Derby County Women secured their first win of the 2022/23 season with a 5-0 victory against Loughborough Lightning.
Both sides were winless from their first two games going into the match on Wednesday evening. However, it was Ewe Rams who came out on top to gain the three points, thanks to star performances by Amy Sims and Molly Sutherland.
Sims, who went into the game in inspired form having scored three goals in her last two appearances, proved pivotal yet again.
Sam Griffiths' side started the game lively with an opportunity coming early on from a corner, which was fired narrowly wide.
It did not take long though for the Ewe Rams to find the breakthrough as Sims fired them ahead with just 10 minutes on the clock.
The ball was cut-back to Sims following some brilliant play on the right-wing, before she fired her shot into the near post of Maddie Walsh.
Sims doubled the home side's lead with her second of the evening in the 21st minute. She received the ball from Marli Rhodes-Andrews on the right-hand side, before running towards the edge of the Loughborough penalty area and smashing a right-footed strike into Walsh’s far corner.
Derby remained in control for much of the first-half, with a couple of good opportunities falling to Sims who unfortunately could not complete her hat-trick.
The second-half began with the Ewe Rams continuing to control the tempo, which inevitably resulted in Jess Camwell scoring the third goal of the game in the 54th minute.
The ball was worked down the right-side of the pitch before finding its way out to Camwell on the edge of the box who hit a shot on the half-volley into the top right-corner of Walsh’s goal.
Sutherland, who was handed her first start, made the most of her opportunity as she scored her first goal for Derby in the 56th minute.
A corner was whipped into the penalty area which Sutherland rose above everyone else to head the ball into the back of the net.
Sutherland was not finished there. She added her second of the match and the Ewe Rams' fifth with a lovely, cushioned volley in the 64th minute.
The ball was whipped into the area again which was headed back across goal by Rhodes-Andrews to Sutherland at the back-post who emphatically volleyed past Walsh.
To top off an impressive performance, Kira Rai who suffered a knee injury last season, made her return in the 76th minute as she replaced goalscorer Camwell.
The host continued to see out the game and earn a much-deserved win ahead of their home match on Sunday against Boldmere St. Michaels (2pm kick-off).
Report taken from the Derby County Women website.