- Potters narrowly defeated by league leaders
- Wilcock header halved deficit after Wellings’ quick fire double
- Johnson added late third to secure trophy for unbeaten Forest
The Potters were defeated at the final hurdle as they battled bravely against unbeaten league leaders Nottingham Forest in the final of the FA Women’s National League Cup at the Bescot Stadium.
Playing in the first final in the Club’s history, City, who had won 20 of their previous 23 matches in all competitions going into the game, started brightly and had the better opportunities inside the opening half hour before Charlie Wellings’ quick fire double on the half hour gave Forest control.
Marie Hourihan’s side halved the deficit with 20 minutes remaining when substitute Tamara Wilcock headed in within seconds of entering the contest.
However, Forest added a third ten minutes from time through Natalie Johnson to lift the trophy for the second time in three years.
Head Coach Hourihan named three changes from City’s last league outing as number one Lauren Bracewell returned between the sticks while Olivia Cook, who lifted the trophy with Forest in 2023, and Lucia Molinari were restored to the backline.
City were patient and disciplined in their shape and worked early opportunities on the transition, the first arrived when Jess Reavill dispossessed Freya Thomas in the centre circle and linked up with Evie Priestley before the midfielder delivered a dangerous cross which evaded the Potters’ attacking players.
On the quarter hour, Molinari broke on the right side and crossed for Priestley, who saw her effort blocked before Shannon Stamps was also denied from the edge of the area.
At the other end, Arabella Suttie and Cook had to be watchful when they entered a footrace with Melanie Johnson facing their own goal, however, the former made an important block to deny the Forest striker’s shot.
However, the league leaders weren’t to be denied on the half hour when Natalie Johnson’s header was glanced on by Millie Chandarana and Melanie Johnson before deflecting off Cook into the path of Wellings, who finished beyond Bracewell from the left of the penalty area.
Three minutes later, the lead was doubled when Wellings drove forward on Forest’s right and fired into Bracewell’s top left-hand corner from 25 yards.
City responded with chances of their own before the interval, first when Kivel crossed for Holder, who glanced her header just wide, before Stamps carried the ball forward on the right and set for Molinari, who saw her cross headed goalwards by Millie Ravening before Emily Batty claimed in the Forest goal.
Hourihan’s side started the second 45 as they did the first and went in search of the game’s third goal, with their high press working an opportunity for Ravening seven minutes after the restart, though City’s top scorer saw her 25-yard drive claimed by Batty.
As the hour passed, City continued to apply pressure and Priestley almost halved the deficit but her low drive from the edge of the area was tipped away by Batty.
The Potters then required an acrobatic save from stopper Bracewell to deny Mollie Green’s 35-yard free-kick at the other end in a rare foray forward in the second half for Forest.
Hourihan introduced Wilcock for her first appearance since the semi-final success against Plymouth Argyle in January with 20 minutes remaining and the former Sheffield United striker made an instant impact when, within seconds of entering the pitch, she nodded Suttie’s deep free-kick beyond Batty.
City then claimed for a free-kick on the edge of the Forest penalty area as they pursued a leveller, though their appeals were waved away when Stamps looked to be barged down by Natalie Johnson.
The decisive fourth goal went to the hosts ten minutes from time, however, as Domingo and substitute Caragh Hamilton exchanged passes on the edge of the Potters’ penalty area before they found Johnson on the right side where she powered her finish beyond Bracewell.
City battled to keep the final alive and, after Monique Watson and Ravening saw strikes blocked, Wilcock darted a finish narrowly wide of Batty’s top right hand corner in the contest’s final two minutes.
It wasn’t to be on the day for Hourihan’s side, though the Potters will reflect on a memorable cup campaign which began with defeat of Wolves in August and included defeats of Barnsley, Liverpool Feds, Burnley and Plymouth Argyle.
City return to league action next Sunday, March 30, at Wellbeing Park, when they host Rugby Borough in their penultimate home fixture of the campaign.
Stoke City: Bracewell, Molinari, Cook, Suttie, Kivel (Capt), Reavill, Holder (Watson 74), Stamps, Ravening, Cole (Wilcock 71), Priestley (Nelson 87).
Subs: Hobson, Thompson, Tudor.
Nottingham Forest: Batty, Harkin (Capt), N. Johnson, Longhurst, Domingo (Sims 87), M. Johnson, Wellings (Hamilton 59), Olding, Green (Hennessy 90+3), Thomas, Chandarana (Manders 59).
Subs: Ferguson, Hennessy, Galloway, Dungate.