Derby County Women secured a 1-0 win in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division with a resolute performance on the road against Liverpool Feds on Sunday.
A free kick in the 20th minute turned out to be the winner at Walton Hall Park as Becky May’s fantastic strike ricocheted off the bar into the path of Hannah Ward, who punched home.
Feds were reduced to 10 players in the 83rd minute when Katie Anderson received a second yellow card.
Goalkeeper Lucy Jones was the hero for the Ewes as she saved a penalty deep into injury time to secure all three points for Sam Griffiths’ side.
A hard-fought display at the back saw the game finish 1-0, putting Derby level on points with their opponents in the league.
Key Moments
Derby were off to the races early when Yasmin Mason darted down the right flank after receiving a cross-field ball from May. She pulled it back to Georgia Stevens in the box, but the striker's effort deflected off a Feds defender and was eventually cleared.
The Ewes broke the deadlock with 20 minutes played as May stood over a free kick in a wide position. In signature style, she struck for goal, and the ball thundered off the crossbar and fell into the path of Ward, who steered it into the back of the net.
May again continued to cause the Feds' defence a headache as another inviting set piece was fired into the box, but goalkeeper Eva Spencer managed to tip it behind, keeping the score at 1-0 going into half-time.
Jones was called into action in the 55th minute as she made a fantastic save from close range to deny Anderson. The ball deflected into the path of Chloe Fisher, whose effort looked destined to make the net ripple, but some last-ditch heroics from Mason saw the ball cleared off the line and to safety.
In the 83rd minute, an altercation between Derby captain Emily Joyce and Feds’ Anderson saw both players yellow-carded, but as it was Anderson’s second offence, she saw red and was given her marching orders.
Deep into injury time, the referee awarded a penalty to Feds for a challenge in the box. Meg Boydell, who stepped up for the opposition, saw her penalty saved by Jones, who secured three points for the Ewes.
A week away from action will mean the Ewes can take this win and build on it before going away to Burnley on Sunday 16th November (2pm kick-off).
Team News
Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Melrose, Mason, Edwards, Joyce (C), Bryan (Wilson 60), Ward, Wheeler (Drake 76), Stevens (Oakley 70), May, Sparkes.
Unused Subs: Morgan (GK), Wildgoose, Thomas, Shepherd.
Words: Max Stairs
Related to this