Sunderland AFC Ladies 2-1 Nottingham Forest Women (Friendly) 25.07.21

Having travelled to the north-east in their post-season friendlies, and Newcastle United Women, Forest manager, Andy Cook, took his side back to the region to face that of Sunderland AFC Ladies, suffering a 2-1 reverse at the Academy of Light.

It would take close to twenty minutes before the deadlock was broken, the opener going Forest’s way when, following some great midfield-play from one of the club’s new players, Sophie Bramford, she would find herself beating the home defender and feeding in Mai Moncaster, the experienced, Forest star, netting what was her second goal in two outings, applying a neat finish past Allison Cowling for the lead.

Less than ten minutes later however and the visiting Garibaldi were forced into making an early change when debutant, Freya Thomas, picked up an injury, she being replaced by Charlotte Steggles, before the returning Aja Aguirre, back between the Garibaldi goalposts, kept her 45-minute cameo clean-sheet intact with an impressive save as she tips a curling effort round her posts, before claiming well from the resultant corner.

An interval was to be kept intact until midway through the second period and, with Cook having made a handful of changes earlier in the half, the hosts came out with renewed purpose, putting the Reds backline under pressure from the off.

Just past the hour mark and both sides would be seen to be creating opportunities, firstly the hosts found themselves through on goal as the searched an equaliser, Batty finding herself equal to the oncoming, one-on-one chance, whilst immediately off the clearance from Forest’s newest shot-stopper, Moncaster would see her eventual effort saved well by Cowling.

Had Forest netted there, things could have been so very different, instead, and as the game passed into its final quarter, the hosts, who were in an increasing ascendency during the second period, finally made it count, twice in quick succession.

With twenty minutes remaining, Emily Scarr releases a deep corner into the Forest box, one which is met by Holly Manders, she poking home the equalising goal, then, just minutes later, and the hosts had turned matters around, finding themselves in front, Eve Blakey slotting the ball under Batty and into the back of the net.

Both teams had chances late on as the game continued to provide, Kiera Ramshaw with a great chance for a third for the hosts, her effort saved well by Batty, whilst at the other end, Laura-Jayne O’Neill would see a late effort collected well by Cowling, the hosts’ holding out for the win.

Forest’s next outing is another away day, this time over to Yorkshire, and a trip to Sheffield United Women on Sunday 1 August, before finishing up a week later at home to Watford Women, on Sunday 8 August.

Forest: Aja Aguirre (Emily Batty 46), Georgia Hewitt, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook, Laura-Jayne O’Neill, Becky Anderson, Sophie Bramford (Sophie Tudor 73), Freya Thomas (Charlotte Steggles 21), Mai Moncaster (Jade Arber 76), Jade Arber (Grace Walters 46), Trialist (Katie Middleton 73).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @SAFCLadies action between Sunderland and Forest.