Derby County Women will look to get three points on the board for the first time in 2024 when they host Stourbridge at the Don Amott Arena on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off).
dcfc.co.uk
has brought together all the key information you will need to know
ahead of the FA Women's National League Northern Premier Division
fixture.
Manager's Thoughts...
Manager Sam Griffiths sees Sunday's match as a big one for her side.
The Ewes are still waiting to pick up their first home win of the season in the league and Griffiths wants her side to step up to the plate.
She wants the side's form in the second half of the season to be strong at the Don Amott Arena.
She said: “It is a huge game for us and we want to get three points to push us towards where we want to be in the league.
“I am happy with where the group are at and we know that we need to keep grinding results out until the end of the season.”From The Dressing Room...
Goalkeeper Anna Draper believes the experience of going toe-to-toe with a Women’s Super League outfit last weekend will only stand Derby County Women in good stead for the rest of the 2023/24 season.
Sam Griffiths’ side saw their excellent run in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup come to an end with a 4-0 reverse against Leicester City on home turf.
Draper produced a fine display between the posts, making several fine saves in both halves, and she was happy to play her part in a determined and resolute team showing from front to back.
Overcoming three lower league opponents set up the cup clash against Leicester, which was played before a crowd of just under 1,000 spectators at the Don Amott Arena and also brought in welcome revenue in prize money.
Despite going down 4-0 on the day, Draper was quick to insist the squad should hold their heads up high for their performance both against the Foxes and in the FA Cup overall this term.
Speaking after the final whistle, she said: “I think the FA Cup run has been a great experience, not just for me but for all of us in the dressing room.
“We worked really hard in training during the week building up to the match on how we were going to play and while we may have lost the game, I think it was successful in terms of how we stuck to the game plan and never gave in.
“I was proud to be able to make some big saves and contribute towards executing what we set out to do. We turned up and provided Leicester with a challenge, which was what we set out to do.”
The shot-stopper, who is with Derby this term on a dual-registration basis from Aston Villa, added: “We were up against a very good side and a fully professional one too, with players that play in Women’s Super League and have Champions League experience, whereas we train a few nights a week training alongside balancing full-time jobs and education.
“To take that into account and put in the display we did, we can be really proud and there are positives we can take into the league too for the rest of this season. It has been a great learning experience for us.”
The league programme resumes on Sunday against Stourbridge, who the Ewes defeated 7-1 back in September to claim their first win of the campaign.
Derby stormed back in the second half of that contest to come back from 1-0 down at the break to claim all three points.
Draper is eyeing a positive result in what will be the Ewes’ first league outing of 2024 following the abandonment of the Liverpool Feds fixture two weeks ago because of Megan Tinsley’s serious ankle injury.
She said: “The league is our main focus and where we play the bulk of our fixtures, so we know the importance of getting some positive results to start the year.
“We’re all looking forward to building on what we did in the abandoned Liverpool Feds game and also the cup tie against Leicester.”
The Season So Far...
Derby County Women’s form since the beginning of October has been nothing short of impressive.
In 11 matches in all competitions they have claimed eight wins and just three losses, one of which was to Women's Super League side Leicester City in the Adobe Women's FA Cup last weekend.
They’ve scored 35 times during that run and conceded just 13 goals along the way.
Their
impressive run has seen them move up to mid-table in the FA Women’s
National League Northern Premier Division, after a tough start to the
season against strong opposition, and they also have an interest in the National League Plate in the second half of the season.
With several players in impressive form right across the pitch, there’s plenty of encouraging signs to build on in the weeks and months ahead.
Ticket Information...
Tickets are available either on arrival at the Don Amott Arena or online via the Derby County Women ticket portal by clicking here.
Prices are:
£5 - Adults£3 - Concessions (Children aged 6-18 and those aged 65+)
FREE - Infants
Match Highlights...
Full highlights from Sunday's match will appear online on dcfc.co.uk following the final whistle.
Under-20s Face Big Cup Clash...
Derby County Women’s Under-20s have a big Derbyshire Senior Women’s Cup Semi-Final clash on the horizon on Sunday afternoon.
They will face Chesterfield FC Women at Moor Farm Training Ground (3pm kick-off) to compete for a place in the Final of the competition against either Borrowash Victoria Ladies or Chesterfield Ladies FC, who defeated the Ewes in the Final on penalties last season.
The Under-20s were 14-0 winners over Buxton Ladies in the Quarter Finals, as well as a 18-0 rout against Gresley Rovers Ladies in the previous round.