MATCH REPORT | BELPER TOWN 2-5 PRIDE PARK

The Pride made a blistering start, building a five goal lead in the opening 26 minutes. Although Belper pulled a couple of goals back either side of half-time, the Pride managed the second half well to secure the win.

The teams met only last month when they played out an open and entertaining sixteen goal-fest. Although games between the teams have usually featured a good helping of goals, that game stood out as an exception and a repeat on Sunday seemed unlikely, but you can never tell!

From the kick off Belper built an attack down the Pride’s left flank, but Tash Allderidge - making her 200th senior appearance for the Pride - won possession and quickly played the ball out to Ellie-Mae Coleman who ran on to just inside Belper’s penalty area before crossing for Beth Jones to hook a looping shot into the net from six yards to give the Pride the lead after less than a minute [0-1].

Jade Howell held a shot on goal after sloppiness in possession gave Belper an opening, before Aimee Healy-Raynor intercepted a pass inside Belper’s half after 6 minutes, and played forward to Beth Jones, and on the turn she lobbed home from the edge of the penalty area [0-2].

After 11 minutes the Pride won the ball back in Belper’s half and Beth Jones took a return pass from Tash Allderidge before steering past the keeper to complete her hat-trick in a hurry [0-3].

Belper latched on to a loose pass to start a brief spell around the Pride goal - a low, driven cross was taken well by Jade Howell and, from the first of two Belper corners a combination of Jade Howell and Steph Eadon blocked a shot on the line, and from the second corner Jade Howell blocked a shot at an attacker’s feet in a crowded six yards box before recovering to dive on the loose ball.

The Pride extended their lead with a lovely build up and finish after 17 minutes - a Belper attack was broken up, and from Jade Howell’s pass out to Rachel Weaver, a lofted pass down the line beat the defender for Jess Page to run on to before crossing - Ellie Coleman was unable to make a clean contact under pressure from a defender, but the ball ran through to Aimee Healy-Raynor coming in on the far side to finish [0-4].

Pride had their fifth goal after 26 minutes, when a through ball was intercepted by Annie Laight; she picked out a precise pass to put Beth Jones in the clear, and she slotted past the keeper from edge of the area [0-5].

Belper pulled a goal back after a corner on the half-hour, when there were shouts for a handball - which were spurious but sufficient to make everyone stop - allowing a free shot from six yards out [5-1]. The remainder of the half settled down and was relatively uneventful [HT 1-5].

It had been a clinical opening from Pride, with five shots on target bringing a return of five goals. However, a little sloppiness in possession from that point gave Belper some encouragement and enabled them to have more of the play in the final quarter hour.

The second half looked like it had started in similar fashion, as a loose pass in the centre allowed Belper to win possession and, with the defence out of position, Alice Faulding was sent clear for a well taken finish, only three minutes after the restart [2-5].

From that point on, however, the Pride managed the game well, keeping most of the play in Belper’s half of the pitch and limiting them to breakaways and counter attacks; a couple of shots off target but no further shots on goal.

The Pride had a number of good chances, particularly from a series of free kicks just outside the penalty area, without being able to capitalise on them, although forcing a number of good saves from the Belper ‘keeper; Steph Eadon had a shot cleared off the line after a corner, Ellie Coleman beat the keeper but her shot bounced down off the crossbar and back up on to the crossbar again before the ‘keeper was able to smother the ball on the line.

Then in the 9th of 11 minutes of time added on (there had been a few stoppages for injuries but 11 minutes seemed generous), Steph Eadon played a precise through ball to put Beth Jones clear of the defence and one-on-one against the ‘keeper. As she approached the penalty area she was tripped from behind by a recovering defender who was extremely fortunate to get away with a yellow card - although the referee had been extremely lenient throughout the game so it was, at least, consistent. From the free kick Tash Allderidge’s shot was pushed around the post for a corner kick.

Despite the early setback the Pride managed the second half exceptionally well - a developing theme as the team have shown growing maturity in the last few games - to limit Belper’s opportunities whilst creating more chances than in the first half - the only difference is they weren’t as clinical, but without needing to score were able to see the game out for three points.

Beth Jones’ hat-trick in a hurry and four goals in total get the headlines, but it was built on another strong all-round team performance in which Molly Boultbee put in another assured performance in a growing relationship with Annie Laight at the back.

It was an important three points on a day when two of the teams at the top dropped points, demonstrating very clearly how teams throughout the league are improving and strengthening as the season unfolds.

The Pride now take a two week break from the League starting with next Sunday’s Challenge Cup Quarter-Final at Borrowash Victoria (ko 1.30pm).