BAKEWELL TOWN 1 - 9 PRIDE PARK

There was a none too promising lead up to kick off with players experiencing various travel, directions, parking and kit issues, including two players arriving after KO. Jess Page was one of these but despite not being able to arrive before half time, still made the trip knowing, with numbers low, an additional player could prove important.

Sophie Ayton had recovered from last week’s knock on her 150th appearance (which somehow slipped by without recognition) so returned to partner Loren Roberts at the back, and Aimee Healy-Raynor and Jade Howell also returned after missing last week’s game.

After League and Cup defeats the aim will have been to do the basics well, and for periods Pride did that and were effective in possession, resembling in patches something approaching their earlier form on a difficult pitch, with a number of very good passages of play despite a surface on which the ball was sticking and players occasionally slipping and sliding.

Despite that both teams were trying to get the ball down and play. Possession was fairly even and Bakewell had their own little spells of good possession in each half, without having many opportunities, but came close to scoring a couple of times, in addition to missing a penalty in the closing stages. One of these opportunities was a slapstick moment on the hour when Jade Howell slipped in going for a cross-shot, Izzy Wilsoncroft’s clearance rebounded off a Bakewell player and into Loren Roberts, ricocheting off her and just wide of the post.

Nevertheless, goals for Rachel Weaver after 6 minutes and Maja Znamirowska after 93 minutes bookended seven goals for Beth Jones to secure three points. In truth, Beth could - and should - have had a couple more as, arguably, the simplest chances she had weren’t converted - as her reactions at the time showed - but seven goals in a game is no mean feat and equals Summer Evans’ club record.

Personnel and positions were rotated in the second half with Loren Kitching, in particular, showing her versatility filling three different roles during the game. Loren Roberts is settling in at the back and read play well, making several important interventions. She was unfortunate to concede a penalty in the closing stages for handball, although there were no complaints, and will have been relieved to see it clear the crossbar. Katy Sharpe made important blocks, was tidy in possession and provided a couple of assists, whilst Hannah Kwiatek also continued to work back to fitness after missing pre-season, and both had what was probably their best games of the season so far.

After an inauspicious start to the day it was job done for Pride, who next week travel to leaders Draycott Victoria (ko 1.30pm).