Derby County Women scored three times without reply and claimed maximum points in a feisty affair against Stourbridge Ladies in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division on Sunday.
Stourbridge goalkeeper Harriet Grimshaw was sent off in the dying embers of a game that Sam Griffiths’ Derby side looked destined to win from the off in a dominating display at the Don Amott Arena against the West Midlands-based outfit.
Goals from Emelia Wilson and Chenè Muir in the first half saw the Ewes head into the break with a two-goal advantage.
The result was cemented by an Ella Hilliard free-kick deep into added time in the second period.
After a minute's silence on Remembrance Sunday prior to kick-off, the opening ten minutes saw both sides with opportunities to take the lead. Muir fired a long-range effort from the edge of the box in the sixth minute that was deflected wide via the post by a defender with Stourbridge shot-stopper Grimshaw beaten.
The visitors came close five minutes later, but a goalline clearance courtesy of defender Charlotte Steggles kept the game goalless.
Derby were awarded a penalty after Kira Rai was fouled in the box in the 13th minute, but Grimshaw got down to deny Muir from the spot.
Rai nearly handed Derby the lead from close range in the 18th minute, after a well-timed low cross from Evie McCaffrey found its way to the near post. Derby continued to pile on the pressure, and Rai was again denied by Grimshaw with a low strike in the 25th minute.
Wilson opened the scoring for Derby after a strong counter-attack saw Muir’s shot blocked by Stourbridge captain Rosie Embley. The deflected effort landed at the feet of Wilson, who fired the Ewes ahead in the 43rd minute.
Derby got a second goal from Muir with a strike from inside the box just before the half-time whistle that gave the Ewes a two-goal lead at the break. The striker did brilliantly to see off the attentions of the Stourbridge backline to latch onto Wilson's ball in behind the defence and fire the ball into the back of the net.
Derby began the second half the same way they ended the first. The Ewes came close in the 49th minute, as Camille Jenkins’ close-range effort was parried away by Grimshaw.
Steggles saw a header hit the post, after a well-placed cross from McCaffrey in the 57th minute while Rai tried her luck from the edge of the box in the 60th minute, which forced Grimshaw into making a save.
The Ewes nearly took complete control of the game with a third goal in the 65th minute. Paris Dalton fired a long-range effort from 25 yards which rattled off the crossbar, and a follow-up from Jenkins was sent high over the crossbar and out for a goal kick.
Substitute Kate Oakley, on her return from injury, rounded Grimshaw in the 80th minute, with her resulting shot from the byline rolling just wide of the far post, while Rai hit the crossbar with a superb effort from around 30 yards out soon afterwards.
Emotions ran high in the 89th minute as an altercation between Jenkins and Stourbridge midfielder Olivia Ashfield forced the referee to stop play and book the duo. After tempers had settled, Grimshaw was shown a red card for an off-the-ball incident.
Derby rounded the game off deep in added time with a perfectly placed free-kick, courtesy of Hilliard. The strike from 30 yards out found its way to the top-right corner, with the referee calling time at the restart.
A well-deserved victory for the Ewes in the league sets up the side’s last home game of 2024 when they welcome Sporting Khalsa Women to the Don Amott Arena on Sunday 17th November (2pm kick-off).
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Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Steggles (Tweedie 62), Hilliard, Jackson, Jenkins, Wilson, Joyce (C), Dalton (Oakley 73), McCaffrey (McGowan 77), Rai (Meadows 87), Muir (Burt 73).
Unused Substitutes: Ward, Miller.
After the win Derby Head Coach Sam Griffiths said: "I thought we were brilliant today. I couldn't fault them. They've worked really hard on the training ground this week on certain things and certain movements.
“Coming into the game, we have tweaked things a little bit and they brought all of that to life today. Some of the movement, some of the passing qualities, and some of the little patterns in higher areas of the pitch were great.
“I think the only disappointing thing was that it probably could have been more in terms of goals scored.
“Now we look forward to playing Sporting Khalsa next week and seeing if we can have even more of an improvement and go up to the next level.”
Words: Reuben Clarke
Images: Terri Lee
