We're In The Trent
Nottingham Forest 4-0 Burnley (Women’s Super League Cup Group Stages)
It used to be Leicester City my go to ground on Sunday afternoons but since Forest have been promoted to the top two levels of women’s football in England, I’m often sent here, to the City Ground, just a short couple of miles commute which means my petrol gauge doesn’t get hit too hard.
I’ve actually spent the morning in West Bridgford near the Forest stadium, a bright start to the day has seen me and the wife walk the dog into town, a quick coffee at Nero ends with us polishing off a breakfast bagel from the bagel project, it’s very good, I highly recommend a visit.
It’s women’s league cup action today, a chance for two second tier teams to climb towards one of eight (Swiss model style) places in the 23 team tournament, neither have been doing particularly well thus far?
Forest have lost both games they have played, a 2-0 defeat against Aston Villa and a shootout loss at Sheffield United, although the Reds did get a bonus point as that match ended 0-0 after ninety minutes (it’s a cup which doesn’t seem to settle for draws).
Burnley beat Durham but lost to Aston Villa and Manchester United ahead of this match so sit above Forest in the standings, it looks like a big ask for WSL2 sides to get in to the knock out stages through this format against top tier opponents but with this game, the winner of which will gain a significant boost towards that tough looking target towards the top of the table.
The Venue
I’ve left my house at 1pm for a 2pm kick off, I have found a new place to park, Musters Road is busy again (as it was last week) so beside the cricket ground it’s £3.50 on the meter for three hours, which is all the time I need even if the game should go to penalties.
I’ve travelled light, just a t-shirt and gillet under my windbreaker but the sunshine from earlier has long gone and the grey skies provide an Autumnal chill as I cross the quiet Radcliffe Road and head towards the City Ground entrance through the main car park.
No queues at the turnstiles today although they insist with this magic wand. They’ll be 700 in attendance, and I reckon half of them are stewards.
After a quick pee I nip for a brew with a double decker pocketed for later, Forest’s canteen offering PG Tips, I much prefer it when I get Yorkshire Tea myself.
Out in the open, I’m back in my usual spot very close to the press box at the back of the stand, high up and well covered, you still get a breeze from somewhere, it’s colder than I thought it would be today.
The ground is great though, one of English football’s finest in my biased opinion, pitch green and wide has girls warming up below, the red seated stands enclose the arena whilst the Forest mascot dances to anything that is played over the tannoy.
The Game
I was here earlier in the season when Forest beat Burnley thanks to two Tuva Espas goals (you can read about it here), not much between the two then, and it feels in the first half there’s not much between the two either, despite the home sides dominance, a lot of control and possession, territory has the ball in Burnley’s half, but that killer blow isn’t often inflicted, Levell hardly has a shot to save in what is largely a dull half of football, until Tom Mallinson, Forest’s baggy chino's wearing coach says to his team ‘play quicker’.
No sooner have those words left his mouth on 40 minutes, instantly a good move leads to a corner won, a cross into the box is punched down by Levell but only into the path of Alana Murphy who smacks home in off the bar an absolute belter.
Murphy last week put out her availability for some dog walking in the local area, I nearly took her up on it but Bruce get’s enough walking in the week from me, she’s one of my favourite Forest players and does things simply ticking the team along in midfield, that goal her third of the season adding to her own repertoire of rounded reasons why she can be relied on in football, and probably outside of the game too. (If you need a dog walker, go give her a try).
The Score
At half time it’s Forest who have the edge and whilst they have dominated without penetrating too often their opponent’s defence, their own defence has hardly been troubled either, I can’t see Burnley scoring so that at least puts the slim idea of penalties to bed.
Emily Batty hasn’t had a shot to save as she stands largely a spectator (like me) in the cold, Forest have made a number of subs as they rest up their first team forwards like Espas and Boye-Hlorkah, who has only just came off as the Reds win a free kick in a position which might have suited her shooting ability.
Standing over the ball is Alana Murphy who’s effort crashes against the wall, but the rebound falls to Abbie Lafayette a good twenty yards from goal, she rockets a left foot shot from distance into the roof of the net, an absolute belter to put the game all but, to bed.
Late on there’s a chance for the returning Melissa Johnson to get some much-needed game time, she’s been off a good nine or ten months after having twins and scores her first goal back after Deanne Rose crosses low for her to finish off from close range. Celebrations all around, even the subs bench are on the pitch to congratulate her.
Late on there’s a chance for Johnson to grab a second as she races through on goal after a Burnley error in their back four exposes them to a 2v1 situation, the Forest fans have been singing ‘If Shooter scores we are in the Trent’ ever since she came on at half time, and as Johnson steals the ball on half way to run through on goal, Shooter is beside her all the way, I’m saying to myself ‘Shooter's going to score here’ as Johnson runs in on goal, she could pass sideways to Shooter who has an empty net to finish into but instead opts to shoot herself, her low effort saved but falling into the path of Shooter who smacks in her first ever goal for the club, luckily nobody was stupid enough to jump in to the freezing cold Trent after.
The Stars
Forest were good and improved as the game wore on which is testament to the collective within the squad, all subs making contributions and showing that the club have depth as they sit nicely (unbeaten) in the league, having nicely got their first win of the season in the league cup.
One player I thought did really well is Rachel Rowe, a tigerish Welsh international midfielder that has done well every time she’s came on this season, offered her first start since the opening day draw with Ipswich, she put a shift in which didn’t go un-noticed.
Abbie Lafayette and Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah were again star attraction (Boye-Hlorkah just does things with the ball which make you every now and again purr aloud) whilst off the bench, eighteen year old Lois Shooter offered plenty of running and got her goal, it was good to have Mel Johnson back who despite being 35 is one that has genuine scoring threat, something which has been missing during the earlier weeks of Forest’s season for me.
Whilst Burnley unfortunately lack goal threat themselves, they do have one or two good players worthy of a mention. Big Jessica Hennessy is a tough honest defender who's hard top muscle off the ball, Emma Siddell is a tall young talented technician who plays right sided forward with a nice touch, whilst Christie Harrison-Murray is the diminutive playmaker that much of the Clarets play goes through. The experienced Scot is by far Burnley's best.
The Verdict
This cup for me is about getting game time, girls getting to play football and clubs having the capacity to try things, outside the bread and butter of important league action.
Neither Forest or Burnley will probably be good enough to progress to the last eight, but in playing against each other, and against others of similar standard, above and below, they at least have the opportunity to work on ideas and give out important minutes, which helps those players on the fringe have the chance to improve.
The Teams
Nottingham Forest: Emily Batty, Codie Thomas (Deanne Rose 64), Chloe Mustaki, Hannah Coan, Ebba Hed, Tove Almqvist, Alana Murphy (Mel Johnson 80), Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah (Ilona Walta 64), Rachel Rowe, Abbie Lafayette (Georgia Brougham 80), Tuva Espas (Lois Shooter 46).
Burnley: Kirstie Levell, Maddi Wilde, Jessica Hennessy, Deanna Cooper (Naomi Hartley 69), Alethea Paul, Tyler Toland (Brooke Cairns 68), Brenna McPartlin, Charley Docherty, Rachel Williams (Jamie Finn 67), Emma Siddall, Christie Harrison-Murray (Kiera Sena 70).
2:00pm Kick Off. Sunday 1st November 2026, City Ground, Nottingham (att 710).
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