Trent Bridge Bus Stop

Nottingham Forest 1-0 Sheffield United (Women’s Super League 2)

I took the wife to theatre on Saturday so no football for me, she has allowed me to work the Sunday instead, so I’ve tied it in with popping out for a few pints with a mate in Bingham later, I can get a lift down to the ground and take the bus which leaves Trent Bridge Cricket Ground shortly after the game.

Nottingham is after all my back garden, I live about ten minutes’ drive from the ground, a good 45 minutes’ walk, but I’ve had the plumber in all morning after a DIY disaster (that’s what you get when I have day off from watching football), all now sorted, just, I’m dropped off on Radcliffe Road where it’s very quiet, around 1:15pm.

Forest men are playing in London today, at Brentford away, their kick off is exactly the same time as the women’s game which is being played at the City Ground.

The Reds have been going well in their first season following promotion to the newly named WSL 2, middle of the twelve team pack they sit above Sheffield United by four points from their dozen games played.

The Blades have a new Manager in charge announced as recently as the morning of the match, Stephen Healy joins from MK Dons having worked previously with West Ham Women and Leicester City’s youth team.

The Venue

A place I call home, is one I’ve not been to much in recent years, but I do fondly love the walk down Pavilion Road and through the Main Stand Car Park, Mr Marinakis has spent a small fortune on tidying this place up, it’s much redder these days, the whole place painted with references to the clubs European winning days emblazoned everywhere.

I’m through the turnstile after a steward waves a magic wand over me, ticket on my mobile phone it’s £12 to get in, I take a walk up the steps at the back of the Main Stand, and grab a tea and Twix before taking my pew, which is probably the most central I’ve ever sat in this place.

Sat behind the Directors box at the back of the stand, you can see the huge TV which the Forest owner once put his foot through, I’m besides the press area where I spot an old friend, having a quick chat with him ahead of the game, the view is enclosed due to the roof being so low, it’s bloody freezing though as the odd gust of breeze comes in off the Trent, the fabulous two tiered Trent End to my left, the equally stunning Brian Clough Stand straight ahead, the Bridgford End, arched roof (out of view) to my right, red seats light the green field under grey skies as this is the only stand in use today, little under a thousand spectators, but there’s a hardcore of girls making some noise.

The Game

Forest start well, they are better than I had imagined, keeping the ball and dominating play against their opponents who break on occasion through the nifty Amy Andrews.

I recognise a couple of players from the home side, last time I was here (a year ago) only the goalkeeper Emily Batty and star forward Charlie Wellings remains the same, Wellings is popular with the girls down below, ‘she scores when she wants’ is the cry from her fans.

I do notice Deanne Rose who’s a Canadian international of 88 caps, she spent a couple of seasons at Leicester City and I feel is a real coup for Forest, a speedy winger of good technical ability.

Technical ability is largely spread throughout this eleven who all seem comfortable on the ball, there’s a couple of chances before a shot by Rose is deflected up into the air, Wellings heads deliberately over Rogers in the Blades goal and puts Forest one up. She certainly does score when she wants.

It’s a family atmosphere as kids and parents all huddle together down below. I love the fact for many it’s their first time watching football, there’s a grandad telling his lad all about the rules of the game, one girl is sat on her dads knee whilst watching the action, if anything women’s football feels far more inclusive than men’s, it’s a good way to get kids and families involved in the beautiful game, but the action isn’t very enthralling on the pitch, Forest dominate without really troubling Rogers again, Sheffield United force a goal mouth scramble but the Reds somehow survive.

The Score

The second half is similar to the first, you feel Sheffield United will come at their hosts but in truth, Forest are too good, they have more of the ball, without really looking like scoring, the Blades do have snifters but nothing too serious, and it’s a game which is as comfortable a 1-0 win can be.

The only thing of note, Forest men have scored at Brentford, a second goal is celebrated in the stands here, as some folk stand up to watch Taiwo Awonyi on the huge TV showing the game where Evangelos Marinakis is usually sat, a double delight for the Forest Garibaldi, by the time the whistle goes I’m running down the steps at the back of the A Block and out of the car park towards my bus stop at Trent Bridge, I’ve plenty of time, a good ten minutes to wait, I didn’t need to leave so hastily, but it’s been freezing, and I’m glad to get this one done.

The Stars

Forest have a number of players who impress, their centre half pairing of Georgia Brougham and Chloe Mustaki in particular, do well, both comfortable on the ball, both read each other extremely well, covering and dropping in for one another almost mechanically, heading back anything that comes, Brougham often picks the ball up and glides into the centre of the field like a blonde Franz Beckenbauer.

Another player who put a good shift in was Swedish wing back Ebba Hed, she was industrious on the left, Rose often a threat down the right, whilst Charlie Wellings got her goal, just her third of the season after scoring 16 in the league below last year.

For Sheffield United, number seven Amy Andrews impressed me most with speed on the break, she ran with the ball well and offered threat on the counterattack, young Tilly Bristow up front also looking sharp during the first half before coming off due to injury, without her they never really offered much offensively, despite being organised at the back.

The Verdict

Forest have signed Libby Smith from Sporting Club Jacksonville, a forward who lists Birmingham and Leicester City as her previous clubs, one that will bring even more experience to the reds attack, it’s the sort of signing that has been common place this season, the club are serious about promotion under Carly Davies and although they won’t do it this year, next season they might have a real big push?

Concerning for Sheffield United who are just two points above the drop zone, I don’t see either side falling into the trap, but Forest now have a nine point cushion, with another nine games to go, the Blades on twelve points from thirteen, are starting to look over their shoulder.

The Teams

Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Carragh Hamilton, Georgia Brougham, Chloe Mustaki, Deanna Rose (Vivienne Lia 77), Amy Rodgers, Rachel Rowe, Ebba Hed, Tove Almqvist (Holly Olding 77), Charlie Wellings (Libby Smith 78).

Sheffield United: Sian Rogers, Leanne Cowan, Jessica Reavill, Abbie Lafayette, Simone Sherwood (Lauren Thomas 80), Ella Kinzett, Mollie Rouse, Sophie O'Rourke, Eva Butler, Amy Andrews, Tilly Bristow (Joy Ralph 46).

2:00pm Kick Off. Sunday 25th January 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 905).