

Penalties is perhaps the harshest of ways for a side to go out of a competition, even more so losing either in the semi-final, or final, but the Lady Stags dispatched all four of theirs, via Shannon Purdy, Mathilda Evans, Chloe Hutsby, and Maia Taylor.

Netting hers, it shows that she leads by example, and has the trust of her manager, Andrea Bell, and the coaching team at the club.

“Luckily we practised them on Thursday night,” admitted the Stags skipper.

“It takes a lot for players to step forward and take one, a daunting thing to do, but we had five players willing to take them, and they were great penalties, so I can’t complain.

“I’ve got the armband on here, so I’ve got to set the standard, to volunteer, and hope that others follow suit.

“Yes, they hit the crossbar, but we’re talking centimetres here and, if they were lower, they could easily have gone in.

“But they stepped forward as well, so hats off to their players for doing so.”

Now though, it’s down to the last five league games, a League Plate semi-final away to Chesterfield (Sunday 9 March; SJR Worksop host Nottingham Trent University in the other semi-final) and the County Cup final against Basford United (details TBC) – seven, possibly eight matches remain.

But it’ll be a fine line that defines their season.

“We’re familiar with Basford, and we also have them to play at home in the league as well,” admitted Hutsby.

“We also played them in pre-season and, although not necessarily the same players, hopefully we can use past experiences to our advantage.

“It’s all to play for though and hopefully we can make up for what we missed out last season.”

Mansfield, currently sitting joint-third in the table, behind Chesterfield on goal-difference, with three points separating the top four sides, have trips to both Rotherham (second), and Chesterfield (third) next up. Before cup games, and league finales against Basford, and back-to-back against SJR Worksop.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @Tim Meakin Hutsby in action against Notts County.