After the Challenge Cup semi-final finished in a goalless stalemate after 90 minutes, Pride Park came second best in the penalty shoot out to exit the cup on penalties.

Castle Donington had the early initiative in a game in which The Pride were slow to start and although they gradually grew into the game, didn’t really find their groove until the second half. Nevertheless, in a first half in which chances were at a premium, Pride edged it with four shots on target to a solitary attempt on target from the visitors. It was a case of nearly, but not quite for The Pride with all of their shots, as Beth Jones had three attempts held at the second attempt by the Castle Donington keeper, with a Pride Park player poised on each occasion - but the keeper recovered each time. The best of these opportunities came after 29 minutes when Beth Jones’ shot was parried by the keeper and, as the ball bounced in front of her, she reacted superbly to reach up from the floor and just tip the ball away from Daisy Bowen, with a defender completing the clearance.

Castle Donington were looking for fast counters on the transition relying on the pace of forwards and, after 34 minutes, it looked like it would pay dividends as a forward was on the verge of breaking through, but she was well marshalled by Eliot Sayavong before Abbey Hirst shielded the ball for Jade Howell to collect.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Castle Donington having a few early sights of goal without capitalising - the best of these coming after 65 minutes when a forward was found in space on the edge of the area but hit her shot over the bar, and two minutes later Jade Howell saved after Castle Donington had broken through and the defenders were waiting - or hoping - for an offside flag.

Beth Jones had a goal bound effort saved by the ‘keepers’ foot on the hour, and a header from Annie Laight’s 75th minute free kick saved, and two minutes later Steph Eadon’s shot was blocked before the ball was returned and Summer Evans got it but wasn’t quite able to turn it goal wards with a header.

It was, as might be expected for the top two teams in the League, an extremely close game with the defences proving impreganble - despite creating the opportunities, and having more shots on target, it wasn’t quite enough and it was a first blank of the season for The Pride.

The Player of the Match is shared by the two centre backs (very ably supported by the full backs) on the day, Eliot Sayavong and Annie Laight, who worked well together to mitigate the threat of Castle Donington’s pace on the attack.

Castle Donington will play Doveridge in the final at Matlock on 12th April. The Pride now have a couple of weekends off, barring any late allocation of a league fixture next Sunday, before returning to action at Long Eaton on Sunday 22nd March.