It was the first of two Cup games for the1st team yesterday with a 2nd Round DGLL Challenge Cup tie at Stanton Ilkeston, a team we have played a few times in recent years and who had eliminated our Development team in the 1st Round,

As the game fell on Remembrance Sunday all players, officials and supporters observed a minutes silence prior to kick off to
remember and to reflect on those who gave their lives in conflicts around the world.

Pride took the opportunity to shuffle the pack for this game. The early stages were characterised by good possession and build up by Pride Park but without being able to match this with the final finish. It was noticeable that skipper Tash Collyer was finding space and combining well with Daisy Bowen - and a burst of three goals in 5 mins around the midway point of the half put Pride in command.

Tash Collyer opened the scoring after 23 minutes with a driving run and shot which brought out a good save from the keeper but Daisy Bowen retrieved the ball and cut it back for Tash to finish with aplomb from eight yards. Aimee Healy-Raynor’s close range header from Tash Collyer’s corner extended the lead four minutes later, and Daisy Bowen completed the first half scoring, running on to a perfectly weighted through ball from Jasmin Sanghera, Daisy’s first shot was parried by the keeper but Daisy made no mistake with the rebound which she lashed into the roof of the net from close range.

For all their possession and control of the game, the half-time scoreline (3-0) didn’t really reflect the balance of play, in large part due to a number of good saves by the Stanton keeper.

Pride went through the gears in the second half, however, and in contrast to the first half were ruthless with their finishing; scoring three early goals, followed by a blitz of 5 in 11 minutes, including hat-tricks for Beth Jones and Summer Evans, one for Hannah Roberts and a first goal of the season for Eliot Sayavong.

It was all overshadowed, unfortunately, by an injury to Summer Evans with a little over 10 minutes left to play. Summer is only 8 games back into her return from an ACL injury suffered two years ago; so we are all fervently hoping and praying it wasn’t as serious as it looked.

Pride Park will now meet Long Eaton United Development in the quarter-final on 14th December. Pride are in cup action again next week when they host Belper Town in the Derbyshire FA Women’s County Cup 2nd Round at Moorways (ko 1.30pm).