Tash Alderidge was unavailable for yesterday's trip to Stapenhill, bringing to an end a sequence of 140 consecutive games stretching back to January 2019 – Beth Jones taking the armband.

Jasmin Sanghera came in for her debut after being made to wait for it after postponements, illness and cup games had all conspired against her playing sooner.

Spring has sprung and it was evident immediately from kick off the after the recent dry spell, that the playing surface was very hard and dusty resulting in an unpredictable bounce and run of the ball, making controlling the ball very difficult for both teams.

The Pride made just the start they will have wanted, though, when they took the lead within the first two minutes – Aimee Healy-Raynor won the ball just inside the Stapenhill half and played a pass through the Stapenhill defence into the path of Beth Jones, and she slotted past the ‘keeper from 10 yards [0-1].

Bella Dormer was withdrawn on 13 minutes after being shaken up a little following an awkward challenge but fortunately recovered and was able to resume at half-time.

After that the game settled into something of a stalemate as Pride were guilty of rushing in possession and were giving the ball away unnecessarily, which helped Stapenhill have a spell in which they built up some momentum, giving them encouragement.

Fortunately Pride Park weathered that period and improved in the final fifteen minutes of the first half, starting from a Daisy Bowen shot just after the half hour that stung the hands of the keeper. There was another chance for Daisy after the ball broke from a challenge on Beth Jones, Daisy was first to the loose ball to get beyond the last defender, but as the ball bobbled on the uneven surface just couldn’t quite keep her shot down.

A shot from Beth Jones was comfortably held by the keeper, but she was beaten for thre second time after 39 minutes – the first of four goals in seven minutes each side of half-time that settled the game. Jasmin Sanghera showed good strength to resist a challenge in the centre of the pitch, before picking out a precise pass that split the defence and put Beth Jones in on goal, and she slotted past the keeper from just inside the area [0-2].

There was a carbon copy two minutes later as this time Daisy Bowen played Beth Jones in, and she slotted home from 10 yards for a first half hat-trick [0-3].

With a minute of normal time to play in the first half, Beth Jones made a powerful run down the left flank and picked out Aimee Healy-Raynor in the centre; her first shot was blocked, but the ball fell kindly and she was able to quickly adjust her feet to prod home from 5 yards [0-4].

Half-Time 0-4

The second half started just as the first half had, with a goal inside the first couple of minutes for Pride Park. The ball was worked out to Aimee Healy-Raynor on the right, and her pass found Sophie Ayton on a well-timed underlapping run into space – Sophie’s low cross was met by Daisy Bowen who just beat the keeper to the ball to steer home from six yards [0-5].

There was a chance for Stapenhill after 54 minutes when they broke but Jodie Hill stood up well and blocked the shot, and Loren Roberts read the danger and came across to clear. That warning wasn’t heeded, however, and a minute later Stapenhill were allowed to get beyond the defensive line again and this time a well struck shot beat Jodie Hill from the edge of the area [1-5].

There was a gilt-edged chance for The Pride to extend their lead on the hour, after Beth Jone beat a defender wide on the right and her low cross into the centre dissected the goalkeeper and centre back to find Hannah Roberts in a great position, but she directed the ball over the crossbar from inside the six-yard box.

This marked the start of a spell of around ten minutes in which The Pride created a number of chances to add to their lead, Aimee Healy-Raynor, Daisy Bowen and Hannah Roberts were denied by the keeper, Beth Jones and Hannah Roberts cleared the crossbar with shots from the edge of the area, and Beth Jones hit the side netting from an acute angle after taking the ball around the keeper, after she had blocked Aimee Healy-Raynor’s shot.

The spell of pressure finally told after 71 minutes, however, when Aimee Healy-Raynor’s lofted pass into the centre was met on the half volley by Daisy Bowen, who got to it just ahead of the goalkeeper - her lob bouncing once before nestling in the net [1-6].

Stapenhill pulled another goal back with eight minutes left to play. A corner from the right resulted in a scramble in the goalmouth, and the ball was laid back and steered over the crowd and into the top corner from the edge of area [2-6]. It was a good finish and the goal was celebrated enthusiastically by the Stapenhill players and staff, who can’t be begrudged their celebration after a difficult season.

The winning margin would have been more but for some good saves by the Stapenhill goalkeeper and some profligacy in front of goal. Nevertheless, it’s a win, three points and extends the unbeaten run in the League to four games.

There were a number of candidates for Player of the Match, with Aimee-Healy-Raynor, Beth Jones and Daisy Bowen all in the mix for multiple goal involvements. However, considering it was her first game in around two years, Jasmin Sanghera takes the accolade – playing her first game in two years she grew into the game, looked composed on the ball, distributed it sensibly, and capped her debut with an assist.

Pride Park’s next and penultimate game of the season is next Sunday 13th April at Duffield Dynamo (ko 1.30pm)