3/1 To Win
Derby County Women were beaten 2-1 by Hull City Ladies in their final home game of the 2024/25 FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division season at the Don Amott Arena on Sunday afternoon.
Two goals in the first half saw the visitors carry a two-goal cushion into the half-time break.
Derby applied plenty of pressure in the second half, and Kate Oakley bagged her first goal of the season in the 71st minute to set up a battling final 20 minutes of the contest.
Becky May came near to scoring but was denied by a strong save from Abigail Wallace between the sticks for Hull and the away side were able to see out the game despite the Ewes creating chances late on.
Key Moments
Derby were led by Assistant Head Coach Jacob Straw and fellow coach Alex Walker in the absence of Head Coach Sam Griffiths in the Ewes’ final home fixture of the season.
Striker Chenè Muir and attacking midfielder May returned to the bench after recent injuries, while the squad were without wing-back Sacha Lewis, who is on a dual-registration with Manchester City, as she was among the matchday squad for the Women’s Super League outfit’s clash with Manchester United.
Hull came out of the traps fastest in Mickleover and took the lead as Hope Knight finished off a tidy passing move that found her in position to finish inside the six-yard box.
Defender Sarah Jackson came close to equalising in the 12th minute when her stinging free kick from distance rattled the crossbar, with goalkeeper Wallace beaten.
The pressure continued from the Ewes as a corner from Paris Dalton forced a goalmouth scramble that the Hull defence cleared before a Derby foot could guide the ball into the goal.
Hull doubled their advantage against the run of play in the 18th minute as Ellie Tanser connected with a short clearance from a corner kick and sent the ball into the roof of the net.
Despite Derby continuing to push, the visitors saw out the half to take their two goal lead into the break.
The Ewes started brightly in the second period with Kira Rai and Muir being substituted into the action at the break, with Beth McGowan and Helena Meadows departing.
Evie McCaffrey was most lively at the start of the half with neat footwork, winning a corner, but the Tigresses cleared their lines.
Another free-kick from Jackson saw Derby come close as she crossed the ball into the box, and Dalton attacked it with a glancing header that just evaded the goal frame.
Hannah Ward and May were the Ewes’ next changes in the game at the hour mark, replacing Dalton and Charlotte Steggles.
Oakley went near in the 71st minute as the ball dropped to her in the box but her effort was fired over the crossbar.
She made the most of her next chance, though, as a delightful through ball from May split the defence apart and gave Oakley a one-on-one where she made no mistake, poking the ball over the onrushing goalkeeper and into the back of the net.
May came close to equalising as she struck a rocket of a shot after receiving the ball from a short corner in the 76th minute. She cut inside to shoot after dribbling beyond her defender, but shot-stopper Wallace got a strong palm on the ball to parry the strike away for another corner.
May tried the feat again, but this time the ball flew just wide of the near post.
The visitors were denied by some excellent defending from
Jackson in the first minute of added time as she performed a vital block when Hull
hit Derby on the break, with the Ewes pushing hard for an equaliser.
Despite their late efforts pushing Hull back, the Tigresses defended their lead to claim the points at the Don Amott Arena.
Derby now look forward to their final game of the season away against Stourbridge on Sunday 27th April at the War Memorial Ground (2pm kick-off).
Team News
Derby County Women: Morgan (GK), Steggles (Ward 61), Jackson, Wilson, Joyce (C), Oakley, Jenkins, McGowan (Muir 46), Meadows (Rai 46), Dalton (May 61), McCaffrey (Skeldon 82).
Substitutes Not Used: Hilliard, Burt.
Images: Terri Lee
