FOREST FIRE EXPECTATIONS WITH EXTRA TIME CUP WIN
Nottingham Forest 3 (Greengrass 43, Mosby 52, Mitchell 115)
Watford 2 (Davison 2, Wilson 64)
(AET)
FA Women’s National League Cup Final
Pirelli Stadium, Burton
23 April 2023
Nottingham Forest manager Andy Cook hailed his triumphant team after an extra time victory brought them the FAWNL Cup, putting them in line to achieve a League and Cup double plus, potentially, promotion via a play-off to the FA Women’s Championship.
But before contemplating what could be a mighty end to the 2022-23 season, Cook and his players rightly celebrated their hard-fought League Cup success.
Cook said: “I’m over the moon and I couldn’t be more delighted for the players. Our game plan worked well and we felt we could have had another couple of goals.”
Watford as well as Forest could have had more goals in an enthralling final that saw both sides produce spells of heavy pressure.
Watford took an early lead, Forest hit back to go 2-1 in front but the Hornets forced the game into extra-time with an equaliser midway through the second half. Cook’s team finally prevailed, however, substitute Gianna Mitchell hitting a late, late victory clincher.
Mitchell’s 115th minute strike won a game which had been a thriller from its explosive start. After just two minutes Watford’s former Arsenal and England winger Gemma Davison spectacularly scored direct from a corner to put her team in front.
Megan Chandler almost doubled the lead, heading against the crossbar, but the woodwork was also struck by Mai Moncaster as Forest looked for an equaliser.
The scores were levelled two minutes before half-time by Charlotte Greengrass, the striker firing home her 22nd goal of the season.
It was a timely boost for Forest, who following the interval took control and went ahead when Yasmin Mosby forced the ball over the line after Becky Anderson’s 52nd minute long range shot had rebounded off the bar.
Moncaster and Sophie Domingo both went close for the East Midlands side as they searched for a decisive third goal.
But Watford hit back strongly and in the 64th minute equalised as a Davison free-kick bounced back off the bar for Poppy Wilson to head home.
The Hornets had the better of extra time’s early stages, keeping Forest goalkeeper Emily Batty busy, but the game was won when Mitchell latched on to Anderson’s excellent though-ball to gleefully shoot into the Watford net.
“Full credit to Watford,’” said Cook as he assessed the final, “they were fantastic. They gave us a tough start with a goal in the first couple of minutes and it was a really hard game. But we came through and now we can celebrate.
“In the four years I’ve been at the club we’ve not had too many of these moments, but we won the Plate last year, we’ve won the League Cup this year and we’re going to make sure we enjoy it before preparing for the Stoke game” (victory in which would see Forest crowned Northern Premier Division champions).
Disappointed but defiant Watford manager Damon Lathrope, whose team also had a big League match to prepare for, said: “It was a brilliant game, very open and end to end with both teams going all out to win. In the end it could have gone either way.
“My players have played with courage and belief in what they do, and they did that from minute one to minute 120. We didn’t quite get what our efforts deserved, but I’m really proud of the girls.”
While Forest were now hoping to win their division, the Hornets were set to face Southern Premier Division leaders Oxford United with the aim of lifting that title.
Lathrope said: “The players don’t need to be down for long and they absolutely won’t need picking up. The group is very motivated and they’ll be ready for a game that could set up a great end to our season.”
As it transpired, both of the League Cup finalists went on to win their respective divisions - and when they subsequently met in the Play-Off for a place in the Championship, Watford were to gain the best possible revenge for their Cup defeat with a 1-0 win to seal promotion.
Nottingham Forest: Batty, Anderson, Cook, Domingo (Mitchell 67), Greengrass, Harkin, James (Hewitt 110), Moncaster (Reynolds 75) (Powell 119), Mosby (Daniels 67), Steggles, West.
Watford: Goldsmid, Baptiste (Fyfe 87), Brough (Wallace 63), Chandler, Davison, Georgiou, Gibson, Head (Ward 79), Murphy, Rossiter, Wilson.
FA WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE PLATE 2022-23
Leeds United beat high-flying Stourbridge 3-1 to claim the FAWNL Plate in a hard-fought final between the Women’s Pyramid Tier 4 rivals at Solihull Moors’ ARMCO Arena.
A closely contested opening half-hour ended with Macy Ellis tucking the ball over the line to give Division One North team Leeds the lead.
But Stourbridge, who weeks later were to be crowned Division One Midlands champions, hit back quickly for Hannah Fishwick to equalise with a spectacular long-range free-kick.
Leeds gained the upper hand after the interval and Abbie Brown shot them back in front from a 63rd minute cross by Amy Woodruff.
And 15 minutes from time Woodruff turned from provider to scorer as she rose to head home the victory-clincher from a fine Ellis cross.
