MATCH REPORT | BUXTON 4-0 PRIDE PARK

The Pride were missing quite a few players for their first game in four weeks yesterday, compounded by having no recognised strikers available. Evie Payne came into the squad from the u18s for her competitive first-team debut.

There was a double blow for The Pride after only ten minutes, as Steph Eadon was forced off with an injury and Buxton found the net moments later with a deflected shot.

The injury to Steph looked a painful one as she was in considerable discomfort and it only adds to Pride’s injury concerns. It turned what was already expected to be a challenging game against an improving team, given the players that were missing, into an extremely difficult task.

In a half of few chances, Buxton had an opportunity to extend their lead after 18 minutes when their striker was through 1v1 against Jade Howell, but Pride’s number 1 kept the shot out with the help of the post. On the half-hour Evie Payne came on for her competitive first team debut.

There were a couple of chances for the Pride to draw level in the closing minutes of the half; three minutes before the interval Izzy Wilsoncroft made decent contact with Tash Allderidge’s corner and her dipping shot almost deceived the ‚keeper, and two minutes later Aimee Healy-Raynor didn’t quite connect properly and her right foot shot was gathered by the ‚keeper.

Half-time: Buxton 1-0 Pride Park

Pride came out for the second half looking better and the first chance of the half fell to Jess Page on her right foot, making a solid connection but hit straight at the keeper. Just as it looked like Pride might get back into the game, Buxton doubled their lead on 51 minutes when a shot from the edge of the area was placed inside the post.

Pride’s injury woes continued, when Jess Page came off after 64 minutes with a tight hamstring.

With no substitutions left, Pride reshuffled the pack to try and retrieve something from the game, and two minutes later there was a good chance for Pride as Evie Payne played Ellie Coleman in, but her low shot was well saved by the Buxton keeper.

There was an element of risk involved in chasing the game and it took a strong hand from Jade Howell to deny Buxton at the near post with twenty minutes left to play.

Pride were inevitably vulnerable to the counter attack, and also tiring, and Buxton scored a third with fifteen to play, as a cross was played across the penalty area and finished at close range - hitting the crossbar, bouncing down onto the line, and appearing to bounce up onto the cross bar again - before being collected by Jade Howell. However, the referee had no hesitation in giving the goal despite being some distance away.

There was a saving challenge by Rachel Weaver as the Buxton striker looked to be clean through after 82 minutes. In the second minute of time added on and with the last kick of the game, Buxton made it four to wrap up the win.

The injury to Steph is a concern - the news overnight is that there’s mercifully no break - but it is looking like a lengthy lay off. On a more positive note Evie Payne made a good impression on her senior debut.

Our three absent strikers accounted collectively for 71 goals last season - or over 3 goals per game - so even before the game started this represented a significant challenge. The players put in a shift and can’t be faulted for effort - exemplified by Ellie-Mae Coleman working tirelessly up front, as did Loren Kitching coming straight from finishing a night shift, but it just proved a little too much for an already depleted squad made even more so by injury, and requiring too many players to play out of position. Although the late goals added a gloss to the scoreline, Buxton were worthy winners in the end.

After a week off next Sunday, Pride should be in Cup action in two weeks’ time (17th March) when they are due to play the Derbyshire FA Women’s Plate semi-final. That will be dependant on the outstanding quarter-final, between Woodlands and Amber Valley, being decided next Sunday after yesterday’s postponement.