WBA Women 2-2 Nottingham Forest
20/9/2020 – Coles Lanes – FAWNL Northern Premier League
Goals – Davies, Dugmores – O’Neill, Hewitt.
Attendance -109
The opening game of the brand new FAWNL Northern Premier League season saw a trip to Coles Lane for a game between West Brom Women and Nottingham Forest Women. Our links with Coles Lane and Aston Villa. It meant it was surreal to be back where I started watching them play. But this time it was to see Louis Sowe’s West Brom team take on Andy Cook’s Nottingham Forest team. Our links to both team’s see some of our old Villa girls on show with likes of Ria Elsmore, Beth Jewitt, Aja Aguirre, Georgia Hewitt and many more as well.
It was a very different way to start the new season with a temperature gun, a track and trace file and correct money but it was all run very smooth by Terry and Co. Obviously inside it still has the same feel seeing many faces you haven’t seen for a while and the excitement building for the game to start as the captains came together to get the coin toss done under the blazing sun glowing on the Coles Lane pitch.
The game kicked off and it was Nottingham Forest who came out the blocks first as Rosie Axten put pressure on the back and Charlotte Greengrass had the first chance but her header went wide of the goal. But it was WBA who got the opening goal on the 11th minute as Keeley Davies used her tenacity to win the ball and strike it from long range. The effort went under Aja Aguirre’s body an effort she normally would gobble up soon as came into her goal but the ball made it’s way into the corner of the goal to give WBA the early lead. Nottingham Forest nearly hit back on the 13th minute as Mia Moncaster’s effort cannoned back off the post but the score remained 1-0. Forest were starting to pile the pressure on with a ball over the top nearly saw Bex Rayner in behind but Poppy Bastock got out to force the corner as Forest looked to score
It was Nottingham Forest on the front foot after the goal as Mia Moncaster caused Poppy Bastock to pull off another save with efforts from Mia Moncaster and Lucy Johnson. But on the 28th minute the pressure finally paied off as Lucy Johnson put in a cross that Laura O’Neil met at the back post as she slammed the ball home to bring Nottingham Forest back on level times. Forest maybe were smelling blood now as they tried to get in to the break with a 1-2 lead but Poppy Bastock made sure Rosie Axten effort was saved on the 32nd minute. But it was West Brom that nearly went into the break 2-1 up when Jade Arber broke into the box and Laura O’Neill made an important tackle to stop the effort just before the break. The half time whistle blew with the teams all level as the score was 1-1 with all to play in the second half.
Bex Rayner kicked the second half off for Nottingham Forest, and it wasn’t long before Bex Rayner was back in the action as she placed a through ball into the West Brom box and as Poppy Bastock mishandled the ball it fell loose to the on running Georgia Hewitt who put the ball in the back of the net for her first goal of the season, for the goat at left back. Nottingham Forest were 1-2 up in the 49th minute. West Brom were trying to fight their way back into the game and as Jade Arber looks to get in behind the defence Charlotte Greengrass and Aja Aguirre do enough to make sure the ball get’s cleared and keep the score at 1-2.
West Brom were trying to get back on level terms with Jade Arber getting in behind the defence but Forest were matching their attacks on goal. And Nottingham Forest nearly made it 1-3 when Bex Rayner as always weaved her magic and put Georgia Hewitt through but her effort wasn’t to be her second goal as it went just wide. Unfortunately two minutes later a mix up at the back lead to WBA getting a penalty on the 81st minute. Leigh Dugmore stepped up to take the penalty and slotted the ball home expertly giving Aja Aguirre no chance in the Nottingham Forest goal. WBA were back on equal terms at 2-2 with the final 10 minutes to come. West Brom seemed happy too be back on level terms. Nottingham Forest were trying too get the victory in the final stages and came so close in the 87th minute. When Sydnie Naylor found herself in the box behind the defence and as she hit the ball hard across the box and as Rachel Brown slide in and just as it looked as if the net was about to ripple it somehow went wide of the goal. The score remained 2-2 at the final whistle, the points shared in the first game of the season.
After the game finished I think West Brom will be the happier of the two teams with the draw as they managed to get back into the game late on. But Nottingham Forest might see at 2 points thrown away. But a great way to start off the new FAWNL Northern Premier League. Was gutted didn’t get to see Katie Middleton, Beth Jewitt and Hattie James play as they sat on the bench and didn’t get to come on. It was so good to see so many people we haven’t seen in a while. Including Tim, Nat, Claire and having the our little group almost complete as well after such a long time apart. As always great to see the players that we loved at Villa and the one’s we’ve adopted playing again.
The key players in the game were Bex Rayner as always, her work effort and the way she can link the midfield to the attackers is something to always watch in awe. Rosie Axten on her debut looked impressive up top always looking to try and punish WBA. But as well as Rosie had done Ria Elsmore was impressive and vocal throughout the game as Vice Captain of the Baggies team, marshaled her troops well from the back. One of the more enjoyable battles in the game was between Sophie Tudor and Keeley Davies the two players were always in the thick of the action.
