Two wins from their opening two matches in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Premier Division sees Andi Bell’s Mansfield Town Ladies share the early leadership with Northampton Town Women and Rotherham United Women.

Having kicked off on Wednesday last week, with a tough, 2-1 win on the road at Chesterfield Women, Sunday afternoon would see the Stagettes have their first home game of the season, defeating fellow Nottinghamshire side, Rise Park Ladies, 4-2.

On Wednesday, at Hall Corner, Glapwell, Mansfield raced into a two-goal, interval lead, Ellie Marshall and Shannon Purdy with the goals, before Amy Pashley pulled one back after the break; on Sunday it was a similar scenario, a two-goal interval lead and, although the visitors registered in the second period, Bell’s charges built on their early foundations.

Ellie Marshall, with her second of the season, and Nikki Wigman, afforded that interval lead; Shalarma French and Thea Duncan did give Rise Park hope but further goals from the hosts, from Georgia Gladwin and Gabriella Foulkes, sealed a 4-2 success in front of the One Call Stadium crowd.

Rise Park had kicked off their season in midweek, entertaining Oughtibridge War Memorial in what was a tough, goalless draw, whilst Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County Women battled in their Premier Division opener, but fell to a 2-1 reverse when away to Rotherham United Women, Helen Lynskey’s brace afforded a two-goal, interval lead, with Ellie Rowson pulling one back during the second.

On the Sunday meanwhile, in Division One North, Neil Matthews’ Arnold Eagles Women opened with a 12-1 demolition job as newcomers Appleby Frodingham visited Hollinwood Lane.

Natasha Leach bagged a five goal haul, four of which came in the first half, two in the opening ten and another two in the closing five minutes; Leach was joined on the scoresheets by Amy Gauvrit and Mollie Rowden, both of whom scored hat-tricks, and a solo effort from Demi-Leigh Crofts, the hosts certainly asserting their dominance.

Nottingham Trent University Women begun life in the EMWRFL with a comfortable, 4-0 home win over another Nottinghamshire outfit, St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop Women, Alice Rogers grabbed two, and there was one each for Julie Kings and Victoria Reid.

Other games would see Sherwood Ladies draw 1-1 at Grimsby Borough Ladies, Ellie Fitzsimmons with the goal, whilst there were defeats on the road for both Notts County Development, 3-0 at Grimsby Town Sport & Education Trust Women, and Nottingham Forest Development lost 3-2 at Leicester Road Ladies, Chardonnay Truin and Isabella Hudson both scoring in the second half.

Upcoming fixtures for the EMWRL (regarding Nottinghamshire clubs) is that of the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, draw preview for which can be seen HERE.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @AdamReapa Mansfield Ladies are currently two wins from two played.