Report: Palace Women win away at Nottingham Forest

Women

21 Sept 2025

Crystal Palace Women grabbed their first victory of the season, as they beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 away at the City Ground in the Barclays Women's Super League 2.

Summary:

Swaby makes her return to the defence, whilst Hughes starts her first competitive game for the club since April 2024
8: A one-two with Weerden presents a great chance for Blanchard, but she skews her shot wide
13: Wellings bursts through but her effort is very tame and Yañez gathers easily
18: GOAL - Vanhaevermaet's hooked volley sails over the goalkeeper to give Palace the lead
32: GOAL - Howat doubles Palace's advantage after reacting quickest to Weerden's deflected shot
HT: Forest 0-2 Palace
49: Hughes picks up the ball in space, and her low effort ricochets off the post
60: Shot from Boye-Hlorkah flashes wide
67: Blanchard takes a free-kick quickly and almost chips Batty from range, but the shot is slightly too high
83: Rose makes a good run in behind but drags her effort wide
90+3: GOAL - Boye-Hlokah lets fly from range and manages to beat Yañez
FT: Forest 1-2 Palace

After last week's eight-goal thriller against Southampton, the Eagles earned their first win of the campaign against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground.

First-half goals from summer signings Justine Vanhaevermaet and Kirsty Howat put Palace into a 2-0 lead at half-time, before a late stunner from Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah halved the deficit in extra-time.

It was a much-changed eleven from last week, with Allyson Swaby, Molly-Mae Sharpe and Elise Hughes all starting in the East Midlands.

Palace started strongly and were rewarded on the 18th minute, when Belgium international Vanhaevermaet put Palace 1-0 up.

Jo Potter's side were applying pressure to the Forest goal, and Sharpe's driven cross was deflected high into the air.

Vanhaevermaet was lurking at the back post, and watched the ball all the way onto her left foot as she hit a looping volley into the net.

14 minutes later and Palace had their second, this time through Kirsty Howat.

It all started from Ashleigh Weerden driving at the Forest defence and then shooting, with her effort seeming to spin out for a corner.

Howat had other ideas however, and made a determined run to the back post to squeeze the ball past Emily Batty.

It was a first goal in Palace colours for the new forward, as she doubled the Eagles advantage before the break.

Hughes almost put Palace 3-0 up on 49 minutes, after Annabel Blanchard found her in space on the edge of the 18-yard box.

The Wales international took aim and let fly, but the shot rebounded off the post to deny her a goal on her return to the starting line-up.

Resolute defending from Potter's side kept the hosts at bay, with few chances being afforded to Forest in the second-half.

There was a debut for new signing Ruesha Littlejohn, who came on to replace Blanchard in the 90th minute.

Forest did manage to pull one back in the third minute of extra time, after Boye-Hlorkah let fly with a fierce effort from range.

It was too little, too late though and Palace held on to claim a vital three points at the City Ground.

This result moves the Eagles up to sixth place in the BWSL2, with London City Lionesses at home in the Subway Women's League Cup up next.

The game kicks off at 19:30 on Wednesday, 24th September at the VBS Community Stadium, and you can get tickets by clicking the button below!

Buy London City Lionesses tickets here!

Forest: Batty (GK), Brougham (Stapleton, 43), Mustaki, Rose, Rodgers, Hed, Wellings (Lia, 45), Thomas (Olding, 84), Hamilton (Smith, 71), García (Almqvist, 71), Boye-Hlorkah

Subs not used: Ferguson (GK), Claypole, Green, Hobson

Palace: Yañez (GK), Sharpe, Hughes (Hopcroft, 73), Howat, Weerden, Green, Nolan, Blanchard (Littlejohn, 90), Vanhaevermaet, Larkin (Watson, 82), Swaby (Napier, 72)

Subs not used: Annets (GK), Arthur, Sibley, Riley

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