There were mixed fortunes for the county’s women’s football sides this past weekend, with Notts County suffering a narrow defeat in the National League, and Mansfield Town easing to a derby victory in the East Midlands League.

In the FA Women’s National League Division One Midlands, Adam Dunleavy’s County side were away to Worcester City (image courtesy of Maisie Tay Photography), who are above them in the league table, the visiting Notts side putting on a battling display.

Despite a goalless, opening forty-five minutes, creating the games’ first chance inside ten minutes, and ‘keeper Ashleigh Hind keeping them in the contest with several saves, it would be the hosts who eventually led, just before the hour mark, Maia Clark opening the scoring from close range.

County, in the contest through, levelled with twenty minutes remaining, but it didn’t last long, Clark doubling up with ten minutes left to rubber-stamp a 2-1 home success, County remaining seventh in the table, with side beneath them not too far behind.

Meanwhile, there was plenty of action across the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League, and derby day in the Premier Division, Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town getting much the better of Lee Scott’s visiting SJR Worksop.

Level at ones apiece at the break, Ainsley Allan (Mansfield) and Millee Clarke (SJR) netting for their respective sides, it would stay that way until the closing fifteen, when the hosts not only turned up the pressure, but hit four, unanswered goals.

Substitute Millie Mellors would grab a late brace, alongside efforts from Elisha Whittaker and fellow sub, Shannon Purdy, with the win seeing them into fourth place, six points off third place Rotherham United, and sixteen off leaders Chesterfield, Loughborough Foxes Vixens in second a point off the top – Bell’s side do however have four games in hand on the three above them.

University of Nottingham moved top of the EMWRFL Division One Central after a narrow, 1-0 success at home to Asfordby Amateurs, whilst Basford United moved level with Nottingham Trent University, and Melbourne Dynamo, on sixteen points, after their fourth successive league win under new management.

As for Division One North, it was a disastrous day for the two Notts sides in action, both falling to 4-0 defeats, second place Arnold Eagles doing so away to mid-table Cleethorpes Town, for whom Emily Blyth scored three, and third bottom Notts County Development suffered the same when home to leaders Grimsby Town Academy, Abbie-May Emslie at the double.

There was also a top-of-the-table clash in the Notts Girls & Ladies League Seniors One division, leaders Hucknall Town being pegged back by second place Keyworth United, and with it their first defeat of the season.

Sophie Beresford and Sammy Jaques netted for the victors who, although cut the lead to six points, have played a game more; in the other game it was an away to forget for Arnold Eagles Development, they going down 8-0 at NTU Pink, in a battle of the bottom two.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NCFC_Women action between Worcester City and Notts County.