Matchday Hospitality - Sunderland now on sale
Matchday Hospitality - Sunderland now on sale
A second half strike from Nahikari García guides The Reds to victory on the road.
Carly Davies’ side travelled to the JobServe Community Stadium for their first away fixture of the 2025/26 campaign as they faced fellow newly-promoted side Ipswich Town.
Forest made four changes to the eleven that faced Newcastle United on opening day as Caragh Hamilton and Charlie Wellings returned to the side with Rachel Rowe making her first start and Ebba Hed making her Forest debut.
The Reds were forced into a late change to the starting eleven as Nahikari García replaced Freya Thomas just before kick off.
It was the hosts that had the first sight of goal when Sophie Peskett broke into space and charged towards Emily Batty’s goal but saw her attempt fire just over the bar.
Town keeper Natalia Negri was forced into an excellent stop to deny Rowe an opener from distance as both sides battled away for possession in the opening stages.
The visitors should have broken the deadlock when Deanne Rose pounced on a loose pass to break through on goal, then round the keeper but the forward couldn’t find the target with her effort.
An Ipswich interception led to a promising attack for the hosts with Peskett having another chance through on goal, but under pressure from Reds’ skipper Georgia Brougham, the forward could only find the hands of Batty.
Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah and Rose both had chances go amiss in the first 45 as the league clash entered the interval all square.
HALF TIME: Ipswich Town 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Forest could not have made a better start to the second half as The Reds found the net two minutes in when Amy Rodgers’ deep cross found Wellings in the area with the forward’s volley falling the way of García to slot past the keeper.
The Reds continued to pressure the Ipswich defence in the search of a second goal as Rowe, Boye-Hlorkah and Hamilton all had their attempts saved by Negri in goal.
With 15 minutes remaining in the league tie, Jessie Stapleton was introduced with debutant Ebba Hed making way.
Forest were denied a second following a flurry of chances in the area as Brougham, Boye-Hlorkah and Rowe all saw their efforts saved from close range.
Late changes saw Hollie Olding, Vivienne Lia and Aimee Claypole enter as well as a debut for Tove Almqvist.
Despite late pressure from the hosts Forest held onto their one-lead to secure their first-ever Barclays WSL2 win.
FULL TIME: Ipswich Town 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Next up for Forest Women is another huge clash at the City Ground as Carly Davies’ side welcome Crystal Palace. Tickets are available from £7 here.