Liverpool Feds 2-4 Nottingham Forest (FA Women’s National League North) 06.02.23

Ten wins in the league, six points clear of second place, unbeaten in their last eight (league) and four (all competitions) sees Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest in a great place as the second half of the season picks up pace.

This all came about following Sunday’s 4-2 win on the road at fourth-bottom Liverpool Feds with midfielder, Becky Anderson, saying prior to the match: “It will be a tough challenge as they are always competitive.

“We’ve been on good form and confidence is high so we’re looking forward to it.”

Well, that form, and that confidence, continued to bubble away, both sides having chances in the opening exchanges of the game before the opening goal finally arrived; Yasmin Mosby saw her effort saved by the home ‘keeper, Rachel Darbyshire, but Charlotte Greengrass was on hand to tap home her eleventh of the season, from close range.

Chances continued to flow, and the lead was doubled just ten minutes after the opener, this time Sophie Domingo with a solo effort and, having found herself in the box, fired home into the far corner for her first of the game.

Two goals to the good at the break, the Reds of Nottingham stretched that to three within ten minutes of the restart, Charlotte Steggles firing home her ninth of the season, with a shot from distance.

Seemingly out of sight, the Reds were caught off-guard moments later when the Feds pulled a goal back, Katie Thomas firing past Emily Batty, from distance herself, both sides continuing to push forward in a free-flowing, open encounter, and a great advert for the National League game.

It may not have looked like there’d be more goals but a further two were added late on, both sides registering as the Reds restored that interval, three-goal advantage when Domingo grabbed her second of the game, and seventh of the season, firing home into the bottom corner.

A flurry of late changes for the Reds came at a little cost when the Feds nabbed a second as the game ticked into stoppage time, Beth Donoghue slots home following pressure on the visiting defence from Chantelle Thompson, but it was too little, too late, and Forest held on for another, vital, three points, in their promotion push.

Next up for the Reds, a top-of-the-table clash away to joint-second, Wolverhampton Wanderers, they and Burnley, level on twenty-five points as Wolves won 3-2 (AET) in the National League Cup at home to Huddersfield Town, whilst Burnley won 2-1 at Loughborough Lightning in the league.

Nottingham Forest – Emily Batty, Lyndsey Harkin, Olivia Cook, Charlotte Steggles (Lauren Purchase, 87), Sophie Domingo (Rosetta Taylor, 87), Mai Moncaster, Yasmin Mosby, Amy West (Laura-Jayne O’Neill, 65), Becky Anderson, Hayley James (Naomi Powell, 87), Charlotte Greengrass (Niamh Reynolds, 78).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @NFFCWomen action from the win in Liverpool.