Forest lift the FA WNL Cup for the second time in three seasons as a Charlie Wellings brace and Mel Johnson strike guide The Reds to victory over The Potters.
Forest Women were aiming to lift the FA WNL Cup for the second time in three seasons when they faced fellow Northern Premier Division outfit Stoke City in the final.
Head coach Carly Davies made one change from the previous eleven that secured victory in the East Midlands derby as Sophie Domingo returned to the side.
In a tightly-contested start to the encounter both sides battled it out for control of possession with neither side creating an opportunity of note in the opening ten.
Forest’s first sight of goal fell the way of Domingo when Charlie Wellings turned her defender and found the number seven in the area, but Domingo’s shot was off target.
The deadlock was broken in the 29th minute as Millie Chandarana headed the ball into the path of Mel Johnson; the striker played Wellings through into space in the area and the winger confidently slotted home the opener into the bottom corner.
Only three minutes later and Forest had their second as Wellings won possession back in the final third, driving into space and firing a long distance effort which beat keeper Bracewell to double The Reds’ lead.
Soon after Forest’s second and Stoke worked their best chance of the tie as Kivel’s cross into the box found the head of Holder who headed wide of goal.
HALF-TIME: Nottingham Forest 2-0 Stoke City
Forest continued to pressure the Stoke defence in the hunt for a third goal with Domingo picking up the ball and driving towards goal and fired a strike on target from the edge of the area, only for Bracewell to save and deny Forest another.
Carly Davies made two changes on the hour mark as Caragh Hamilton and Holly Manders were introduced with Millie Chandarana and goalscorer Charlie Wellings making way.
Reds’ keeper Emily Batty was forced into a good stop when Priestley’s close range effort was goalward as Stoke continued to search for their opening goal.
The Potters did get a goal back when a free kick was floated into the area and met the head of substitute Wilcock to head home with her first touch.
Forest’s two-goal advantage was soon restored when Domingo played substitute Hamilton into space to find Mel Johnson in the area who made no mistake to rifle home an excellent strike past the keeper.
Two late changes saw Amy Sims and Jessica Hennessy enter the action as Forest held onto their two-lead and win the FA WNL Cup.
FULL-TIME: Nottingham Forest 3-1 Stoke City