A Daisy Bowen hat-trick wasn’t enough for a below par Pride Park to get anything from Sunday’s home league fixture against Wirksworth in an eventful game played in extremely difficult playing conditions but which, for The Pride, ultimately ended in disappointment.

Despite playing into a strong wind Pride made a good start to the game; Daisy Bowen opening the scoring after 5 minutes [1-0]. Pride had the better of the first twenty minutes but could not capitalise and extend their lead further, although Beth Jones was close to adding a second - hitting the post and seeing it come back into play when it looked like it was going in, and also had the ball in the net with a good finish only for it be called back for a - very tight looking - offside.

As the wind grew in strength it was inevitable the conditions would play a part - any goal kicks or clearances with height were visibly holding up in the wind. Wirksworth started to increasingly dominate possession and territory in the last twenty-five minutes of the half - although not solely down to the weather - as Pride struggled to get out or hold on to possession. The equaliser came after 24 minutes [1-1].

Although there was a breakaway ending in a shot from Steph Eadon getting lodged under the keeper, it was a rare foray as Pride continued to have difficulty in holding on to the ball for any meaningful possession. Wirksworth continued to apply pressure and it seemed it was only a matter of time before they scored a second. There was a let off when a Wirksworth striker was left unmarked in the centre but she was unable to get a good connection and her first time shot went wide of the post when it seemed easier to score.

Had Pride been able to keep the scores level going in at half-time it would have been an accomplishment, but the pressure finally told as Wirksworth broke through to take the lead after 39 minutes [1-2].

There were chances for both sides in the closing minutes of the half; Beth Jones advanced down the right for Pride and played a low cross towards Daisy Bowen which was just intercepted and put out by a defender. Two minutes later, Wirksworth had a chance to add to their score on the stroke of half-time, as two players broke through a static defence, but Jodie Hill came out and stood up well to block the shot and gather the ball.

Nevertheless, considering the pressure on the Pride goal in the second half of the first half, and with an opportunity to play with the wind in the second half, there was hope of recovery in the second half.

There were some hopeful signs early in the second half, with chances for Steph Eadon and two for Beth Jones - who had another “goal” chalked off after she was judged offside. Despite those early signs the half did not play out as might have been anticipated, as Wirksworth made much better of the deteriorating conditions and continued to threaten Pride’s goal with direct running and breakaways, which Pride struggled to contain. Although Pride were mounting attacks and getting sights of goal, it was Wirksworth who extended their lead after 54 minutes [1-3].

Just after the hour, however, Pride were handed a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty. The challenges had been flying in for most of the game on a slick surface, with the Referee allowing most of them to go unchecked, but when Beth Jones broke into the Wirksworth area and was felled by a challenge which left her nursing a sore ankle (which would, ultimately, force her off) he pointed to the spot. However, the usually reliable Tash Allderidge wasn’t able to convert the spot kick. To add salt to the wound, Wirksworth scored a fourth two minutes later [1-4].

On seventy minutes Beth Jones, sandwiched between two defenders, was on the receiving end of another heavy challenge inside the area. The defender that slid in made no contact with the ball and brought Beth down - it was an even stronger penalty claim than the first - but the referee saw it differently. Steph Eadon’s follow up shot was deflected for a corner.

Daisy Bowen almost slipped the ball past the keeper after 74 minutes, her attempt was blocked, but the ball fell to Beth Jones - her shot was parried by the goalkeeper and Daisy Bowen’s attempt to pick out Aimee Healey-Raynor in the knee was put out for a corner. Tash Allderidge went agonisingly close to pulling one back a minute later when her free kick from the edge of the area cleared the wall but came back off the foot of the post with the goalkeeper beaten.

There were several more nearly-but-not-quite moments for Pride as balls through just - and only just - carried through to the keeper, balls across the box were blocked, intercepted or cleared, and there were moments when a little more conviction or decisiveness might have borne fruit. Daisy Bowen did put the ball in the net - only for this to be called back for another tight-looking offside. Wirksworth continued to be a threat, however, and also had the ball in the net and ruled out for offside but they did extend their lead after 81 minutes [1-5].

Three minutes later Sophie Ayton lobbed a ball over the defence, Daisy Bowen got in between the defender and ball and lobbed the keeper from the angle of the penalty area [2-5] for an excellent finish, and she turned home Rachel Weaver’s low cross to complete her hat-trick in the 90th minute [3-5].

As the game wore on the playing surface had deteriorated and cut up, with a number of players having difficulty keeping their feet which, with the wind, made for extremely difficult conditions for both teams. Ultimately, Pride will feel they didn’t fully do themselves justice as Wirksworth proved just a little too strong and managed the conditions that bit better than The Pride on the day.

Rather than pick out one Player of the match, the honours were shared between Daisy Bowen for her fifth hat-trick of the season and Abbey Hirst for a determined and gritty performance in standing up well to the physical challenge posed by a strong and wily striker.

Pride are at Moorways again next Sunday 2nd Feb for the visit of Buxton (ko 1.30pm)