There was a late reshuffle in goal, with Development team goalkeeper Jess Gilbraith originally due to stand in for Jade Howell, but forced to withdrew due to illness so Loren Roberts stepped into the breach in her first game following injury since December. It was also good to see Duffield’s former Pride midfielder Ella Kew back on the pitch after a long layoff after surgeries.

With less than two minutes played, Duffield picked up a clearance in midfield, switched the play and dropped the ball beyond our furthest defender for Amelia Horwood to run in on goal and slot past Loren Roberts.

Duffield were sitting deep and relying on swift counter attacks. After 6 minutes their striker found herself one v one against Eliot Sayavong, who jockeyed well and made a timely intervention as the trigger was about to be pulled, albeit at the expense of a corner.

Despite the early setback, Pride had started well but the final action was just missing, as there was a tendency to hurry and force play. The playing surface was also a factor, although obviously the same for both teams, as the surface was hard, uneven and bobbly, with long grass in some parts and bald-ish patches in others, making control that bit more difficult. There were, nevertheless, attempts on goal by Emma Gittins, Beth Jones, and Tash Collyer before Pride were awarded a free kick just left of centre and about 30 yards from goal after 14 minutes. Tash’s strike cleared the defensive wall and was parried by the keeper but fell into the path of Rachel Weaver and she tucked home from close range
[1-1].

In the early stages there had been a tendency to stand off when Duffield had possession and be reactive, but as the half wore on, Pride cranked up the pressure by closing down out of possession and pressing high up the pitch. As a result Pride were winning possession back in their attacking third as Duffield found it increasingly difficult to get the ball up the pitch. Emma Gittins and Daisy Bowen went close, before a short corner routine between Tash Collyer and Hannah Roberts resulted in a ball played into Megan Nowak, who turned and hit a shot which the keeper just got a fingertip to, diverting it onto the crossbar.

A Duffield breakaway found Eliot Sayavong defending one v one, but she did well to delay the attacker and was soon supported by four teammates who did well to get back quickly to provide cover.

Beth Jones hit a low driven shot that was held by the keeper diving to her right, whilst Beth, Emma Gittins, and Hannah Roberts all had efforts that went wide, so at half-time it remained level at a goal apiece.

HT 1-1

The second half was started by Summer Evans, playing the ball back to to Annie Laight from the kick off. Annie’s ball forward was cleared by a defender but Jas Sanghera read the clearance and was first to the ball, controlling it on her thigh before lifting the ball forward. Ellie Coleman headed the ball on and despite the attention of two defenders Summer Evans hooked the ball out towards Aimee Healy-Raynor on the corner of the penalty area. She watched the ball all the way and with great technique hit across the ball on the volley, curling over and away from the keeper, who was rooted tot he spot, and into the far top corner. Pride were ahead 20 seconds after the restart [2-1]

Two minutes later, the lead was extended to 3-1 as Summer Evans and Rachel Weaver combined down the left, Summer held the ball up patiently before slipping a diagonal pass into Tash Collyer, who tried to find Ellie Coleman but a defender just got a foot in, her blocked clearance took the ball back to Tash, who took a touch out of her feet before shooting inside the near post [3-1]

Duffield had a rare counter attack on the hour, advancing down the right and getting behind the Pride defence, putting in a lofted cross which found a forward in space but she put her effort over the crossbar.

A minute later, Summer Evans and Ellie Coleman combined on half way, the ball was played infield to Hannah Roberts and onwards for Summer’s run. It looked like the defender was favourite, but Summer was able to get to the ball first and slip a pass to the side to Tash Collyer for a shot across the keeper and inside the far post [4-1].

Two minutes later Summer Evans collected a Duffield goal kick, laying the ball off to Aimee Healy-Raynor, from her cross there were two glancing headers by defenders read by Tash Collyer who slipped in behind to volley past the keeper from 6 yards [5-1].

Hannah Roberts, Ellie Coleman, Tash Collyer, Summer Evans, Aimee Healy-Raynor and Sophie Ayton had further attempts on goal as Pride played some good football, almost adding to the score when Tash, Ellie and Jas Sanghera played a neat triangle on the edge of the area, before Ellie’s shot drifted only just wide.

Duffield were reduced to ten with an injury with ten minutes to play. Emma Gittins collected a clearance, finding Ellie Coleman and she made a driving run into the penalty area, beating the first defender, and slipping the ball to Summer Evans just as a second defender came in and upended Ellie - the referee immediately awarding the penalty, which was converted by Tash Collyer to conclude the scoring [6-1]

There was a further chance for Duffield, with four minutes to play, when the ball was worked in from Pride’s right, and Pride were slow to react as the forward slipped in behind the defence - but Loren Roberts held on to the shot from 12 yards.

It was a strong second half from The Pride, with the players coming off the bench having a significant impact; an excellently taken goal by Aimee Healy-Raynor, and Ellie Coleman having a hand in the build up to three of the goals, including winning the penalty. There were four goals for Tash Collyer in another excellent performance and some good interventions by stand-in keeper Loren Roberts, with Eliot Sayavong putting in another composed performance at the heart of defence. The Player of the Match, however, was Emma Gittins, who provided good cover for the defence and made several timely interventions, whilst linking play to the forwards well and getting forward to have a few shots herself.

Watch: Match Highlights

See: Image Gallery

The Pride have a couple of days to rest and recover before playing Draycott Victoria (away) on Wednesday evening 6th May (ko 19.00)