Derby County Women suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Liverpool Feds as they went down 6-0 at the Don Amott Arena in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division on Sunday.
The Ewes kept the away side at bay for most of the first half, conceding the opener in the last seconds of the opening 45 minutes, but they were unable to stop the ruthless Liverpool Feds attack in the second period as they netted five times without reply.
Head Coach Sam Griffiths was without defender Charlotte Steggles owing to concussion while Daisy Burt and long-term injury victims Becky McGrother and Megan Tinsley again missed out, as did the suspended Becky May.
Liverpool Feds started the quickest in the first half as Ellie Fletcher brought the ball down and flicked it over a Ewes defender, but she couldn’t get the right connection on her strike which went wide of the post.
Millie Jenkins then had an impressive run from her own half towards the box and after a one-two with Kira Rai she found Kate Oakley in the box, who was denied the opportunity to have a shot because of a last-ditch tackle from a Feds defender.
The Ewes built on this period of good play as Paris Dalton had an optimistic shot from 35-yards-out which didn’t trouble the opposition goalkeeper Rachael Norney.
The visitors dragged themselves back into the game as the contest neared the break as a slide-rule pass found Aleesha Collins, who went clean through on goal, but goalkeeper Lucy Jones made an excellent save to deny her.
Feds took the lead on the 44th minute as Fletcher’s cross fell to Courtney Willis, in the box whose deflected shot nestled into the back of the net.
The away side started the second half off by hitting the post as Willis found Rosie Kinvig-Wardale, whose sliding effort from inside the box hit the woodwork and bounced back out for Jones to collect.
The opposition’s rampage didn’t stop there and Feds would double their lead in the 62nd minute as Fletcher intercepted a misplaced pass before rounding Jones and calmly finishing.
The visitors made it three a few minutes later as a corner was met by Willis with a glancing header to net her second goal of the game.
The away side added a fourth on the 67th minute when a low cross from Fletcher was tapped in by Katie Anderson.
The goals didn’t stop coming as Kinvig-Wardale’s looping header dropped into the bottom right corner in the 75th minute.
Liverpool Feds added insult to injury in the last minute of the game as Seren Carrington tapped into an empty net after the Ewes failed to deal with a free-kick into the box.
The Ewes are back in action on Sunday 22nd September when they head to Rugby Borough (2pm kick-off).
Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Jenkins, Miller, Hilliard, Meadows (Jackson 60), Rai, Wilson, Joyce (C), Dalton, McGowan (Muir 46), Oakley (Cotton 60).
Unused Substitute: Ward.
Head Coach Sam Griffiths offered her reaction to the Ewes’ second league loss of the 2024/25 campaign after the final whistle.
Captain Emily Joyce provided her verdict after a tough afternoon for the Ewes on home turf.
Words: James Haley.
