The original fixture against last season’s league runners-up was due to played at Draycott, but with heavy rain during the week with more expected ahead of the game, the fixture was reversed and played on the 3G at Moorways to ensure the game could be played

There was an uncharacteristically slow and tentative start from The Pride, as Draycott enjoyed good early possession in midfield, although without being able to create any openings. It was, however, Pride who had first sight of goal when Beth Jones turned and wrong footed a defender to create space, but pulled her shot wide after 5 minutes.

There was a swirling wind blowing from behind Pride’s backs and across the field which caused a few difficulties with forward passes throughout the first half, but there was a move of real quality after 17 minutes when Loren Roberts judged it perfectly with a ball up the right flank for Beth Jones, who collected it, turned inside the defender and after a brief pause picked out Tash Collyer’s blind side run into the area - Tash took a touch before hitting a fierce shot in off the underside of the crossbar from about 12 yards out to give Pride the lead (1-0).

There were a couple of further attempts which didn’t trouble the Draycott keeper before Daisy Bowen had a close range shot blocked at the far post from Tash Collyer’s corner. Three minutes later Abbey Hirst ran onto a clearance to hit a shot from 25 yards which the keeper tipped over the crossbar.

With half-time approaching Jasmin Sanghera collected the ball half way inside the Draycott half and drove forward into space, continuing her run into the penalty area and fell under challenge in a tangle of legs. Tash Collyer despatched the spot kick to double The Pride’s lead after 41 minutes (2-0).

Three minutes later, Tash Collyer’s corner from the right found Hannah Roberts at the near post and she hooked a volley around a defender to consolidate Pride’s lead at half-time [3-0).

Pride started the second half looking more fluent and created a number of opportunities, but without being as clinical as in recent games. The best effort came from Daisy Bowen’s shot from the edge of the area which the keeper dived to tip around the post after 69 mins.

There was some good play from Pride in possession, without quite being at their fluent best. The team’s out of possession work and the defensive unit merit a mention in dispatches; limiting Draycott’s shooting opportunities to keep a fourth clean sheet of the season to go top of the league.

It was a game in which the full squad contributed to a workmanlike performance against a difficult opponent. The Player of the Match was Jasmin Sanghera who was a composed presence in midfield and provided the catalyst for the late goals in the first half with her driving run into the area for the penalty.

Wirksworth Colts are the visitors to Moorways next Sunday (ko 1.30pm).