Points Shared with Nottingham Forest

Cardiff City Ladies shared the points in a goalless draw away to Nottingham Forest Ladies in this FA Women’s National Premier League game at the weekend.

The opening ten minutes set the scene for the rest of the game when each team had several half chances. But it was the home team that had the first clear cut chance when Natasha Meade struck a free kick towards the goal, only to see Cardiff keeper, Rhian Nokes tip the ball onto the bar and out for a corner.

Cardiff replied with an effort of their own when Amie Lea and Nicola Cousins worked well together on the right hand side of the pitch. Lea sent a dangerous, low cross into the box only to have the Forest defence clear harmlessly away.

Meade again tried her luck with a strike from an acute angle but her shot was well saved by Nokes with her feet.

Cousins exchanged more passes, this time with Sophie Ingle, before turning and losing her marker. Her left foot shot was saved well by Claire Wallhead the Forest keeper as she dived low to her left to tip the ball around the post.

Cousins was again in the thick of the action when she did well to dispossess the Forest defence before putting Lea through on goal, only to see her shot shave the outside of the post.

A minute later Annie Pritchard found herself inside the box and from only two yards out Wallhead somehow kept the goal bound shot out, ensuring that the score was goalless at half time.

Forest had the first chance of the second half when Suzanne Davies broke through but her shot was always rising and flew over the bar.

On 55 minutes Sinead Melinn replaced Pritchard, so making her debut for Cardiff Firsts, having been a regular in the Reserves for several seasons.

Ten minutes later Forest were reduced to ten players when Chantelle Gallagher stamped on Ingle right in front of the referee.

Melinn then did well to win the ball before passing through to Cousins, but again Wallhead was equal to the shot and acrobatically tipped the ball over the crossbar.

With fifteen minutes left on the clock Cardiff were camped in the Forest half but despite all their best efforts they were unable to breach the home sides’ goal. And it was Wallhead who had the final say when she made another outstanding save from Lea who shot from outside the box, but she could only watch as Wallhead rose again to tip the ball over the bar.

Afterwards, Cardiff coach Michele Adams said, “It was a game of two goalkeepers. Both of them kept their teams in the game, especially the Forest keeper. She made at least five first class saves. On any other day we would have won this game but she was unbeatable today. Overall we were pleased with a clean sheet and a point away from home.”

Next Sunday Cardiff entertain Watford Ladies in a League match at the International Sports Stadium, Leckwith. Kick off is 2.00pm.