It was a disappointing afternoon for The Pride yesterday; despite establishing an early lead during a good opening spell, it couldn’t be sustained and the game ended in a third defeat of the season.

It was pleasing to see Abbey Hirst in a matchday squad for the first time - delayed through injury fifteen months after joining The Pride. Beth Jones also returned to action, albeit it was limited to twenty minutes as part of a managed return from injury, but it didn’t take her long to resume ‘normal service’; firing Pride into the lead less than two minutes into her return - hitting home the rebound after her first shot was well-saved.

In the opening fifteen minutes or so Pride were moving the ball around well and were deservedly ahead. However, Amber Valley increasingly came back into the game and there was an air of inevitability about the equaliser, after 23 minutes. On an extremely compact pitch there was very little time on the ball, making for a scrappy and frenetic game. Five minutes before half-time Tash Allderidge was pulled back in a challenge and as a result turned her ankle - the resultant free kick no consolation for losing Pride’s influential captain for a spell either side of half-time. Amber Valley scored a second on half-time to lead 2-1 at the break.

Pride made the worst possible start to the second half, conceding a third after losing the ball at the back only four minutes after the restart [3-1], and went further behind after 69 minutes [4-1].

Daisy Bowen kept running and trying to make something out of very little, and was understandably aggrieved not to get a free kick, at least, when charged in the back. Her endeavours were finally rewarded, however, when she was hauled to the ground in the area and the referee awarded a penalty. Tash Allderidge tucked away the penalty but it was no more than a consolation, coming in the sixth minute of added time - although there was still time for Amber Valley to get another with two minutes left.

There was a 15 minute cameo at the end for Abbey Hirst making her long awaited debut and, particularly considering the length of her lay off, she adapted quickly and defended well against a pacy striker, which should give her confidence to build on.

The Pride Player of the Match was goalkeeper Jodie Hill. Her handling was excellent and on such a compact pitch she dealt exceptionally well with pass backs under pressure.

The referee had attempted to allow the game to flow despite a number of challenges being borderline but, inexplicably given they had a comfortable lead, the hosts were becoming increasingly tetchy and disputing decisions as the game wore on.

The referee’s patience finally wore out as two yellow cards were shown late on and there could have been more. He may reflect that he could have been stricter earlier on; a case in point being when an Amber Valley player was extremely fortunate to escape a caution for waving an imaginary card at the referee after being held back by Sophie Ayton, who was penalised with a free kick - and who also couldn’t have complained had she been cautioned.

Pride now have a two week break from the League as attention turns to the cup competitions, starting with the DGLL Challenge Cup - of which The Pride are the current holders - at Castle Donington on Sunday (ko 1.30pm).