The first game of 2026 marked Tash Collyer’s 250th appearance for The Pride, and a first start for Ellie-Mae Coleman as she continues her return from long term injury.

Amber Valley, fourth in the league but with games in hand on the teams above, had lost only once this season - and whilst that was a convincing win for The Pride in October, they represent a difficult opponent and one that could not be taken lightly.

The game started at a fast pace, with Amber Valley having the better of territorial possession in the early stages as Pride Park were unable to find their passing rhythm. Despite that, Pride almost took a first minute lead when Beth Jones was played in behind the Amber Valley defence by Annie Laight but her driven shot was saved.

Amber Valley continued to probe and look top find gaps in the Pride defence, but without being able to create any clear chances until a through ball after 20 minutes played a forward in, but an excellent intervention by Eliot Sayavong averted the danger at the expense of a corner. The corner was returned to the taker and her shot from wide was comfortably collected by Jade Howell.

Pride grew into the game and started to create chances but the final pass was often either not quite precise enough - several were swept up by sweeper keeper - or were saved. The best chances to fell to Beth Jones and Tash Collyer, who were denied by the Valley keeper; an Annie Laight free kick was laid by Beth Jones to Tash Collyer, but her shot was saved, and Jones herself had a shot after 23 minutes but it was somehow touched onto the crossbar by the keeper - a terrific save. After 42 minutes Tash Collyer did well to intercept and divert the ball into Beth Jones, but her shot from 30 yards crept narrowly wide of the post.

Amber Valley had a clear gameplan and, to an extent, it had worked in the first half - although Pride managed nine shots on goal they hadn’t found the net and at half time it remained goalless.

HT 0-0
It took only 25 seconds of the second half for Pride to make the breakthrough as Tash Collyer won a loose ball in the Valley half, and she slipped it through for Steph Eadon to take the ball a stride on into the area and place her shot beyond the advancing keeper [1-0]

Amber Valley had their best chance of the game so far after 53 minutes. They worked the ball in from the left and played a wall pass finished with a deft back heel to play their forward in on goal, but her shot from the edge of the area was turned away brilliantly by Jade Howell.

Tash Collyer (twice) and Rachel Weaver saw shots go narrowly wide before Steph Eadon scored her and The Pride’s second on the hour. A pride park corner was initially cleared but possession won back in the Valley half, Annie Laight, Rachel Weaver and Jasmin Sanghera combined, Jasmin’s turn evaded a defender and she slipped the ball the defence for Otty Baker to play an inviting cross from the byeline which evaded Valley’s keeper and Hannah Roberts in the centre, falling to an unmarked Steph Eadon level with the far post and she volleyed home from 8 yards out [2-0].

Otty Baker provided another good cross, headed just over by Beth Jones, and Eliot Sayavong’s left foot shot crash back off the crossbar.

Beth Jones went close several times - a shot that flew just wide of the far post, a difficult header from another good cross by Otty Baker that was just over the crossbar, and a turn and shot - but the keeper had her angles right and saved. Jones’ best chance came with only a few minutes to play when a slick move involving Emma Gittins and Tash Collyer put beth through inside the area but she lifted her shot over the advancing goalkeeper only to see it clip the outside of the post. A goal was the only element missing from Jones’ game - and not for want of trying - as she worked tirelessly up front.

Tash Collyer also only needed a goal to cap her 250th appearance despite two good efforts on goal in the second half - the best coming when Ellie Coleman took a whack and was brought down inside the Valley half, but advantage was played, Otty Baker drew a defender towards her and slipped the ball to Tash, who cut inside a defender and hit a low, right foot shot, which beat the keeper’s full stretch dive but was only inches wide of the post.

For their part, Amber Valley were finding good opportunities hard to come by but had one just after the hour when a corner found their player at the far post but her header went wide.

Valley pulled a goal back with a minute of normal time left, however. A Pride Park free kick half-way inside their own half was played short, possession was lost and a Valley player was put through on goal - although Jade Howell managed to get a hand to the shot she couldn’t keep it out - making for a more nervous final four minutes than was necessary - but with no further dramas, it was an important win for The Pride - their sixteenth league game unbeaten.

It took a while for The Pride to grow into the game and, despite playing well, to respond to the challenge posed by Valley’s gameplan - but a very good second half performance with more chances created and two goals scored sealed the win against a strong opponent.

There were any number of contenders for Player of the Match, which was once again a squad performance with everyone contributing, all the players coming on (and back on) impacting the game - particularly Steph Eadon with two goals - but it was Abbey Hirst who was selected as Player of the Match for an all action performance at full back to not only nullify the threat on the flank, but to get forward and join in attacks.

We await news from the League on next weekend’s fixtures which are being juggled as a result of County Cup games postponed to next weekend.