Debutant Eloise King, Aimee Stretch and one of the Blues' three trialists were on target as Town kicked off their schedule of pre-season fixtures in the best possible with a 3-1 victory over higher division side Nottingham Forest at Eastwood Community Football Club on Sunday.
Town boss Joe Sheehan handed senior debuts to Under 21's trio King, Amy-Leigh Abrehart and Lucy Egan. Summer arrival from Manchester City, Blue Wilson, also made her first appearance for the club.
The home side started the brightest and should have been in front after just five minutes but Katie Middleton spurned her opportunity by curling wide of the post. Town took around twenty minutes to grow into the game and soon carved out their first opportunity as Paige Wakefield stepped up for a dangerous free-kick following a foul on Wilson. However, Town's reigning player of the season sailed the subsequent dead-ball over the bar.
The Tractor Girls began to take control and soon took advantage of their ascendancy as they got themselves in front. After some relentless pressing, King found herself in the area and cooly fired past Ava Aguirre with her second bite of the cherry. Forest could have replied soon after but Town's defensive trialist steamed with an outstanding tackle to ensure the Blues headed into the break a goal to the good.
Town began the second-half with the same intensity and soon doubled their advantage. Egan nodded down Abrehart's deep free-kick into the path of a trialist, who duly obliged by hooking the ball into the far corner with the help of the post. It took the Blues just six minutes to find their third as the influential young midfielder, King, swung a dangerous corner towards the near-post for Stretch, who touched home to put Town firmly in control.
Forest had offered very little going forward and didn't force a save from Blues goalkeeper Danni Clarke until she denied Middleton with seven minutes remaining. However, the Reds did bag themselves a consolation goal four minutes from time as Laura Dexter turned in the area and fired high into the net. Despite surrendering a clean-sheet, Town held on comfortably to secure the victory in their pre-season opener.
The Tractor Girls return to pre-season action on Sunday 4th August away to Watford.
Town XI: Clarke (GK), Trialist, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Wakefield (c), Wilson, King, Trialist, Trialist, Thomas
Subs (All used & rolling): Abrehart, Flatt, Stretch, Welton
The home side started the brightest and should have been in front after just five minutes but Katie Middleton spurned her opportunity by curling wide of the post. Town took around twenty minutes to grow into the game and soon carved out their first opportunity as Paige Wakefield stepped up for a dangerous free-kick following a foul on Wilson. However, Town's reigning player of the season sailed the subsequent dead-ball over the bar.
The Tractor Girls began to take control and soon took advantage of their ascendancy as they got themselves in front. After some relentless pressing, King found herself in the area and cooly fired past Ava Aguirre with her second bite of the cherry. Forest could have replied soon after but Town's defensive trialist steamed with an outstanding tackle to ensure the Blues headed into the break a goal to the good.
Town began the second-half with the same intensity and soon doubled their advantage. Egan nodded down Abrehart's deep free-kick into the path of a trialist, who duly obliged by hooking the ball into the far corner with the help of the post. It took the Blues just six minutes to find their third as the influential young midfielder, King, swung a dangerous corner towards the near-post for Stretch, who touched home to put Town firmly in control.
Forest had offered very little going forward and didn't force a save from Blues goalkeeper Danni Clarke until she denied Middleton with seven minutes remaining. However, the Reds did bag themselves a consolation goal four minutes from time as Laura Dexter turned in the area and fired high into the net. Despite surrendering a clean-sheet, Town held on comfortably to secure the victory in their pre-season opener.
The Tractor Girls return to pre-season action on Sunday 4th August away to Watford.
Town XI: Clarke (GK), Trialist, Cooper, Egan, Hubbard, Wakefield (c), Wilson, King, Trialist, Trialist, Thomas
Subs (All used & rolling): Abrehart, Flatt, Stretch, Welton
