The visitors were reduced to ten players on the morning of the game although Pride weren’t without their pre-game challenges, as both regular goalkeepers were unavailable, so Steph Eadon filled in as emergency ‘keeper. Rachel Weaver reached the milestone of her 100th appearance for The Pride.
Inevitably, given their numerical disadvantage, Buxton set about defending in numbers from the start and relying on breakaways, leaving one player upfield.
Pride had the majority of possession as might be expected, but played into Buxton’s hands in the early part of the first half, as too many balls were hit vertically upfield, often missing out midfield, and weren’t causing enough difficulty for the Buxton defence. It appeared that Pride, aware of the numerical advantage, were forcing play and taking shots on when other options were possibly better placed. However, credit is also due to Buxton, who defended well, getting something in the way to block many shots, or putting pressure on attackers as they shaped to shoot.
There was an improvement from the Pride in the last twenty minutes of the first half, as they played with more composure and were making better choices but without being able to make the breakthrough and at half-time it remained goalless [0-0].
The second half saw further improvement from The Pride as their build up play was more considered, attempting to pull Buxton out of position to create space and combining more in the attacking third to create more and better opportunities closer to goal. Pride were rewarded with three goals in the space of as many minutes just before the hour.
The first came after good work on the right by Loren Kitching and Hannah Roberts, with Loren playing a smart ball infield to Daisy Bowen, who turned and squared the ball to Beth Jones - her first touch took the ball round the defender’s challenge, the second was to set herself and her shot - which may have been partially blocked - went in off the post from eight yards [1-0].
Two minutes later, the goalkeeper couldn’t hold Hannah Roberts’ shot from just outside the area and Daisy Bowen showed excellent anticipation to pounce on the rebound and fire home from close range [2-0].
Pride regained possession very soon after the restart and Daisy Bowen’s shot after a mazy run was blocked, the ball falling to Loren Kitching on the right. Her pass to Hannah Roberts was clipped into the penalty area, Beth Jones was first to the loose ball and swivelled to hit her shot beyond the keeper from about six yards [3-0].
It was almost four just after the hour, when Tash Allderidge’s strike from 25 yards hit the crossbar and went over. Beth Jones was also close with a header after 72 minutes which hit the post and came back into play to be cleared. There were also shots from Annie Laight, Emily Hayden and Tash Allderidge which were saved without really extending the keeper, but she was beaten for a fourth time after 78 minutes.
Tash Allderidge’s corner from the right dropped in at the near post and was half cleared to Loren Kitching on the edge of the area, her shot was blocked on the line and Beth Jones bundled home the loose ball from inside the six yards box to complete her hat-trick [4-0].
It was never going to be a fluent and polished game on a bumpy and uneven surface, and Pride were made to work hard for the win by a determined and resilient Buxton, especially in the first half - but Pride stuck at it and their patience was eventually rewarded. It was a much better second half and their better use of and composure on the ball, combined no doubt with a tiring Buxton, finally told.
Player of the Match was Tash Allderidge who put in a commanding, high energy performance in midfield. Steph Eadon merits a ‘mention in dispatches’ for changing her plans in order to provide the team with emergency cover in goal - recording another clean sheet.
Next Sunday the league leaders are the visitors to Moorways as Pride host Draycott Victoria (ko 1.30pm).