Champions! North Notts Ladies set for top division
They won promotion to the Midlands Premier Division with a nail-biting 4-3 victory over second-placed title rivals Loughborough Students, who had a last-minute effort ruled out.
Captain Nic Fletcher said she was proud of the players and thanked the loyal home supporters. “It was the supporters who were our 13th man out there,” she said.
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Hide Ad“When you felt your legs could run no more, knowing they were all behind us spurred us on,” she said.
Fletcher praised coach Paul Hamnett, brought in this season and tasked with a two-year plan of gaining promotion.
Hamnett said it was a fantastic achievement.
“The team worked hard all season to take their game to the next level in order to be successful and be crowned champions,” he said. “The players will enjoy this and remember it for a long time.”
With one point separating North Notts and Lougborough ahead of the game, North Notts knew victory on their home turf would clinch a first success since 2009.
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Hide AdBut, having lost at the Students before Christmas, they realised it would be tough in front of a big crowd at the Manor Complex, Mansfield Woodhouse.
The home side took an 18th-minute lead from a short corner as forward Alicia Robinson fired home accurately.
Six minutes later the visitors levelled only for Notts to quickly regain the lead when new signing Lizzie Corbett won a short corner and Clare Faulkner scored.
In the 29th minute it was 3-1 as forward Gemma Jackson, bursting through on goal, was fouled just outside the D.
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Hide AdQuick-thinking by Jackson saw her move out of the 23-metre area and back in, allowing the ball to be struck straight into the D where Robinson deflected towards goal. Her first effort was saved, but Robinson lifted the follow-up in.
The visitors got back into the game just before half-time and threatened an equaliser at the start of the second period.
Against the run of play Notts won a short corner with 20 minutes remaining and top scorer Amy Butler slotted in.
Six minutes later, however, it was 4-3 as the Students dominated. Then in the last minute the visitors appeared to have scored from a short corner awarded on the final whistle.
But Notts’ despair turned to joy when the umpires, after consultation, ruled the ball had crossed the line illegally off a forward’s arm.