Forest beat Hashtag to reach FA WNL cup final

Charlie Wellings joined Nottingham Forest from Reading last summer

Nottingham Forest reached the FA Women's National League Cup final for the second time in three seasons as they beat holders Hashtag United 1-0.

Charlie Wellings scored a late winner from the penalty spot after Nat Johnson had been fouled in the box.

And Forest will now face Stoke City in the final at Walsall in March after they saw off Plymouth Argyle 3-0.

The match at Hashtag's ground in Aveley in Essex pitted the leaders before kick-off of the Women's National League Southern and Northern Premier divisions against each other - although Wolves' win in the league at the same time on Sunday saw them move ahead of Forest.

And it proved to be a tight semi-final in windy conditions, with few clear-cut chances after Sammy Rowland shot just wide of the far post for the home side in the 10th minute.

Amy Sims played in Melissa Johnson as 2023 winners Forest pressed after the break, but she was denied by keeper Frankie Angel.

Johnson also saw a shot deflected just over the bar before a Freda Ayisi free-kick for Hashtag - who included Derby County and Ipswich Town among their victims in reaching the semi-finals - was well saved by Forest's Emily Batty low to her left.

The penalty followed two minutes later and and Hashtag, who beat Newcastle United in last year's final, could not an equaliser in the closing moments.

Jason Stephens' Hashtag side will now focus on trying to win promotion

"We competed very well. They're a full-time professional outfit, but this game, if you were to say which was the full-time team, you wouldn't put a lot between us," Hashtag boss Jason Stephens told BBC Essex Sport.

"The one negative thing for us was when we were in possession of the ball, our final pass - whether that was affected by the wind - probably could have been a little bit better."

The competition features teams in the third and fourth tiers of the English women's game.