Chester-le-Street Town Ladies FC welcomed Nottingham Forest Women to Moor Park for the 1st round of the FA Women’s National League Plate.
This was the Cestrians third game in 7 days, they won the previous two.
After just two minutes on the clock Chester were a goal to the good as Nichole Havery had a shot from just outside of the 18-yard box. It was hard and low beating the keeper at the far post.
Just a few minutes later Nottingham Forest were on the attack when Brogan Prudhoe fouled Rebecca Rayner resulting in a free kick to Forest from about 25 yards out.
Forest kept applying further pressure with a shot from close range however the attempt was blocked by Katie Ellison.
13mins a corner was awarded to Chester it was taken by Jessica White, the ball eventually ending up with Tiegan Hutchinson who took a shot on the half volley but the ball just went over the cross bar.
On 22 minutes Forest equalise through Isobel Dalton, the goal came after the visitors had several attempts in the 18-yard box all of them being blocked by the Chester-le-Street defence. One of the shots had hit Lynsey Longhurst in the head and she almost seemed to be knocked out. Dalton then pounced on the loose ball and took the shot from distance the ball ended up in the far top corner of the goal.
Chester-le-Street were awarded a penalty on 27 minutes after Nichole Havery was fouled within side the 18-yard box. She then stepped up to take the penalty and puts it in the back of the goal to make the score 2-1.
Only 4 minutes later and Forest get their second equaliser of the game, the goal was scored by Precious Hamilton.
Chester tried to get back in the lead when Katie Ellison knocked the ball about 30 yards upfield towards Havery. She controlled the ball well under pressure from Forest’s Sianna Bennett however the referee felt that Havery had committed a foul on Bennett and awarded a free kick to the visitors.
At half time the score was 2-2 with both teams having plenty of chances at goal.
Within less than a minute after the restart Forest take the lead for the first time in the game. The ball was crossed into the box and Ellie Casper heads it into the goal.
On 51 minutes some good passing from Nichole Havery and Kacie Elson see’s Kacie in on goal, Forests keeper came off her line to deal with the threat but she tripped Kacie and the Cestrians were awarded their second penalty of the game.
Once again Nichole Havery stepped up to take the penalty unfortunately the shot went wide of the goal, she later said that she had ‘slipped when taking the penalty’ hence the ball went wide of the target.
Chester were given a free kick near the half way line, the ball was put in toward the 18-yard box. It fell to Rachel Mellor who had a half turn volley shot at goal, it was a good effort but the Forest keeper was able to save it pushing the ball out for a corner.
67 minutes and the visitors get their fourth goal which was scored by Lyndsey Harkin.
Forest keep the pressure on the Chester defence and again they are rewarded for their efforts with a fifth goal.
Soon after they had scored their fifth goal, they then go onto grab the sixth.
Even though they were losing 2-6 at home Chester le Street didn’t give up as they continued to try and pull a goal back as Mellor played a good ball through for Havery who worked her way into the 18-yard box. She took a shot with her left foot but there just wasn’t any power behind it.
