Pride Park became the fifth winners of the Derbyshire FA Women’s Plate on Sunday after a resounding win against Sheffield & Hallamshire side Staveley Miners Welfare at Mickleover FC in front of 300 spectators.

As the Derbyshire FA Chairman said in the match programme: “Hundreds of teams enter our County Cups (so) reaching one of our nine County Cup Finals is an incredible achievement.”

The teams walked out accompanied by mascots provided by our u8 and Wildcats girls.

Having lost out on penalties in last year’s final, the Pride were keen to go one better this time but, perhaps with that in the back of their minds, they made a nervy start to the game.

There was an early let off with only two minutes played; Staveley played a free kick from inside their own half upfield and it was glanced on for a forward in far too much space in the centre of goal, but Bella Dormer did extremely well to get back and apply just enough pressure and the forward put her shot wide. Staveley had made the better start and, on 8 minutes, Jade Howell had to collect a shot from outside the area.

The first real chance for The Pride came after 10 minutes, when Aimee Healy-Raynor intercepted a throw in and headed up to Daisy Bowen, who held the ball up and laid it off to Beth Jones - she sidestepped two defenders’ challenges and hit a standing shot from 25 yards which was tipped round the post by the Staveley ‘keeper

There was a second let off for The Pride after 16 minutes; from a throw on on the right the Staveley attacker eluded two defenders and crossed from the byeline, but the header was put wide from six yards out.

From this point Pride Park gradually started to settle and to grow into the game and as they began to play with more fluency they had a prolonged period of good possession. Daisy Bowen did well on the right to hold off a challenge and cut the ball back across the area, but it was just ahead of Beth Jones in the centre. Bowen, Jones, Tash Allderidge, and Aimee Healy-Raynor had attempts on goal, but as the half wore on, for all the good possession and build up play, there was a definite sense of needing to have something to show for it.

The game changed with two goals in time added on at the end of the first half, as The Pride’s pressure finally told. The opener came in the first minute of added time as Tash Allderidge won the ball from a Staveley throw-in on half way and played an early ball behind the Staveley defence. It looked like it was too far in front of Beth Jones but she outpaced the defender and reached the ball - just outside the area - at the same time as the goalkeeper, came out of the challenge with the ball and was able to tap home [0-1].

In the third minute of added time Daisy Bowen found Tash Allderidge and her through ball split the defenders for Beth Jones to run on to, she created an angle for herself and fired home - the keeper got a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out [0-2].

The timing of the goals - so close to half time - was a major boost for The Pride. Knowing the old adage that the next goal would be all important, they started the second half in determined fashion and, with the confidence the goals had provided were moving the ball around well. Tash Allderidge, Otty Baker and Beth Jones all had shots saved or blocked and Steph Eadon was only stopped by a last ditch sliding tackle inside the area, after a driving run from the half way line.

The third goal came after 69 minutes; Steph Eadon’s pinpoint pass split the defence and released Daisy Bowen, and she slotted past the keeper from just inside the area [0-3]. With confidence now flowing through the team and, as the space started to open up, The Pride were managing the game well.

Steph Eadon had a shot saved and another flew just wide of the post from distance. Two further goals in three minutes settled the tie. After 76 minutes Eadon’s shot was blocked and fell to Daisy Bowen, she laid the ball back to Aimee Healy-Raynor and she hit a sweet shot with the outside of her right foot over the keeper from 30 yards [0-4]. Three minutes later Steph Eadon found Daisy Bowen, she turned the defender and hit a left footed shot wide of the keeper from 10 yards [0-5].

Beth Jones had the chance of a hat-trick when Daisy Bowen’s shot was parried by the keeper, but under pressure from a defender Jones lifted her shot over the bar from 7 yards. There was no drama in the three minutes of time added on and Pride become the fifth team to win the Derbyshire FA Women’s Plate. After a slow start Pride Park grew into the game and gradually started to play how they would have wanted to play from the outset. They managed the game very well in the second half and will be delighted to have gone one better in this competition than last year.

Daisy Bowen was named the FA Player of the Match and, with two goals and an assist deserved the recognition after being a thorn in the side of the Staveley defence.

Inevitably, there were good performances all round but the midfield and defence deserve a mention in despatches, putting up a solid defensive screen which protected Jade Howell very well after an initially nervy start and particularly in the second half, apart from one break where Bella Dormer was left one on one with a quick striker but she did very well to halt the attack, come away with the ball and preserve the clean sheet.

It was good to see so many club members at the game to support the team, including five mascots from our under 8s and Wildcats, together with friends, family and non-playing and former players who saw team captain Tash Allderidge - after completing a remarkable 139th consecutive game for The Pride - lift the Plate to start the celebrations.

The Pride have four fixtures remaining, with the next game away at Borrowash Victoria next Sunday (KO 1.30pm) before a two week break.