The highly anticipated first League game of the season promised to be a challenging one as last season’s 3rd placed team hosted the team finishung 4th.

Rain started just as game kicked off and held up steadily throughout the ninety minutes, making for difficult playing conditions.

The first half was evenly contested, with Wirksworth Colts launching early attacks, but largely limited to shots from distance including a high looping shot that Jade Howell did well to collect, back pedalling to gather it in high above her head at the second attempt.

Both sides had let offs - Wirksworth hit the post and the rebound was put wide from close range, and there was a game of pinball after a Wirksworth corner before the ball was cleared - while Summer Evans was presented with an opportunity by a careless pass by a defender, but hit her shot straight at the keeper. Beth Jones had the ball in the net only be to be called back for offside after 16’; the footage confirms Jones was onside (although Otty Baker was just ahead in an offside position but not active), and Sophie Ayton was unfortunate to see her fierce shot hit the underside of crossbar and bounce out.

Pride started to look more threatening towards the end of the half but, statistically and on balance of play, there was nothing to separate the sides at the break with the score, somehow, goalless. It had the feel of a game that would be decided by a mistake or moment of clever play.

Goals change games and a goal for Pride Park three minutes into the second half swung the game in favour of The Pride. Possession was won back in the Wirksworth defensive third before Beth Jones slotted a pass into space aiming for Summer Evans, but although the defender and goalkeeper were favourites, Evans nipped in to take the ball around the keeper and slot home. There were exuberant celebrations for the scorer, her first goal in her second competitive fixture two years since rupturing her ACL. [1-0]

Pride doubled their lead after 56 minutes. Summer Evans couldn’t quite connect with Beth Jones’ inviting ball across goal from the left, but the ball ran through to Aimee Healy-Raynor and the defender’s desperate attempt to clear couldn’t prevent the ball crossing the line [2-0]

Three minutes later it was Aimee Healy-Raynor with her second; Sophie Ayton’s throw to Beth Jones was laid back to Healy-Raynor and her delicate lob from edge of the area cleared the keeper and nestled in the far side of the net. [3-0]

There was good combination play between Emma Gittins, Eliot Sayavong and Tash Collyer, before Gittins’ finely judged through ball for Beth Jones - who had clearly started her run from in front of two defenders - to finish well from an angle - only to see the flag up to disallow the goal. It was a baffling decision and not at all clear what the lino thought he could see.

Beth Jones wasn’t to be denied, however, and finally got her reward two minutes later after 75 minutes. A ball forward was helped on by Summer Evans, Beth beat the defenders to the ball and angled a dipping shot over the keeper from the edge of the area [4-0]

With ten minutes to play, Aimee Healy-Raynor won a loose ball which she laid back to Jasmin Sanghera, her ball found Tash Collyer in space on the left and she cut inside and hit a dipping shot over the keeper from 22 yards.[5-0]

Daisy Bowen, back on after a dead leg in the first half, wrapped up the scoring with three minutes left to play. Annie Laight’s clearance was held up by Beth Jones momentarily before she turned and ran down the right channel, drawing out the keeper before sliding the ball across the six yard box for Daisy to slot home [6-0].

It was not a second half anyone saw coming, but even if it was an afternoon when everything clicked, it was an accomplished second half with most of the play kept in the Wirksworth half, some fine attacking play and clinical finishes.

Whilst the attacking play draws the eye with six goals, and the number of opportunities created - especially in the second half - it was particularly pleasing to keep a clean sheet in the opening game of the season and reflects good work out of possession by the whole team, and of course, particularly by the back five.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH
It’s difficult to pick out individuals when the team has played so well. Beth Jones with a goal (and denied a hat-trick by the flag) plus 4 assists makes a compelling case, but Jade Howell gets the nod - clean sheets aren’t easy to come by and it was just reward for a confident performance making several good saves and showing excellent handling in difficult conditions.

Pride are on the Road again next Sunday when they travel to Matlock Town (1.30pm)