3/1 To Win
Derby County Women played out a 1-1 draw against high-flying Rugby Borough at the Don Amott Arena on Sunday afternoon.
The Ewes shared the spoils against Rugby after a battling contest in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division and a late defensive push as Sacha Lewis was sin-binned.
Derby opened the scoring through a looping strike from Chenè Muir, but just on the stroke of half-time Lucy Wood brought the fixture back level for the visitors as the Ewes claimed their first point of 2025.
Key Moments
The Ewes were without midfielder Becky May, who was sidelined through injury, while young right-back Sacha Lewis was named on the bench after joining the club last month on a dual-registration basis from Manchester City. Evie McCaffrey and Lewis returned to the squad after time on international duty with England Under-17s last week.
Both teams skirmished for control in the opening stages as the Ewes tried to get their momentum flowing.
Borough had the first opportunity of the game as Lilly Greenslade’s curled effort from outside the box went wide of the post, moments after Ange Nixon had a go but her effort was met with the same fate.
It was Derby, however, who drew first blood midway through the half as McCaffery picked the ball up and drove at the Rugby defence. She played an excellent ball into the feet of Muir who twisted and turned before lobbing the goalkeeper, via a deflection, to break the deadlock.
It was McCaffery who tried to double the lead in the 38th minute as she beat her marker with some great footwork before she let fly, which forced the save from Peterkin.
However, just before the stroke of half-time, Rugby got back level. Wood picked the ball up on the edge of the area and curled her effort just past the fingertips of Lucy Jones and into the top corner.
The first chance of the second half came in the 59th minute as McCaffery struck the ball with poise, but it was headed over the bar by Barton.
Defender Sarah Jackson let fly from long range in the 75th minute for Derby, but her effort narrowly missed the target.
The Ewes were hunting for the winner but in the 84th minute half-time substitute Lewis received a sin bin for dissent and was forced off the pitch, which put the Ewes on the back foot after a strong second half performance.
Fellow substitute Daisy Burt looked to be in a position to finish after some neat interplay on the right flank saw a ball delivered to the far post where the wing-back was lurking, but she couldn’t get the right connection to finish.
Despite a frantic end to the match, the game ended with the spoils shared in a 1-1 draw. Derby will look to build on such a positive showing next Sunday when they host Halifax on home turf (2pm kick-off).
The Teams
Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Steggles, Jackson, Hilliard (Lewis 46), Wilson, Joyce (C), Muir, Oakley (Burt 87), Jenkins, Meadows (Hogg 64), McCaffrey.
Unused Substitutes: Ward, Rai, McGowan, Skeldon.
Words: Max Stairs
Images: Terri Lee
