Stadium MK, the setting for today’s Women’s National League Play-Off Final between Nottingham Forest Women and Watford FC Women. Nottingham Forest Women the champions of the National League North with Watford as the champions of the National League South and a place in the Women’s Championship is up for grabs! And me and Match Days Joe will be there to commentate for Switch Sport!
It’s an early start and we need to get down to Buckinghamshire to get set up for the day. 08:30am and here is Match Days Joe and I will be in the passenger seat for a change as we head down the M1 and into Buckinghamshire… Oh hello Newport Pagnell Town! There are certainly a lot of roundabouts here… Oh hello Milton Keynes Irish!
The ground spotting is complete for this area as we pull in to the Stadium MK car park. A bit of time to kill before the gate opens to the ground so it’s a quick Chai Latte in Costa which seems to have mesmerised Match Days Joe! Chai Lattes for the win!
Free entry to this game! Mesmerising! Very official to be walking through reception at another football league ground! We are all set up for this game here now in the commentary box as the players take to the field and the fans slowly start to enter and take to their seats.
We are also joined by Doncaster Rovers Belles manager Nick Buxton today! 3 commentators on board for today! The atmosphere is building nicely in here as the players head back into the changing rooms as kick off looms.
Out come the teams! A place in the second tier of Women’s football is up for grabs, is it Forest or Watford who will be victorious?
Kick Off! 4 minutes in and Andrea Georgiou loses the ball in her own half… The ball comes nicely for Charlotte Greengrass and she shoots from 20 yards… It’s straight at the keeper.
9th minute now and Forest come forward with Sophie Domingo, it’s played to Yasmin Mosby in the box on the right and she shoots… SAVED! Corner, in it comes… The keeper collects.
17 minutes now and Watford play down the left, it’s crossed in, in towards Poppy WILSON… POPPY WILSON SCORES FOR WATFORD!!! A brilliant header at the far post and Watford have the lead!!! Forest have to beware here! 0-1!
4 minutes later and Forest come forward on the counter, Sophie Domingo plays it to Yasmin Mosby and she’s in, she plays it back to Domingo in the box on the right, it must be… It’s saved again! Corner, in it comes… It comes to a free kick on the left for Forest, it’s played into the box again… it’s headed across… Watford clear.
28 minutes on the watch and it’s a free kick on the edge of the box for Forest, Rebecca Anderson shoots… OH! It’s just wide! Agonizingly close there for Forest!
40th minute and Watford come forward, Poppy Wilson has it and she goes for goal from 30 yards out… Oooooh! It’s just wide! So close! At half time here it remains 1-0 to Watford.
Second half, 48 minutes now and it’s a corner for Forest, it’s taken quickly and played into the middle… It comes for Amy West who goes for goal on the turn… It’s blocked! It comes to Charlotte Greengrass who shoots… It’s straight at the keeper.
53rd minute and Forest come forward, it’s played to Sophie Domingo running into the box on the left, it’s played back to Greengrass who plays it across, it falls for Yasmin MOSBY… OH! It’s gone agonisingly wide! Goal kick.
61 minutes now and Watford play down the left, it’s played across… It’s cleared, Watford win the header and it comes to Ellie Head running in… And she scores… It’s Offside! No goal!
65 minutes gone and Watford play down the right, it’s played to Annie Rossiter in the box and she goes for goal… OH! She’s missed! What a chance! Sitter!
69th minute and Forest come forward, it’s played in to Sophie Domingo in the box on the right, it’s played back to Amy West in the box to shoot… OH MY WORD! Just wide again! So close again for Forest! It’s not looking like their day here.
79th minute and it’s a free kick for Forest in the Watford half, it’s played into the box, Charlotte Greengrass with the header… It’s over!
Into stoppage time now and Forest have got to throw everything at Watford now! They play a long ball forward looking for Charlotte Greengrass and she will get on this and out comes the keeper… Oooooh! She’s brought her down… Was she denying a goalscoring opportunity there?! It’s a Yellow Card! Forest fans think it should be red! Rebecca Anderson will shoot… Well wide! Waste!
Play goes on… It’s Watford’s day here!!! They are into the second tier next season! Down on to pitch side now as we interview the Watford manager!
FT: Nottingham Forest Women 0-1 Watford Women
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 4/10 – Pretty good in here today but quiet at times
- Build-Up – 4/10 – Not too bad before the game as the crowd gathered
- Expense: 10/10 – £0!
- Overall Experience: 8/10 – Really enjoyed today! Would have loved more goals though…
26/40