Five players net in Magpies’ victory

The game was played on a blustery cold and wet afternoon, but it didn’t dampen the visitors’ enthusiasm.

Notts took the game to the home side from the off and very soon were creating goal scoring chances.

It took just four minutes to secure a breakthrough as County striker Courtney Walters found the back of the net after winning the ball from a goal kick.

The lead was doubled on 24 minutes when a Jasmin Bear corner drifted into the top corner.

The visitors went into half-time with a 2-0 lead but it could have been four or five as chances went begging.

The second period saw Alfreton make a game of it as they pulled one back and there were a few nervy moments.

That was until a Bear free-kick from the halfway line hit the cross bar for Anna Horton to rush in and head the ball into the roof of the net to give Notts back their two-goal cushion.

On 70 minutes, the Magpies put the game out of Alfreton’s reach as a poor Alfreton clearance from a Bear corner fell to Serena Mason, whose pass found Robyn Henton and she lashed home to make it 4-1.

The game was wrapped up a minute later when Bear was again the provider with a diagonal ball from just inside the Alfreton half picked out Alex Francis, who rounded the keeper and coolly slotted home.

Player of the match was awarded to the hard-working Androulla Kokkinou.

Notts County Ladies Senior Development Reserve squad Reserves went down to a single goal at home to Clifton Ladies, despite a battling performance in difficult conditions.

The goal came within the first minutes as a through ball and neat finish saw the hosts trail after just 40 seconds.

In response, the Magpies played laying some neat and tidy football and midfield dynamos Jade Sheppard and Jessie Knott showed huge determination.

But the equaliser would not come, with Kirsty Peat’s second half strike that crashed against the bar the closest they came.

Carrying on from where she left off the previous week, captain Ellie Marriott was superb in her role and was deservedly named player of the match.

Two goals each from Jade Henderson and Kelsea Marriott helped Notts County Ladies Development under 16s notch a 5-1 victory over AFC Vernon at Newstead’s Recreation ground.

The game was scrappy at times with neither team stringing together any number of passes as a blustery wind playing its part.

However, it was the home side that took a lead thanks to a well-taken goal from Henderson and the advantage was doubled only moments later by Marriott from a well-worked corner.

Any Vernon attacks were stifled from excellent defending from the team’s back four of Jaime Clifford, Sylvie Aske, Amy Townsend and Sarah Perkins.

Almost instantly at the beginning of the second half, a long-range shot aided by the wind dropped the wrong side of Hannah Askew in goal to set up a nervy few minutes.

It was Henderson’s second goal that steadied the nerves as she struck with a well-taken solo effort, making it 3-1.

Next, Marriott received the ball in a wide midfield position and ran the ball towards goal being pursued by a Vernon defender and kept her cool to beat the advancing keeper by smashing into the top corner.

The scoreline was completed in a goalmouth melee when Faye Wheatley placed her shot out the reach of the keeper.

Notts County Ladies Development Football Club under 11s gave their all but could not prevent defeat to a very strong Derby County side.

Ellie Barrow and new signing Sophie Wright won the ball consistently, while Mia Harrison shone on the wing and provided the assist for Ameliyah Rimell to get her name on the score sheet.

Alicia James Sandin and Sally Warsop-Hook worked hard at the other end to try to stop Derby’s attacks and Rebecca Needham, too, did her best to stop the Derby tally climbing.

Player of the match was awarded to Sophie Wright for her endless hard work.