MATCH REPORT | PRIDE PARK 5 - 0 SANDIACRE TOWN

Sandiacre came into Sunday’s game second in the table, having conceded only 13 goals in their 16 league games and had won the reverse fixture 5-3 at the beginning of April - which makes the result all the more impressive.

A first half hat-trick for Beth Jones, and one apiece for Summer Evans and Tash Allderidge (from the spot) after the break are the headlines. Equally important, however, were two outstanding saves by Steph Eadon, once again deputising in goal, at 0-0 and a minute before half-time, but above all it was a complete team performance.

Pride made a good start with Beth Jones working the keeper after 3 minutes and Summer Evans going wide a minute later. Sandiacre had a a very good chance after 10 minutes when a cross found a forward completely unmarked in front of goal, but Steph Eadon showed great reflexes to tip her close range shot over the bar.

Pride were awarded a free kick after 19 minutes for a foul on Fran Critchley-Watson, in which she injured her ankle and was replaced by Otty Baker. Tash Allderidge took the free kick - about 30 yards from goal on Pride’s right - hitting it towards the far side of the six yard box for Beth Jones to meet it with a controlled volley to give Pride the lead [1-0].

It was 2-0 after half an hour. A Sandiacre attack was broken up by Annie Laight’s interception before Ella Kew played a precise pass into the run of Beth Jones who took it on and from just inside the area slotted past the advancing keeper [2-0].

Summer Evans was close to connecting from a corner, five minutes before half-time, but it was 3-0 a minute later. Rachel Weaver intercepted and played a forward pass to Summer Evans. Summer found Beth Jones in the left channel and she drove into the area and slipped the ball past the keeper [3-0].

Sandiacre almost pulled one back when they got in behind Pride’s defence on the left, and a cross into the box and a lay off put the striker clear but she was closed down quickly by Steph Eadon to deflect the shot wide, which kept it 3-0 at half-time.

Six minutes after the restart Pride were awarded a free kick on the left for a foul on Maja Znamirowska, about a yard outside the penalty area and level with the penalty spot. Tash Allderidge’s free kick was headed home by Summer Evans [4-0] for the perfect start to the second half.

Pride’s lead was almost extended on the hour when Annie Laight’s free kick from inside the Pride half was (unintentionally?) hit low and somehow evaded various attempts at interceptions in midfield. It eventually ran through to Maja Znamirowska to the left of centre and she ran on and from the edge of the ‚D’ hit a shot that the Sandiacre keeper did well to turn around the post at full stretch.

After 69 mins Steph Eadon’s kick upfield was headed on by Beth Jones and then a defender, and was collected by Ella Kew. Ella’s driving run took her into the penalty area, showing good strength to hold off the first challenge, before being brought down by a challenge from a second defender. Tash Allderidge sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot to put Pride 5-0 up with 69 minutes played.

There were further chances for Summer Evans, Beth Jones and Tash Allderidge from a free kick, and an effort from Sandiacre which cleared the crossbar but Pride managed the game out very well to record a resounding win. Five goals against a team that had conceded very few goals - and no more than three prior to this game - whilst keeping a clean sheet and restricting Sandiacre to just seven shots was an impressive performance all round.

There’s very little recovery time before the next game, when Pride travel to face leaders Wirksworth tonight (kick off 7pm at Cromford Meadows).