MATCH REPORT | SANDIACRE TOWN 0-8 PRIDE PARK

Jodie Hill came in for her second third game of the season, Rachel Weaver returned at left back, and we were pleased to welcome Sophie Ayton back for her first tentative steps back after an ankle injury.

Sandiacre had the first chance of the game in the opening minute, firing wide before Pride clicked into gear and took the lead with their first attack after 3 minutes. A free kick for a trip on Steph Eadon was whipped in by Tash Allderidge to be met at the back post by Molly Boultbee for her first goal for Pride Park [0-1].

There was a great chance for Pride to double the lead four minutes layer, as Ellie-Mae Coleman latched onto Jodie Hill’s long kick and threaded a pass through to Beth Jones - who fired just inches wide of the post. The respite for Sandiacre was temporary, however, as Pride extended their lead on 10 minutes. Tash Allderidge put a cross into the box from the second phase of a corner and this time it was Aimee Healy-Raynor popping up at the back post to score [0-2].

Two minutes later Beth Jones did exceptionally well to shake off a defender but her shot was just the wrong side of the post. At the other end Jodie was called into real action for the first time after 13 minutes, coming up big to block and divert the ball away from danger.

Jess Page played an inch perfect ball into Beth Jones, who rounded the keeper and to fire into the open net after 21 minutes to make it 0-3.

It was 0-4 just before the half-hour, as Ellie-Mae Coleman ran down a long ball, blocked the keeper’s attempted clearance, and cooly passed into the empty net.

As half-time approached, there was a shot on target for Sandiacre from outside the box, but it rolled through into Jodie Hill’s hands. Pride had dominated the first half and clinical finishing gave them a deserved half-time lead.

HALF-TIME: Sandiacre Town 0-4 Pride Park

The second half started where the first half had left off. The first real sight of goal came for The Pride after 54 minutes when Steph Eadon’s low shot from outside the area was well claimed by the Sandiacre keeper. However, a minute later an Annie Laight free kick through the middle was latched onto by Beth Jones and her shot beat the onrushing keeper [0-5].

Sandiacre’s ‚keeper made a couple of great saves, the first on 68 minutes, diving to her right to stop a rocket from Ellie-Mae Coleman, then two minutes later denying Coleman again, time from close range!

Aimee Healy-Raynor went close with a header from a corner which was deflected onto the post. There was almost an outstanding goal for Ellie-Mae Coleman when her flick from the outside of her boot went through the defender’s legs but went agonisngly wide.

There was a sixth for Pride when Tash Allderidge hit a rocket of a free kick into the top corner after 77 minutes.

There was a final flourish with two goals in the final minute for Beth Jones. She completed her hat-trick on 89 minutes, dancing around the defender before opening up her body and slotting home into the far corner [0-7] and completing the scoring with her fourth of the afternoon right on the final whistle as she fired home from close range [0-8].

It was a dominant performance from start to finish, and from front to back to complete a Cup upset by The Pride against higher league opposition. The draw for the quarter-finals was held earlier today and has given Pride an away tie against Sleetmoor United on Sunday 18th February.

It’s back to League business next week and, as a result of Buxton’s County Plategame being postponed yesterday, our League fixture that was due to be played next week will be rescheduled later in the season and instead, we will welcome unbeaten reigning Champions Wirksworth Colts to Moorways as 2nd play 3rd (kick off 1.30pm).