Nottingham Forest LFC 2 : 0 Swindon Town LFC
Match
FAWPL Northern Division 2015-2016
| Nottingham Forest LFC | 2 : | 0 |
Swindon Town LFC
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-03-2016 14:00 | |||||
Forest Ladies book their place in FAWPL Cup Semi-Finals
Sunday 6 March - FAWPL League Cup (Quarter final) Basford United FC, Mill Street Playing Fields, Greenwich Avenue, Basford, Nottingham NG6 0LD - 2pm Kick of
Forest Ladies took the honours from Swindon Town LFC who remain unbeaten in their league, a league below Forest, to secure a place in the semi-final of the FAWPL Cup.
The quarter final contest saw Forest making some changes to their usual starting line-up with Nina Merritt, Kirsty Richardson and Ellie Betteridge all given the opportunity to start for the home side. Forest’s first half looked to have some lethargy with credit to Swindon who were clearly quick to close down the play.
McKechnie on the ball vs Swindon
Swindon kept possession well and created the first chance by delivering a deep cross which was cut out by Richardson to find another effort by the visitors just hitting side netting.
Forest had their first effort at goal with a header by Betteridge skimming wide of the mark. Some minutes later saw crowd and player contests as Forest’s Andi Bell had some strong penalty claims turned down after being upended in the Swindon penalty area.
Bell on the Deck
Swindon had an inspired line of defence with Chenise Austin being a notable asset to cut out Forest’s forward play.
Forest though persisted to draw first blood and were successful after Millie Fugler put through Andi Bell to shoot from wide of the edge of the box to beat the keeper with a slight deflection.
Half-Time: Nottingham Forest LFC 1 - 0 Swindon Town LFC
If Forest were slow to start the first half – the second half took on a different strategy which created significantly more chances to extend their lead.
Howard on the Ball
Substitute Meg Howard made an impact to steady and create with one prominent move between her, Ejupi and Bell interlinking for Howard’s resulting shot provoking a good save from Swindon’s keeper.
Richardson had been steady all game for the home side but gifted Swindon a chance to equalise after her misplaced clearance found the Swindon forward who found herself in space with a one to one with keeper Merritt who was down to ground quickly to collect the resulting effort.
Forests stepped up a gear for the final ten minutes and Bell was alert to see an overlapping Greenan who delivered the cross to find McKechnie finishing sweetly on 83-Minutes to extend the lead with the final goal of the game.
McKechnie goal
Head Coach, Steve Stennett said after the game: “Certainly a game of two halves and not one of our better first half performances with some sloppy passing and a lack of quality in certain areas of the pitch. However, the players produced a much better second half performance to secure a result which puts us into the Semi-Finals of the League
Cup.”
Full-Time: Nottingham Forest LFC 2 - 0 Swindon Town LFC
Line-Up: Merritt, Fugler, Greenan, Griffin, Kennaugh (c), Richardson (78), McKechnie, Ejupi, Bell, Betteridge (50), Meade (84)
Subs: Copeland (78), Howard (50), McIntosh (84)
Forest reflect at the end of the game
NFLFC Next Game: Sunday 13 March in Nottinghamshire County Cup vs Mansfield Town FC. One Call Stadium
Quarry Lane, Mansfield, Mansfield, Notts NG18 5DA – 12pm
Photos: NFLFC + Mick Gretton + Sidney Whitman