Forest Women faced Portsmouth at Halbrooke Stadium in their League Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon.
Andy Cook named an unchanged starting XI from last Sunday’s victory over Huddersfield Town, with Georgia Hewitt and Mai Moncaster returning to the matchday squad.
The visitors started brightly with opportunities in the 6th and 28th minute, before Sophie Domingo worked an opening on 35 minutes which was blocked by the Pompey defence.
Domingo’s shot at goal sparked The Reds into action with a flurry of chances in the following five minutes as Forest looked to take control.
The hosts were rewarded for their period of pressure when Reds’ captain Lyndsey Harkin tapped home from close range after a goal mouth scramble in the 38th minute.
Laura-Jayne O’Neill almost double Forest’s lead four minutes before the break when her shot was saved at the far post by the opposition ‘keeper.
Half time: Nottingham Forest 1-0 Portsmouth
The Reds couldn’t have started the half any better when Becky Anderson doubled their advantage five minutes into the second half, after some excellent build up play from Domingo out wide.
On 58 minutes Forest found goal again through striker Charlotte Greengrass; the number 22 found space behind the visitors’ defence, drifted past the defender and fired home.
Anderson had her second and The Reds’ fourth of the afternoon in the 64th minute following some brilliant build up play from Forest to set up the number 19.
Andy Cook looked to freshen up the side when he introduced Naomi Powell for Amy West, while Mai Moncaster made her return from injury: replacing Yasmin Mosby.
With ten minutes remaining, The Reds’ Head Coach replaced Domingo and O’Neill with Rosetta Taylor and the returning Georgia Hewitt. The number 3 making her 100th appearance in the Garibaldi.
Moncaster worked an opportunity at goal with an excellent strike from out wide on the right side in the 85th minute.
Charlotte Steggles was replaced with three minutes remaining as Niamh Reynolds was introduced into the action.
Substitute Moncaster pressed high late into the cup tie and was rewarded when the number 8 dispossessed the Pompey ‘keeper and slotted home The Reds fifth.
Full time: Nottingham Forest 5-0 Portsmouth
The Reds progressed to their first League Cup final since 2011, where they will face Watford on Sunday 23rd April at Pirelli Stadium.