Derby County Women were victorious in a milestone match for manager Samantha Griffiths as the Ewe Rams beat West Bromwich Albion Women 3-1 at the Hawthorns on Sunday.
Griffiths celebrated her 100th game in charge of the Ewe Rams with a victory thanks to goals from Amy Sims and Jess Camwell either side of half-time, before substitute Kira Rai’s late goal secured all three points.
The Ewes managed to return to winning ways in the league with the result having lost their previous two matches, despite beating Chorley 2-1 last Sunday in the FA Women’s National League Cup.
Sims started the game lively interchanging up front with Camwell and Emelia Wilson.
The front three caused problems from the off for the Albion defence with an early chance falling to Sims, but her shot was saved by Charlotte Clarke.
In the 17th minute the same three combined to create another good chance as Camwell won the ball back in the attacking third before releasing it to Wilson who played in Sims, but her effort was fired over the bar.
The Ewes did take the lead in the 40th minute as a dangerous ball was played into the Albion penalty area with confusion surrounding whether Sims or an Albion defender put the ball into the net.
Sims challenged for a pass played into the area alongside the Baggies defender which resulted in the ball finding its way into the back of Clarke’s goal.
Moments after the restart the Baggies saw their penalty appeals waved away following a strong challenge by Megan Clarkson which the referee deemed to be fair.
Camwell doubled the Ewes’ lead in the 49th minute as she ran from the halfway line with real pace before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right corner of Clarke’s goal.
Albion did pull a goal back in the 52nd minute through Mariam Mahmood, as she latched onto a loose ball in the Derby penalty area.
Sims had an opportunity to add her second of the game as the ball found its way to her inside the box, but her volley was high and wide of the Albion goal.
Rai made an instant impact after being brought on for Keira Barry. She dribbled the ball into the area before finding Wilson, but her shot was also fired over the bar.
Another opportunity to put the game to bed for Derby came in the 86th minute as a lovely through ball was played in behind the Albion defence but the onrushing Clarke did enough to deny Sims once more.
However, substitute Rai did seal the victory for the Ewe Rams in the 87th minute as she added Derby’s third of the game with a cool finish into the bottom corner on her left foot.
The victory for Ewe Rams sets up their next game as they face Stoke City away on Sunday 13th November (2pm kick-off) in the FA Women’s National League Cup.
Report taken from the Derby County Women website.