Pride welcomed back goalkeeper Jade Howell after illness for their Derbyshire FA Women’s County Cup 1st Round tie against Belper Town Development at Moorways.

The visitors kicked off and made the early running, moving the ball around confidently, enjoying good possession and territory. The home side by contrast were not on the pace, as passes were misplaced and possession given up too easily, so it was no real surprise that the first chance of the game fell to Belper after only four minutes - a shot was fired in and bounced just in front of ‘keeper Jade Howell, who was unable to gather it in and the ball bounced loose, there was a scramble and the ball broke free for a Belper player to hit a shot which Rachel Weaver did exceptionally well to block with her chest, before clearing.

It was a let off for the home team which at least served to rouse them, and after a couple of attacks leading to shots, Beth Jones was played in by Tash Allderidge - who was making her 100th consecutive appearance - and opened the scoring after 11 minutes.

A second almost followed three minutes later when a Tash Allderidge free kick from the edge of the area cleared the wall and the goalkeeper could not hold it at the first attempt but recovered to grab the ball on the line as attackers closed in.

It was only a temporary reprieve, however, as Maja Znamirowska combined well with Beth Jones to extend the lead after fifteen minutes [2-0]

There were further chances for Maja Znamirowska, and another Tash Allderidge free kick on the edge of the area, this time blocked, and Ellie Coleman’s follow up was saved.

After half an hour Ellie Coleman went on a mazy run and somehow evaded three defenders to break into the area and slot past the keeper from an angle - the ball was heading in but with a defender getting back to clear, Maja Znamirowska took no chances and beat her to the ball to force it over the line. [3-0]

There were further attempts from Beth Jones, an Eliot Sayavong header from a Tash Allderidge free kick well saved by the keeper - and as the half ended Belper had a shot on goal from a good position but it lacked power and was comfortably saved.

After a slow start Pride had roused themselves to take the initiative but were still somewhat laboured and lacking in fluency compared to recent games against a Belper team that had started well and had been close to taking an early lead. HT 3-0.

There was an immediate improvement in the second half from Pride, as they started to move the ball around better, exemplified by a five-pass move from the kick off resulting in a fourth goal, scored by Beth Jones.

There was, however, another let off for Pride a minute later as an attacker was allowed to break through the defensive line and get a shot away far too easily - and with Jade Howell slipping as she came out it was a relief to see the ball go outside the near post.

Five minutes after the restart Pride made it five. A throw in on the left by Izzy Wilsoncroft was controlled by Tash Allderidge with her back to goal, before she hit a shot on the turn into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area. It was a finish of high quality [5-0].

Ellie Coleman, Beth Jones and Eliot Sayavong had several efforts that were off target. Pride’s two available substitutes were used up on the hour as Jess Page and Katy Sharpe came on for Maja Znamirowska and Aimee Healy-Raynor, prompting a slight reshuffle of positions, which freed up Loren Kitching to play further forward - and she reaped the dividends almost immediately, as she received a pass from Rachel Weaver just inside the area, shifted the ball to create a yard of space and hit a delicate chipped shot up and over the keeper from just inside the area [6-0].

That was the first of a burst of three goals in four minutes just after the hour. Having just scored one, Loren had a hand in the next goal three minutes later, as she pressed high and forced a defender to play a square pass infield, which Beth Jones latched on to finish [7-0]. From the restart, a loose pass was intercepted by Katy Sharpe in midfield and she released Beth Jones - her initial shot was blocked by the keeper and as the two of them got tangled up, Beth fell, but was able to get up to get the final touch over the line [8-0]

A few further opportunities were created without testing the keeper, the best of which came with about ten minutes to play, after Ellie Coleman ran at the defence, and after beating two defenders the ball broke from the last defenders challenge to Jess Page, on the angle of the six yard box, but her first time shot went across goal and wide of the far post.

Belper went close with five minutes to play from a free kick from around 25 yards out, but Jade Howell did well to make a one handed save and divert the ball to safety to protect the clean sheet.

Three minutes later Ellie Coleman rounded off the scoring with a goal her work rate and contribution deserved, with a move she started with a forward pass wide to Beth Jones, who cut infield - Ellie latched on to the clearance to hit a dipping shot over the keeper [9-0]

After a slow start, the home side were much improved after the break to continue their recent goal scoring form and will be pleased to record their third clean sheet in a row - and now wait for news of the draw to learn who they will face in the second round.

In the meantime, Pride return to League action next week with a trip to Amber Valley (KO 1.30pm).