Despite playing into a strong wind in the first half, Pride made an excellent start putting Stanton under pressure from the kick off, winning second balls, building up well and getting shots away - and were rewarded with two early goals - Daisy Bowen opening the scoring after 5 minutes, with a clipped shot from the angle of the penalty area, and Beth Jones with an emphatic finish two minutes later.

There was an opportunity to make it three on ten minutes after Daisy Bowen was tripped inside the penalty area but Tash Allderidge’s spot kick flew just wide of the post. Tash almost made up for it a couple of minutes later with a low driven cross shot that almost crept in at the near post but was grabbed at the second attempt by the keeper on the line.

After a quite frenetic start the game settled down a little with Pride in control and continuing to create openings but without finding the net again until the half-hour when Aimee Healy-Raynor put Daisy Bowen through with an excellent first time pass with the outside of her foot. Stanton’s only opportunities came from set pieces - a free kick leading to a shot that went wide and, as the first half drew to a close, an excellent delivery from a corner that was met with an equally good header to pull a goal back. Half-Time 3-1

Having conceded just before the break, Pride were looking to step it up in the second half with the wind - blowing diagonally down the pitch - at their backs. Once again they made a good start and extended their lead after 49 minutes. Annie Laight’s free kick from just inside the Stanton half was laid back by Aimee Healy-Raynor to Emily Hayden and from thirty yards she hit a looping shot over the Stanton keeper.

Aimee Healey-Raynor converted Tash Allderidge’s corner at the far post with a volley into the roof of the net on the hour [5-1] and Loren Kitching got in on the act six minutes later slotting home at the second attempt following another Allderidge corner [6-1].

Pride were enjoying good possession, using the ball well, and (with the help of the wind) denying Stanton opportunities to build up any momentum so Stanton were limited to breakaways - their best opportunities coming in a brief spell approaching the 80th minute, putting a shot wide after their winger made good progress down the flank and a couple of minutes later a cross from the same side was smartly collected by Jade Howell. She quickly released Beth Jones with an exceptional kick that turned the Stanton defence for Beth to run on to slot first time past the keeper [7-1]. Beth completed her hat-trick with eight minutes plus added time remaining, when she was slotted in by Eliot Sayavong’s pass [8-1].

Unfortunately for Stanton their goalkeeper had to leave the field with an injury at half time and their back up keeper was also injured after kicking into the floor (ouch!) with a few minutes left - hopefully neither injury proves serious. Stanton have a great bunch of players who competed well in a game played in a great spirit but, on the day, Pride were in no mood to slip up and miss the opportunity of a second successive DCFA Women’s County Plate Final appearance.

There were good performances all round, which makes singling out individuals difficult - but there are “mentions in dispatches” for Hannah Roberts, who used the ball well and completed her first full 90 minutes after coming back from long term injury and Emily Hayden, capping a good performance at full back with a long range stunner - her first goal for The Pride - but it was Annie Laight who was named Player of the Match yesterday for a composed and confident display at the back.

Pride’s opponents in the Final, to be played at Mickleover FC’s Don Amott Arena on 16th March will be Staveley Miners Welfare of the Sheffield & Hallamshire League (ko 11.00). Prior to that, however, there’s the League’s Challenge Cup semi-final against Borrowash Victoria to be played at Melbourne on Sunday 9th March (1.30pm).