FAWNL CUP MATCH REPORT

I

Photography by Liam Sheasby

In an enthralling cup final fixture at the Poundland Bescot Stadium, it was Nottingham Forest Women who triumphed over Stoke City Women in a 3-1 victory.

The atmosphere before the game was electric, with Stoke City and Nottingham Forest fans alike gathering at the stadium ahead of kickoff to welcome the players off the bus. Both sets of fans appeared in a confident mood prior to the match - something that was likely down to both team’s excellent form coming into this final.

At 15:30 Stoke got us underway for the first half of this cup final, with neither team managing to create any clear-cut chances in the opening 15 minutes. Forest number 4 Kate Longhurst was demonstrating her experience at the back, appearing calm in her distribution and settling any early Forest nerves. Reds winger Charlie Wellings looked dangerous on the right channel but Stoke’s captain Roisin Kivel made some excellent early challenges to keep her well-contained.

The concrete chance fell to Forest in the 16th minute of the game with Wellings’ footwork allowing her to execute a lovely first time ball into the path of former Loughborough University player Sophie Domingo, who fired well over the bar. Stoke responded almost immediately with Evie Priestley’s silky footwork crafted an opportunity in the Forest box which was well blocked. The game began to really open up at this point with both teams having chances at either end but both team’s defences stood firm with Former Forest defender Olivia Cook regaining the ball following a crunching slide challenge.

As we moved towards the 25th minute, Forest looked calmer on the ball but Stoke managed to press them into mistakes with Delphi Cole, Stoke’s number 9, and Rosie Kivel looking aggressive on the left channel. Forest however, broke the deadlock in the 29th minute, as Melissa Johnson played in Charlie Wellings who fired a pinpoint finish in the bottom right corner. Only 3 minutes later, Welling’s added a second to her tally with an excellent long-range rocket that caught Stoke keeper Lauren Bracewell off guard.

These goals rattled Stoke who looked shaky in the minutes after but regained their composure and crafted a nice chance from a freekick in the 36th minute. Only a minute later, Stoke struck again with Molly Holder just heading the ball wide from a corner. Even two goals down, Stoke were continuing to demonstrate their fighting spirit and Jessica Reavill appeared strong in the middle, helping her side drive forward following some excellent tackles.

Forest held a two goal advantage at the break setting them up nicely for the second half.

Both sides came out unchanged in the second half, and Forest continued their excellent first half form with Domingo letting fly an excellent effort that Bracewell caught well in the 47th minute. It was Stoke who impressed in the early minutes however, as their relentless pressure was rewarded in several turnovers of possession. Stoke struggled however to convert this possession into goals however.

In the 52nd minute, Shannon Stamp’s excellent drive forward and despite being brough down, this was not judged to be a foul. Stoke continued to dominate, keeping Forest pinned in their own half with a series of corners and freekicks. Millie Ravening demonstrated her attacking prowess with a powerful long range effort that was well dealt with.

Forest, after making a double change in the 60th minute, responded with an excellent free kick forcing a save. The next significant chance fell to the Reds from a powerful long range free kick courtesy of centre back Molly Green which was only just tipped over the crossbar by Lauren Bracewell. Then in the 70th minute, Forest midfielder Holly Olding could have put the game to bed with a short-range effort that she struggled to properly connect with.

Cole continued her aggressive pressure and her work rate was rewarded with a freekick just in the Forest half. Stoke’s number 9 was then replaced by Tamara Wilcock, who could not have had a better introduction to the game as she fired a bullet header into the net following an excellent looping cross from Suttie. Firing up the crowd, this goal ignited a hunger for an equalizing goal amongst The Potters. Jess Reavill threaded through an excellent ball into the path of Shannon Stamps to put her through on goal. The winger looked to have been pulled down but it was not judged a foul by the referee, much to the frustration of the travelling Stoke fans. This moment was a pivotal one in the course of the game.

Only 7 minutes later, Forest claimed their 3rd goal to put the game out of Stoke’s reach with Melissa Johnson striking a ball into the top right corner following a neat passage of play from Domingo and Caragh Hamilton. Despite the odds being against them, Stoke refused to give up, with substitute Wilcock putting a nearly perfect ball through to Stamps with Emily Batty coming out nicely to snuff out any danger. This was quickly followed with Wilcock’s own effort being blazed over the bar.

With 4 minutes of additional time, Nottingham Forest displayed excellent game management to see out their 3-1 triumph in the cup final. This victory marks their second FAWNL Cup trophy in 3 years, having previously won the competition in the 2022/23 season. Overall, this final lived up to all expectations, with some exciting football being played by both sides and an excellent atmosphere from both sets of fans.

Congratulations to Nottingham Forest on their victory in the FAWNL Cup!