Loughborough LightningDerby County Women came from behind at the Don Amott Arena on Wednesday night as they defeated Loughborough Lightning 2-1 in the League Cup Determining Round.
Lightning, who compete in the league below Derby, opened the scoring through Zyn Delglyn as she sent goalkeeper Sarah Morgan the wrong way and side footed home a penalty in the early moments of the match.
Substitutes Millie Jenkins deep into added time and Charlotte Steggles in the first half of extra time respectively netted invaluable goals to bag the win for the Ewes in what was Sam Griffiths’ 150th match in charge of Derby.
Morgan slid in to retrieve a loose back pass in the early stages of the contest, but the Referee deemed the Ewes’ goalkeeper to have made contact with a Loughborough player before the ball and pointed to the penalty spot. Delglyn converted from 12 yards to put her side ahead just seven minutes in.
The visitors came close to doubling their lead five minutes later when the ball fell to Fearn Powell inside the box. The Lightning number seven dragged her effort just wide of the right-hand post as Derby survived a scare.
Derby came close to equalising on the brink of half-time after substitute Rebecca May picked the pockets of the Loughborough midfield and spread the ball out wide to Daisy Burt. The Newcastle United loanee whipped the ball to find the feet of Helena Meadows in the box, whose first time shot was off target.
Jess Collyer squared the ball to Powell to open up a chance for Lightning five minutes after the break, but Morgan was fast off her line and smothered the ball to deny Powell a shot.
Midfielder Emelia Wilson, off the bench, tried her luck from distance in the 67th minute after Lightning failed to clear their lines but her effort was blocked.
Morgan kept her side in the game moments later with a tremendous double save. The Ewes’ goalkeeper dove to her right to save Loughborough’s first effort then recovered brilliantly and threw herself in front of the second.
Defender Steggles came off the bench up front used her strength to win the ball in the final third and hit a clean strike from 25 yards out. Her effort beat Ash Naismith in the Lightning net but thundered against the crossbar.
The 26-year-old had made herself a nuisance from the moment she stepped onto the field in the 68th minute to lead the line.
Griffiths’ side finally found their equaliser six minutes into added time, shortly after Paris Dalton had a goal ruled out for offside. Dalton’s corner was nodded into the six-yard box by Wilson and Jenkins was first to react and headed the ball into the bottom right corner to send the tie to extra time.
Steggles secured the win for Derby with a cool finish in the first half of extra time, lobbing Naismith who had come off her line to challenge for the ball.
Naismith denied the Ewes a third soon afterwards as she kept out winger Kira Rai on her 100th Derby appearance.
Despite a tense ending, Griffiths’ side held on and they will now compete in the First Round of the League Cup, which is due to be played Sunday 29th September.
Derby now turn their attention back to the league as they face West Bromwich Albion in the National League Northern Premier Division on Sunday at the Don Amott Arena (2pm kick-off).
Derby County Women: Morgan (GK), Jackson, Oakley (May 17), Hilliard (Jenkins 61), Joyce (C), Ward, Rai, Meadows (Dalton 61), Burt, Miller (Wilson 61), McGowan (Steggles 68).
Unused Substitute: Jones (GK).
Loughborough Lightning: Niasmith (GK), Hewitt, Jacobs, Langford, Woodbyrne, Hines (C) (Coutts 55), Collyer, Puchase (Jarowicki 55), Delglyn (Wright 75), Powell (Collingbourne 97), Cotton (White 105).
Unused Substitute: McConnell (GK).
Manager Sam Griffiths offered her reaction after the final whistle to reflect on a thrilling cup tie at Don Amott Arena.
Matchwinner Charlotte Steggles and winger Kira Rai, after making her 100th appearance for the club, also gave their verdict on the 120 minutes of action under the floodlights.
Words: Hannah Walker.
