After a run of three cup fixtures it was back to the league yesterday when Stapenhill were the visitors to Moorways. As a team that is new to the league they were something of an unknown quantity, but their record suggested they could be a difficult opponent - although short of league wins, they had not conceded many goals and their defensive record was third best in the league only just behind the two runaway leaders - and recent results indicated they were starting to find their feet.

Pride welcomed back Steph Eadon, Eliot Sayavong and Sophie Ayton after six week absences through injury and illness.

Pride had plenty of early possession, the first real chance coming after 3 minutes after a smart turn and low shot by Beth Jones, parried by the ‘keeper who recovered just in time as Daisy Bowen closed in.

A Stapenhill breakaway after 12 minutes was held up by excellent defensive work by Abbey Hirst to delay the attack when one against one, allowing for teammates to get back and cover, before the danger was cleared.

Pride continued to build up well, probing for openings, but Stapenhill were well organised in defence and it was apparent why they haven’t conceded many. When openings were created Pride weren’t able to capitalise - despite several well taken shots - which went either just wide or were gathered by the keeper.

The breakthrough finally came just after the half hour, when a corner kick from the right was put into the centre of goal by Tash Allderidge and headed home in a crowded six yard box by Beth Jones [1-0].

Tash Allderidge almost extended the lead four minutes before half-time from a free kick about 35 yards out and to the right of goal, which was well struck but came back off the crossbar and was eventually cleared,

Stapenhill’s respite was short lived, however, as two minutes later a throw-in from the left taken by Ella Kew found Tash Allderidge who laid off the ball off to Daisy Bowen - she beat the first defender and despite the attention of two more got the ball out of her feet and hit a low shot beyond the keeper and into the side of the net [2-0].

Pride continued to enjoy the majority of possession in the second half with most of the play in the Stapenhill half, often regaining possession quickly or high up the pitch when it was lost.

The Stapenhill ‘keeper was equal to a series of shots from Beth Jones, Steph Eadon and Ella Kew, but she was unable to prevent the third goal just before the hour. Rachel Weaver’s diagonal ball on the left split two defenders to find Beth Jones, who held off a challenge and slotted past the ‘keeper into the far corner from the angle of the six yards box [3-0]

Hannah Roberts, Rachel Weaver, Beth Jones and Aimee Healy-Raynor all went close as Pride continued to enjoy good possession and created some flowing moves.

The weather gradually deteriorated as the second half wore on, turning into torrential rain so that the last quarter of an hour was played in awful conditions. Daisy Bowen (twice) and Rachel Weaver went close, but Stapenhill had their best two chances of the game as the clock ran down.

Sloppiness in possession after 80 minutes allowed Stapenhill to regain possession just inside their own half, and an early ball forward was not anticipated by Pride’s backs and a striker ran through unopposed, just beating Jade Howell to the ball to prod it goalwards. It looked like it would run over the line or be finished off by the striker but Abbey Hirst made up a phenomenal amount of ground from right back to just reach the ball first to make an exceptional goal-saving clearance at the expense of a corner.

Right at the death a breakaway by Stapenhill was snuffed out by a superbly timed challenge by Loren Roberts to block the shot and ensure a second clean sheet of the season was preserved.

It was a good result for Pride with, possibly, their most polished performance of the season to date. There were a number of candidates for Player of the Match, which went to Rachel Weaver for a polished performance in possession, providing attacking threat and combining well with teammates

Next week Amber Valley are the visitors to Moorways (ko 1.30pm).