First half goals from Rosie Axten and Gianna Mitchell afforded Nottingham Forest Women all three points in their FA Women’s National League North clash at home to Stoke City Women on Sunday afternoon.

In making several changes from their previous, Coach Andy Cook bringing Charlotte Steggles, Mai Moncaster and Niamh Reynolds into the starting eleven, the hosts would be seen to race out of the blocks and open the scoring as early as the ninth minute.

Coming after early chances from both Becky Anderson and Charlotte Greengrass, the Reds would continue their forward momentum with Axten driving her way into the visitors’ box, firing home the opener under the advancing ‘keeper.

Less than fifteen minutes later and the hosts would be seen to double their lead when, following a corner from Anderson, Mitchell would rise to head home number two, a goal which would afford some much needed comfort for the remainder of the game.

With chances limiting themselves for the remainder of the half, Forest went in two to the good at half-time, whilst in the second, the visitors would find themselves mainly restricted to efforts from set-pieces, they coming to no avail.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Stoke City’s ‘keeper was doing her upmost to keep the Red tide at bay, saving well on a number of occasions including in the closing minutes when Docherty released Axten, however the Forest striker could only look on as the ‘keeper pulls off a fantastic save to keep the score at two.

Forest’s next league outing, on Sunday 27 March, sees them travel to rivals Derby County, and Pride Park, in a top four clash; Forest’s win over Stoke seeing them solidify fourth spot, and six behind Wolverhampton Wanderers Women, Derby and Fylde sandwiched between.

Forest: Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Georgia Hewitt, Charlotte Steggles, Mai Moncaster (Naomi Powell 65), Rosie Axten, Niamh Reynolds (Charley Docherty 72), Gianna Mitchell (Tamara Wilcock 80), Becky Anderson, Hayley James, Charlotte Greengrass (Grace Walters 87).

Completing what was a great weekend for the City of Nottingham, Forest’s Development side romped to an impressive, 9-2 home win in the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Division One South, when facing Coalville Town Ravenettes.

Victory for the Reds third string, goals coming from Amber Bilous (3), Jessica Waplington (2), Isabella Hodson (2), and Jessica Abdy (2), sees them consolidate a mid-table position, six points off the top four, but some twenty-one points adrift of runaway, unbeaten leaders, Derby County Academy Women.

The rest of the EMWRFL would see Andi Bell’s Premier Division side, Mansfield Town Ladies, claim another victory, this time 5-1 away to Rotherham United, Georgia Gladwin firing a four-goal salvo alongside one from Gabriella Foulkes.

Victory for Bell’s side sees them remain joint-second with Northampton Town, three points behind the leaders Chesterfield, but with two games in hand.

Adam Dunleavy’s Notts County Women claimed a hard-fought point when home to Lincoln United, Nya Chambers equalising from the penalty spot, whilst lowly Rise Park Ladies suffered a heavy defeat at home to the leaders, Chesterfield romping to a 13-1 success as both Georgina Williams and Georgia Wilson notched four apiece.

In the Nottinghamshire Girls & Ladies League Senior Cup, Mansfield Town Development progressed on the back of a 3-1 win away to Gedling Southbank, whilst in the Seniors Division One Keyworth United won 4-1 at Nottingham Trent, and the game between WBC Women and Mansfield Hosiery Mills finished in a 1-1 draw.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen Forest in action as they Beat Stoke City in Eastwood.