Derby County Women claimed a crucial three points in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division in a dramatic 4-2 victory over Hull City Ladies at the Easy Buy Stadium on Sunday.
Goals from Millie Jenkins and Daisy Burt in the first period saw the Ewes go into the break 2-0 up. The hosts looked to get back into the game as they converted from the penalty spot in the 66th minute.
The closing stages saw the game ramp up as Chenè Muir’s goal on her return from injury extended the Ewes lead.
Goalscorer Jenkins was sent to the sin bin and Hull took their numerical advantage as Helen Lynskey netted in the 86th minute before the roles were reversed when Hope Knight was shown a red card moments after the goal. Emelia Wilson was the one to capitalise for Derby as she struck deep into added time to seal the victory.
Evie McCaffrey featured for the first time since her signing from Manchester City was announced last week and defender Sarah Tweedie made her Ewes debut after joining from Glentoran.
Muir returned to the fold following injury, but Sam Griffiths’ side were still without Becky May, Kate Oakley, Becky Hogg, Charlotte Steggles and Megan Tinsley who are all still sidelined.
The Ewes had the first chance of the game as Paris Dalton latched onto a ball over the top of the Hull defence and nicked it past the goalkeeper, but it was cleared off the line by Liberty Bott.
The Tigresses had an effort of their own to clear off the line as a corner found Kirstie Hunt free in the box. Her header beat Ewes’ shot-stopper Lucy Jones but Tweedie was there to block on the goalline.
Derby took the lead with an unusual goal in the 40th minute as McCaffrey’s deflected shot caused a scramble in the box before Jenkins flicked in from close range.
It wouldn’t take long before the Ewes scored again as Daisy Burt got on the end of a cross in the 42nd minute and headed in from the edge of the box to give Derby a two-goal advantage.
Tweedie almost had a moment to remember on her debut as she controlled the ball on the edge of the box before curling an effort towards goal which rattled the crossbar.
Hull were awarded a penalty in the 65th minute as the ball was judged to have been impeded by a Ewes player's hand in a crowded box and Knight converted with a powerful strike into the left-hand side of the goal.
The home side were attacking Derby’s goal, but the Ewes hit on the counter-attack as McCaffrey found substitute Muir who went round the goalkeeper, before taking her time to put the ball into the bottom left corner of an empty net.
Knight was dismissed from the field of play in the 88th minute and teed up a frantic end to the game.
Derby’s number was reduced to ten for a short period of time as Jenkins was sin-binned and the Tigresses took advantage with a sensational strike from Lynskey into the top-left corner.
But Derby secured the win with the final kick of the game as Jenkins, who had just come back on, found Muir who squared for Wilson to finish with aplomb.
A crucial win for the Ewes in the league will be followed by Adobe FA Cup action on Sunday 3rd November, as they take on Leafield Athletic in the First Round at the Don Amott Arena (1pm kick-off).
Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Hilliard, Jackson (Ward 82), Tweedie, Jenkins, Burt, Wilson, Joyce (C), McGowan (Rai 74), Dalton (Muir 71), McCaffrey (Miller 82).
Unused Substitutes: Morgan (GK), Meadows.
“It was a game of football that literally had absolutely everything!" Head Coach Sam Griffiths said after the game.
"We're really proud of the girls because they battled against a tough opponent and on a difficult pitch too.
"Fundamentally, coming into the game, we needed the win and needed the three points. That's what the girls have done.
"We had to adapt to the sin bin, so our plans changed before they had a player sent off which meant we had to adapt again. Frantic is probably a good word to describe the ending of the game!
"We've also been desperate to get some attacking players back into the fold so it was great for Chenè to score and to get Evie McCaffrey in, who was excellent on the wing."
Words: James Haley
Images: Terri Lee
