WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

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Clarets beaten at Leyland

2025-03-09T17:35:00.000Z

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST

Clarets beaten at Leyland

2025-03-09T17:35:00.000Z

Clarets beaten at Leyland

Two goals in the space of eight first-half minutes earned Nottingham Forest a 2-0 victory over Burnley Women on Sunday afternoon.

Despite their best efforts, Rebecca Sawiuk’s side were unable to overturn the deficit created by Sophie Domingo and Freya Thomas and fell to a third straight defeat.

There was just one change to the XI that started against Rugby Borough last week, with Naomi Hartley taking Jade Richards’ place at centre-back.

Aimee Kelly made her 50th Clarets appearance, while two changes to the bench saw Louanne Worsey and Reanna Blades return.

Both sides took a bit of time to work themselves into the match on a lovely warm Spring day in Leyland, with no real goalmouth action in the opening 15 minutes.

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST - Image 1

The Clarets’ attacking nature did soon come to the fore and Rhema Lord-Mears took aim twice, but neither effort needed an intervention from Forest ‘keeper Emily Batty.

Two goals in eight minutes then swung the match in Forest’s favour and the first came shortly before the half hour.

Hollie Olding’s long pass found Charlie Wellings and the winger picked out Domingo to finish from close range.

Thomas made it 2-0 when she peeled away from her marker at a corner and flicked a header past Kirstie Levell.

Neither side made a change at the break but Sawiuk did turn to her bench when the second half was just six minutes old.

Worsey, who spent last season on loan at the Reds from Birmingham City, replaced Lord-Mears and Heidi Logan made way for Blades.

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: BURNLEY 0-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST - Image 2

Kelly’s place was taken by Danielle Maxwell shortly afterwards before Levell produced a fine fingertip save to nudge Wellings’ powerful long-range strike onto the bar.

Sawiuk made her last two rolls of the dice with 23 minutes left on the clock, introducing Louise McDaniel for Amelia Hazard and Claudia Walker for Elford.

Georgia Marshall came agonisingly close to halving the deficit when she headed a Wilkes corner onto the roof of the net.

The Clarets kept pushing until the final whistle and substitute Walker had the best chance of the final 15 minutes or so, but her shot was deflected behind after a smart turn.

It ultimately ended in defeat and 4th-placed Burnley are now eight points adrift of league leaders Forest with five matches to play.

Burnley: Levell, Siddall, McPartlan, Marshall, Logan (Blades 51), Lord-Mears (Worsey 51), Hazard (McDaniel 67), Hartley, Wilkes, Kelly (Maxwell 64), Elford (Walker 67)

Unused Substitutes: McAloon, Richards

Nottingham Forest: Batty, Harkin, Johnson (Sims 80), Longhurst, Domingo (Haywood 90), Johnson (Turner 90), Wellings, Olding (Manders 80), Green, Thomas, Chandarana (Hamilton 65)

Unused Substitutes: Ferguson, Bell

Goals: Domingo 28’, Thomas 36’