Magpies seniors sneak past Hoisery Mills

A player of the match display from Emma Bradshaw helped Notts County Ladies’ Senior Development Squad edge a five-goal thriller at Mansfield Hosiery Mills as they kick-started their County Cup campaign with a 3-2 win.County started the better and enjoyed good possession throughout the first half to create a number of goalscoring opportunities. The Magpies pressed hard for an opener, but it was Mansfield who hit them on the counter with a shot high into the roof of the net to go 1-0 in front.It did not take the visitors long to respond as April Bingham received the ball from Robyn Henton and from a wide angled hit a lofted shot into the far top corner 1-1.Just before the break Lauren Yeomans was brought down in the box and Courtney Walters stepped up to smashed home from the spot to put Notts ahead.Only two minutes into the second period, Henton received the ball on the edge of the box and with time and space thumped the ball over the keeper to increase the lead to 3-1.County were playing their football in the home side’s half and were creating goalscoring chances but failed to hit the target on a number of occasions.The Magpies seemed well in control with time running out, but, in the closing stages, the referee awarded a penalty to Hosiery Mills, even though the Magpies felt it was unavoidable and outside the box, and a successful conversion meant for a nervy last ten minutes.But the visitors held firm with Bradshaw very much to the fore through her strong tackling and link-up play with the midfield.