In a pulsating game full of drama, Pride came back from behind twice to secure a draw against the league leaders.

The drama started early and didn’t let up - mistakes, a goal that was offside, offsides that weren’t, goalmouth scrambles, sin bins and well taken goals in a game that was more like an old-fashioned cup tie as it swung one way then the other, then back and back again, as Pride clawed back a two goal deficit after ten minutes to take a 3-2 lead, before going behind 3-4 and finally drawing level through a late penalty.

On the face of it, Pride made an inauspicious start - conceding twice in the opening ten minutes. The first goal coming from a straight kick down the middle that was glanced on - the flag was up as the striker ran on to beat Jade Howell to the ball and slot home. The referee hadn’t seen the flag when he signalled the goal - but replays show the striker to have been offside [0-1]

Two minutes later and a lapse allowed Draycott’s striker to get a foot in and her well taken opportunistic first time shot looped over Jade Howell [0-2].

Despite this, Pride had actually made a promising start, playing on the front foot and moving the ball well, and prior to going behind had the first shot at goal and a free kick leading to a goalmouth scramble, but nobody was able to get a decisive touch.

Despite the two early setbacks Pride responded well and three minutes after conceding the second Steph Eadon’s through ball released Daisy Bowen in the centre. As soon as the ball was played the Lino’s flag started to go up but was just as quickly lowered - but the referee had already blown for offside, the lino acknowledging a mistake.

Both teams continued to probe and had sights of goal but without really creating any clear chances or troubling the keepers until just after the half hour, when Beth Jones made a powerful run down the right before hitting a shot just over the crossbar.

A minute later Rachel Weaver played forward to Jess Page and her first time pass was into Daisy Bowen’s path - and she finished decisively from the edge of the area [1-2] after 37 minutes. In the aftermath a Draycott player presumably spoke out of turn to the referee and was rewarded with a visit to the sin bin.

After a difficult start Pride had responded well to going behind and the game was evenly balanced at half-time with Draycott having the advantage [1-2]..

Pride made just the start to the second half they will have been hoping for when, within 2 minutes of the restart, they had levelled the score. Tash Allderidge took a quick throw-in to Beth Jones on the right and she turned and crossed into the centre. Jess Page had taken up an excellent position and under pressure from Jess the Draycott defender could only slice the ball into the net from six yards [2-2].

Pride were awarded a free kick on the left by the touchline after 58 minutes. Steph Eadon’s pinpoint delivery was met six yards out and level with the far post by Tash Allderidge, getting in front of the defender to direct the ball into the net to put Pride ahead [3-2].

Draycott responded, having a couple of shots off target, before good footwork by their striker to make herself half a yard of space and lift a left foot shot over Jade Howell from 22 yards to bring the scores level again four minutes later [3-3].

Beth Jones almost restored Pride’s lead on 69 minutes but her shot from a tight angle narrowly cleared the angle of post and crossbar. Rachel Weaver played a diagonal ball behind the Draycott defence to put Daisy Bowen through, but the move was stopped by the flag with Beth Jones judged to be in an offside position - replays suggest it was the wrong call but the decision has to be made in real time - don’t get me started on VAR!

Neither team were resting on their laurels and with ten minutes of normal time to play, Draycott had a shot which skimmed the top of the crossbar. A minute later, a kick by the Draycott goalkeeper was glanced on and brought down on the chest by the striker with her back to goal, she was allowed to turn and hit a sweet first time shot from 25 yards that looped over Jade Howell to restore Draycott’s lead [3-4].

Pride almost had an immediate response; but Daisy Bowen’s close range shot was blocked by the keeper and the ball spun across the six yard box, Beth Jones, cut the ball back into the centre but Sophie Ayton’s shot was also blocked.

Pride ‘keeper Jade Howell’s kicking had been exemplary all afternoon and her kick was swept out to the right by Steph Eadon. Aimee Healey-Raynor did extremely well to emerge from a challenge and send a low cross into the centre of goal. Steph Eadon nipped in ahead of the defender to touch the ball away and was brought down. The referee was perfectly placed and had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. A Draycott player appeared to take vocal exception to the decision and the referee duly pointed them to the sin bin. Tash Allderidge despatched the spot kick to level the scores with four minutes of normal time to play [4-4].

There were two further half chances for Pride’s Daisy Bowen and Annie Laight in four minutes of time added-on but the game ended all square [4-4].

It was a physical, taxing encounter and the players deserve credit for embracing the challenge and playing some good football, on a pitch that cut up as the game wore on, whilst executing a game plan against a very strong and experienced team.

This was, objectively, the best all-round performance of the season so far by The Pride and a complete contrast to the games against Draycott earlier in the season. Rolling substitutions were important to help keep up the intensity and momentum and they made critical contributions at key moments. The challenge now for Pride is to take this level of performance into next week’s County Plate semi-final at Stanton Ilkeston (ko 1.30pm).

Player of the Match was Steph Eadon, capping an immense, high energy, standard setting display at the heart of an all-round team performance with an assist and winning the penalty.