After a break last weekend Pride were pleased to welcome back a quartet of players from injuries of varying durations - Beth, Daisy, Hannah Roberts and Loren Roberts having missed up to seven games - for this 2nd round Challenge Cup tie against Stanton Ilkeston at Moorways.

Pride started well, having the majority of possession and playing for the most part in Stanton’s half, creating several openings without taking advantage of them.

With eighteen minutes played there had already been several good opportunities for Pride to go ahead when Loren Kitching burst down the right flank and crossed into the box. Ella Kew’s shot was partially blocked and the ball deflected wide, but it was kept in play by Loren Kitching who clipped the ball back across the six yard box, Aimee Healy-Raynor just couldn’t reach it, and Otty Baker’s shot at the far post was blocked. The ball was retrieved by Otty and laid off to Aimee but her shot drifted just wide.

It was probably the closest Pride had come at that stage, but it was important that they capitalised soon on the chances they were creating. They didn’t have t wait long as the opening goal was scored just three minutes later.

Rachel Weaver collected the ball on the half way line, playing a short pass inside to Ella Kew, and she played a pass out to Otty Baker, who slipped the ball into Rachel’s path on the overlap. Weaver drove forward, cutting into the box before a measured cross into the centre was steered wide of the goalkeeper by Tash Allderidge to finish off an excellent move [1-0].

On the half hour, Annie Laight calmly beat the press with a lofted pass out to Aimee Healy-Raynor on the left touchline, and she carried the ball forward about twenty yards before playing down the line to Beth Jones, who had come on about five minutes earlier. Jones cut inside, beat two defenders and rifled a low shot inside the post from the edge of the area [2-0].

There were a number of further chances created but Pride didn’t capitalise on the opportunities although as half time approached they went close with two shots. Beth Jones was played in by Aimee Healy-Raynor on the left of the area, she opened up to aim her shot for the far post but the goalkeeper got just enough on it to divert it round the post for a corner. A couple of minutes later, Daisy Bowen worked herself a yard of space and hit a dipping shot which the keeper did well to tip over the bar.

Despite having the lion’s share of possession and creating plenty of opportunities in the first half, 2-0 is a very precarious scoreline and the next goal is, as the saying goes, the most important.

Within a couple of minutes of the second half starting, Daisy Bowen hit a low shot which was heading just inside the post but the keeper managed to get down and turn it round the post at full stretch.

Pride continued to create opportunities but too many shots were being hit at a comfortable height for the keeper and were, generally within easy reach

Pride won a corner on right after 55 minutes, taken by Tash Allderidge and dropped in at the near post. It was parried by the goalkeeper, and returned to Allderidge who picked out Hannah Roberts in the centre, and she drove a shot up over the keeper’s hand into the roof of the net from the edge of the area. It was her first goal for the team since December 2018 in only her fifth appearance since coming back from over two years out with a torn ACL so was understandably celebrated a little more enthusiastically than the other goals [3-0].

Ten minutes later there was another superb delivery into the centre of goal from a Tash Allderidge corner, again from the right. The goalkeeper came for it but in a crowded box could only get a hand to it, and Daisy Bowen finished from six yards [4-0]

Almost immediately from the restart Stanton pulled a goal back. From the kick off Stanton played the ball forward, it appeared to be under control but an underhit backpass from 25 yards sold Jade Howell short, the striker sidestepped her challenge and although Jade’s momentum brought the striker down, the ball fell for a second striker to slot home [4-1]. It was only Stanton’s second shot of the game and their only shot on target but was their reward for keeping going. It was, however, a poor goal for Pride to concede.

With just over fifteen minutes to play, Aimee Healy-Raynor collected the ball half way inside the Stanton half, passing out to Daisy Bowen on the right. Bowen cut in and beat the ‘keeper but saw her shot come back off the crossbar.

As the clock ran down Hannah Roberts found Daisy Bowen in space, she carried the ball forward to the edge of area and picked out a pass to an unmarked Beth Jones in the centre of goal, her shot from ten yards crashed back off the underside of the crossbar and the rebound was cleared. Shortly afterwards the referee brought the game to an end.

There was plenty to admire in Pride’s play, in particular some good build up play, but the final ball, choice of shot or execution was not quite as clinical as it could have been - although it was pleasing to see four different goalscorers. Stanton’s goalkeeper had an exceptional game, making a number of good saves although, in truth, too many of Pride’s shots were hit straight down the middle and with more clinical finishing the scoreline would have been greater.

Nevertheless, Pride are through to the quarter-final stage and will find out who they will face after next week’s 2nd round tie between Matlock Town and Belper Town Development.

It was a relief for Pride to see the injured players return to action and come through the game unscathed. Aimee Healy-Raynor had an excellent game, making good use of the ball but Player of the Match was Tash Allderidge. In her 130th consecutive game for The Pride, Tash took up some excellent positions, and as well as scoring one, two of her corner kicks lead to goals.

Pride return to league action next week when Buxton are the visitors to Moorways (ko 1.30pm).