Page 21 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.18 2020-21

performance from left back Amy Colledge. The win provided the team with real hope of
winning the league title, with this being reinforced the following weekend as they won away
6-2 against Mansfield Town Development with Julia Kings scoring her second hat-trick
(both against Mansfield) of the season.
“At this point the biggest threat to the team’s title hopes were the previous season’s
league leaders Mansfield Hosiery Mills and both teams met in the last week of April
knowing that a win would go a long way to securing their title hopes. As it was the game
played out as a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw, with NTU showing great resolve to come back
from behind twice, with the goals coming from a duo by Kirsty Matthews and a long range
thunderbolt by alumni player and midfielder Victoria Reid.
“In their latest game, NTU visited Keyworth United, knowing that a win would leave
Mansfield Hosiery Mills the only side that could mathematically catch them and only if the
Hosiery won all of their remaining games. As it was the team achieved this with a 5-2 win,
with a pair from Julia Kings being matched by Georgia Gladwin and added to by a long
range volley from a now fit again Jessica Phillips.
“Wins in their next two matches would have guaranteed a league title, but
unfortunately the opponent in each of these, Clifton All Whites, was forced to withdraw
from the league due to player availability issues. This did mean however that with Mansfield
Hosiery Mills’ remaining games also being reduced NTU were mathematically confirmed as
league winners earlier this week.
“With one game still to play, away against Mansfield Hosiery Mills, the players are
now chasing the completion of an unbeaten league season to round off what has been a
fantastically successful year for the squad. Julia Kings lead the team’s scoring charts with
nine league goals to add to her FA Cup strike while other regular standout performers were
Americans Madison LaPole and Kathryn Laughlin (prior to Covid preventing their return),
goalkeeper Beth Marshall, centre back Tessa O’Connor and midfield duo Victoria Reid and
Amy Seymour-Shove.
“Huge credit has to also go to the squad’s leadership team, the two player-managers
Jessica Phillips (captain) and Grace Miller (vice-captain) and coach Jonny Dench, for
leading the squad so effectively on match days throughout the season and working
alongside myself (as I oversee the program/club as a whole here, but leave match day
provision and delivery outside the BUCS first team to each squad’s coaches) to organise the
squad and the selection process on a week to week basis.”

Issue no. 18 - 20 May 2021 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk