A lengthy list of absentees meant a first team debut for sixteen year old Nev Ward and she gave a good account of herself, showing good control, pace and determination but it wasn’t the easiest of games in which to make a debut.

The game started poorly for Pride and they never recovered from conceding 2 in the first four minutes and 3 in twelve. It’s been said that Pride like a gift and the first two goals were certainly wrapped and presented nicely, and the generosity continued with a case for six of the seven goals conceded coming with varying degrees of assistance from The Pride.

Pride could feel aggrieved that a clear push from behind on Fran Critchley-Watson in the build up to the third wasn’t penalised, and that Daisy Bowen was through on goal and judged offside when clearly played on by the full back - it wasn’t even close - but these instances can’t distract from what was a below par performance by Pride Park.

On the credit side, after going three behind in twelve minutes Pride did recover their composure and for a while matched Draycott - pulling one back from the spot through Tash Allderidge after 37 minutes, after Ella Kew was barged over in the area - but it was short lived and another poor goal was conceded on the stroke of half-time. The second half started with promise, as Pride enjoyed good possession and pushed Draycott back, but without really creating any clear cut chances, only to slip back into the spirit of generosity.

Two defeats in a row - and the manner of them - calls for a degree of introspection. There’s no point in sugar coating it - fifteen goals conceded in three league games tells its own story - irrespective of formations if the basics aren’t done effectively, then it will be a struggle to get anything from games and on Sunday, individually and collectively, Pride simply weren’t at the races for too much of the game.

The third of three challenging fixtures awaits Pride next Sunday when they travel to Wirksworth (ko 1.30pm).