There was both good news and bad news coming in to this game, with injuries to Summer Evans and Beth Jones taking 23 goals between them already this season from the Pride Park attack - but it was good to see Ellie-Mae Coleman back in the matchday squad for the first time after an injury absence of 18 months, with Sophie Ayton also returning from injury. Jodie Hill took over in goal from Jade Howell and Steph Eadon came into the squad for her second appearance of the season.

Pride made a promising start and almost went ahead after 2 minutes, when Daisy Bowen found Tash Collyer and she sidestepped a defender to get a shot away from 22 yards which dipped, but not quite enough - clipping the top of the crossbar.

From a Pride Park corner from the left, Eliot Sayavong retrieved a glanced header clear just outside the penalty area on the right, turned past a defender but was brought down two yards outside the area. Rachel Weaver’s direct free kick beat the wall and dipped under the bar to make it 1-0 after 11 minutes.

Wirksworth levelled with their first shot after 19 minutes, when a cross from the right was cleared but fell to the Wirksworth player whose first time shot curled away from Jodie and inside the far post from 25 yards for a well taken goal.

Three minutes later Wirksworth went ahead. An excellent corner to the far post was almost missed - the finish was slightly fortuitous as the scorer appeared to duck under and turn away only for the ball to rebound in off her back (1-2).

This was the first time The Pride have been behind this season so it represented a different challenge for the team. In the immediate afternatch of the goal there were two attempts on the Wirksworth goal, from Daisy Bowen and Tash Collyer respectively, but both were off target. There was also a brief glimmer on 32 minutes when a pass by Aimee Healy-Raynor almost found Daisy Bowen, but she was just beaten to it by the keeper who was out quickly to clear.

However, these aside, for the remainder of the first half Wirksworth had the better of possession, mainly in the Pride Park half, as the home team struggled to string enough passes together to build moves, consequently lacking penetration and leaving Daisy Bowen isolated. Jodie Hill made a couple of good saves; the first on the half-hour, tipping a shot onto the crossbar with Rachel Weaver in position to clear the follow up, and after 35 minutes she tipped a direct free kick over the bar.

Pride made several changes at the interval to inject fresh energy and urgency to regain some initiative in the game and gradually started to get better possession, move up the pitch and look more threatening as they brought some sustained pressure to the Wirksworth goal. Tash Collyer had a sight of goal after 53 minutes, when the goalkeeper came out to punch a high ball away from Daisy Bowen, but she couldn’t get the connection she wanted with her first time shot from 22 yards.

Steph Eadon and Ellie-Mae Coleman were combining well down the right and Pride won a series of corners which were scrambled away before Pride thought they had scored after 54 minutes, when Tash Collyer’s cross into the six yard box was only half cleared - the clearance rebounded off Otty Baker into the air and Steph Eadon’s flicked header beat the keeper. To everyone's surprise, the referee ruled it out, apparently indicating the goalkeeper had the ball under control - which didn't appear to be the case at the time and confirmed subsequently by replays. It wasn’t the only decision which left players and observers bemused and frustrated.

However, the pressure finally told and an equaliser came a couple of minutes later, when the ball was won back in midfield, Tash Collyer’s header was helped on by Ellie-Mae Coleman and Daisy Bowen lifted the ball over the keeper from the edge of the penalty area (2-2).

From another corner, Steph Eadon managed to emerge from a ruck of players and get a shot away from 8 yards, which was blocked for another corner. The final twenty five minutes was fairly even; both sides having a couple of sights of goal without really threatening to score.

Despite the frustration at the disallowed goal and after a below par first half there was a good reaction from Pride Park with an improved second half performance, coming from behind to earn a point against an improving Wirksworth side. The result ends a winning run of 8 league games, although it is now 14 unbeaten in the league, in runs that started last season.

It was good to see Ellie-Mae Coleman back on the pitch and contributing an assist while easing back in with a cameo.
Rachel Weaver was given Player of the Match - a well taken free kick goal the standout moment in another solid performance.

Pride are away to Chesterfield Development next Sunday (ko 1.30pm).

photo credits: S. H Photos