Southampton Cruise To Win

Nottingham Forest 0-3 Southampton (Women’s Super League 2)

What a season it has been in the WSL2, Nottingham Forest in their first campaign at the second tier of women’s football for thirteen long years, going into the last day with a chance of a sixth placed finish, the Reds enjoyed a fair start to the 2025/26 campaign with three wins in their first four games, but a sticky middle scuppered any outside hopes of back-to-back promotions, a good end however has seen them unbeaten in four, winning three and drawing one, beating the Saints would see them leapfrog todays opponents into sixth, but failing that, a seventh place finish is most commendable.

Elsewhere in the division, huge pre-game excitement with leaders Charlton Athletic hosting second place Birmingham City in a final day drama that doesn’t just boast the two teams own title efforts, should the Valley see a draw and third place Crystal Palace beat bottom of the table Portsmouth it would be the Eagles who land the league, a three way race for the championship could go the Blues way should they win, if Charlton do the business, the trophy will be theirs.

With the expansion of the WSL to fourteen teams the top two will automatically go up into next season’s top flight with the third place team playing off against bottom side Leicester, should Southampton win today and results go their way, they could even finish best of the rest, which bodes well for next season, as both the Saints and Forest will fancy their chances of having a fair shot at promotion.

Now in their fourth year at the level, Southampton have finished sixth, fourth and eighth in previous campaigns, a steady staple of the tier they are, meanwhile Forest in their first season have also fared well, well backed, they have a good Manager doing good things in Carly Davies and in recent weeks they have beaten Ipswich, Durham and Portsmouth and almost won at Newcastle, but for a ninetieth minute Jordan Nobbs leveller in a 1-1 draw.

I’m out the door at just gone 1pm, a quick drive down the Melton Road and before you know it I’m pulling onto Radcliffe Road besides Trent Bridge Cricket Ground bathed in sunlight, I turn into Pavilion Road as I’m privileged to even have some parking today, here on behalf of the Nottingham Sport.

The Venue

Dressed in red. the City Ground is looking fabulous these days since the emperor that is Evangelos Marinakis took on this once struggling club and made it into a European giant again.

The women have shared the men’s home for a couple of seasons now and although the press room is much quieter today than it would have been on Thursday for the men’s Europa League semi-final against Aston Villa, the place is in great condition, the Peter Taylor Main Stand built in the 1960’s the most aged of the four sides, but all look great, particularly on a sunny day like today.

The Game

I’m joined ahead of kick off from a lad I know from a stats company and we get chatting so much that we barely even notice kick off, the Saints in black shoot straight away which catches us off guard. “Was that a shot” the stat man to my right says to me.

It’s a great start by the away side who are the aggressors in the opening 90 seconds, the ball suddenly falls to Michaela McAloine who shoots from just outside the area, a full throttle thrust. it’s a belter that bangs down off the crossbar and into the net, as Emily Batty in the Forest goal hopelessly looks on.

That early opener silences the crowd, little over 1,500 sat in the Main Stand which we are in, the rest of the ground sparse, glowing red with the empty seats around the pitch perimeter.

Forest have more possession but Southampton have more cutting edge, on 26 they shoot again and score, this time its Megan Collett who swings a right foot at a bouncing ball and off the outside of the boot it swerves just a few inches above ground like a half tapped six iron towards the putting green.

The ball cannons into the side of the net for a second and Southampton have full control.

The Score

I’ve not stopped chatting to stat man on my right but it’s been a good old chinwag talking mostly non league soccer with the back drop of some easy flowing football to enjoy, we check the results of those games elsewhere after half time and it looks like Birmingham are going to win the league, 2-0 up at Charlton whilst Crystal Palace could snatch second spot, they are thumping Portsmouth with the Addicks dropping down to third place with a playoff match now likely to play.

Forest make one change at half time as the very quiet and disappointing Joy Omewa makes way for Aimee Claypole, but it makes little difference, the Reds have more possession and do hit the bar as a Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah cross from the right flicks down from the woodwork, but Frances Stenson in the Saints goal is barely tested, at the other end Emily Batty is called into action, she saves from a breakaway but the ball falls to Mary Bashford who bundles home from close range, a third dent in Forest’s failing fire, it’s been a convincing away performance from Simon Parker’s team.

The Stars

Wearing number ten I was impressed with Michaela McAloine who’s a Scottish U23 international now aged 24, she signed from Hibernian at the start of the season and pulls strings, gets on the ball in advanced areas and has a real good shot for goal.

Ellie Brazil is a forward player who worked hard, her father Gary formerly working for Nottingham Forest as youth team manager, a player with Preston, Newcastle and Fulham back in his heyday.

Mary Bashford and Aimee Palmer teamed well together in midfield whilst Milly Mott and Tara Bourne were solid at centre half, it was a good all around team performance from the Saints who might consider themselves as amongst favourites for promotion next season?

A disappointing afternoon for Forest who didn’t really trouble their opponents enough, despite having plenty of the ball, Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah perhaps the best of a bad bunch, whilst Rachel Rowe put plenty of effort in from midfield.

The Verdict

I was hoping to see more attacking impetus by Forest who had improved in recent weeks, but Southampton’s early goal scuppered any Reds hopes of a top six finish, they in the end they lay seventh after what is a solid first WSL2 campaign, can they go again and improve? I think Mr Marinakis might need to delve into his deep pockets to do so.

As for Southampton, a good team who may consider themselves with a chance next season? With Birmingham crowned champions and Crystal Palace finishing second above Charlton who I feel have a good chance in beating Leicester to gain promotion to the WSL, that leaves the likes of Newcastle United and Bristol City to worry about, I feel the Saints can certainly be pushing them hard, and perhaps if Forest are backed, they can maybe, be up in the mix too.

The Teams

Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Cerys Brown, Georgia Brougham, Chloe Mustaki, Ebba Hed, Alana Murphy (Amy Rodgers 60), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Charlie Wellings 84), Freya Thomas (Tove Almqvist 60), Rachel Rowe, Leanne Kiernan (Deanne Rose 74), Joy Omewa (Aimee Claypole 46).

Southampton: Frances Stenson, Tara Bourne, Milly Mott, Abigail Nicoll (Tegan McGowan 67), Jessica Simpson (Rachel Brown 82), Mary Bashford, Aimee Palmer (Esta Roberts 90), Megan Collett, Atlanta Primus, Michaela McAloine (Emma Harries 81), Ellie Brazil (Saffia Rae 90).

3pm Kick Off. Saturday 2nd May 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 1,638).