Pride got off to a flying start with Summer Evans opening the scoring after only 3 minutes, latching on to Tash Collyer’s pass and holding off a defender to place a fine shot across the keeper and in off the far post (1-0)

The lead didn’t last long, however. A mix up at the back four minutes later gave Long Eaton an indirect free kick just inside the penalty area which was laid off and slotted into the corner through the ineffective defensive wall (1-1)

Long Eaton then enjoyed a spell of sustained possession for 10 mins in the Pride Park half. There was an enforced change for Pride Park after 15 mins which, possibly accompanied by a tactical adjustment, stemmed the tide.

The remainder of the first half was evenly contested with both sides having a couple of sights of goal - Loren Roberts making a critical block on the edge of the six yard box and with defenders out of position Beth Jones did extremely well to recover, close down and clear from an unmarked player in front of goal just before half time.

At the other end of the pitch Beth Jones had got in on the ‘wrong’ side of a defender who did very well to recover and get a foot in to put ball out with Beth about to pull the trigger, and on another occasion Jones just beat the goalkeeper to the ball when played through by Tash Collyer, but could only prod the ball wide.

Aside from the mix up to concede the free kick from which Long Eaton scored, Pride Park had defended well overall. There was some good build up play, but passes forward were tending to be played straight down the centre and were either cut out or running through to the ‘keeper. With the scores level at half-time (1-1) the game was there to be won by either side.

In a repeat of the first half Pride made a good start to the second period with another early goal - Beth Jones ran on to Rachel Weaver’s diagonal ball to get behind the Long Eaton defence, rounding the keeper before slotting home (2-1) within two minutes of the restart.

Pride almost - probably should have - made it 3-1 after 53 minutes when Beth Jones was played in by Tash Collyer, turned outside her marker, but then hit her shot wide.

Long Eaton drew level again three minutes later when, from a corner, a header was deflected in (2-2) when the striker was allowed a free header. Beth Jones had an opportunity to restore Pride’s lead when picked out by Jasmin Sanghera, but as the goalkeeper came out she lifted her shot over the crossbar.

Long Eaton fashioned a couple of opportunities around the hour mark, when a very dangerous ball across the area was defended exceptionally well by Sophie Ayton, heading behind for a corner - and a few minutes later a striker was left unattended and put in on goal with a through ball, but Jade Howell was out very quickly to clear.

There was a good run down the right by Sophie Ayton, her low cross just collected by the keeper ahead of Beth Jones. Two goals in six minutes provided Pride Park with a cushion - the first the culmination of some excellent build up play after 66 minutes between Summer Evans and Jasmin Sanghera, before Jasmin played the ball up to Beth Jones and her layoff was into the path of Daisy Bowen, who hit her shot beyond the keeper (3-2).

The second came from a throw in on the right, headed infield by Daisy Bowen to Beth Jones who turned inside a defender and struck a well placed left foot shot inside the post (4-2) after 72 mins.

In between the goals there was another golden opportunity, when Annie Laight returned a corner to Tash Collyer, and her cross found Beth Jones at the far post but she placed her close range header wide.

Despite the cushion of a two goal lead, there was defending still to be done; shortly after the fourth goal Long Eaton broke clear and the striker looked to be through but Loren Roberts did extremely well to recover and just get a foot in to prod the ball back to Jade Howell, who cleared. As full time approached Long Eaton came as close as at any time in the game, when a free kick from inside their half cleared everyone and found a striker unmarked with only Jade Howell to beat, but Pride’s number 1 was out very quickly again and did enough as the striker lifted her shot which grazed the top of the crossbar.

Any remaining hopes of a comeback by Long Eaton were effectively dashed right on 90 minutes when Jade Howell collected a cross/shot and quickly kicked upfield to put Beth Jones in the clear and she lifted her shot past the keeper from the edge of the area (5-2) to complete her hat-trick. In added time Long Eaton had a shot blocked and the follow up was saved by Jade Howell, as the game ended 5-2 to the Pride.

It was, probably, the hardest fought of the Pride’s three wins to date and required grit and determination to get over the line - but a strong second half, in which they created good opportunities and took them well, and defended well overall, secured the three points.

Eliot Sayavong was named Player of the Match after another composed and solid game at the heart of the defence.

Pride Park, are one of only three teams left with an unbeaten record in the league and face another one of those, when they travel to Amber Valley next Sunday 5th October (ko 1.30pm).