With no less than nine regular 1st team players missing from the trip to Buxton it was a depleted squad that made the journey north for The Pride on Sunday. The size and depth of the squad really came into its own as, despite the number of absentees, Pride were still just about -able to put out a squad of 13 - thanks to being able to call up Jess Galbraith from the Development team for her first team debut, and having Steph Eadon and Bella Dormer (home from University) available to make their seventh and fourth appearances of the season respectively. For Steph Eadon, this was also a personal milestone as she made her 50th appearance for Pride Park.

The conditions were absolutely awful, with bitterly cold winds gusting in excess of 40mph and heavy rain for the majority of the game. Pride elected to play with the wind in the first half but, whilst in theory that provided some advantage, it proved very difficult to make the most of it as the slightest touch forward sent the ball skimming off the surface and carrying through to the keeper or over the touchline.

It was a game of very few clear chances, as both sides battled the conditions and struggled to control or judge the flight of the ball in the swirling wind. Pride inevitably had the better of territorial possession in the first half with the wind behind them. When Buxton did counter attack the defence dealt well with them overall, although Buxton had a couple of momentary sights of goal - one of which looked particularly dangerous but the attacking player wasn’t able to get a clean connection and Jess Galbraith collected the shot without too much difficulty.

Beth Jones had a couple of half chances and Buxton’s keeper also made a couple of good interventions but was finally beaten after 37 minutes, when Beth Jones’ low driven cross across goal was turned into her own net by a Buxton defender under pressure from Steph Eadon.

It was impossible to keep warm on the bench, the best option being the dressing room until required, and rolling substations were made as much with a view to keeping players active as for any tactical considerations. There was an enforced change at half time, however, as Eliot Sayavong was feeling unwell; Steph Eadon dropping into the back four as an emergency centre back for the second time this season.

The tables were turned in the second half as Buxton had the benefit of the wind behind them and they had a couple of shots from distance off target but, just as Pride had in the first half, they struggled to really take advantage as the majority of forward passes ran through to Jess Galbraith or out for a goal kick. Nevertheless, Pride were forced to defend much deeper and had much less of the ball, relying on occasional counter attacks.

Buxton’s best chance came from a fierce shot which Jess Galbraith did exceptionally well to react to, somehow getting a fingertip to the ball to turn it onto the crossbar, bouncing down and out before being scrambled away. There were a couple of scrambles in the penalty area, as had been the case in the first half, but the defenders managed to clear.

A clash of heads resulted in a stoppage after 79 minutes and, from the dropped ball restart, Steph Eadon picked out Beth Jones with a well judged pass and her run took her clear of the defenders before she slid the ball wide of the keeper to make it 2-0. A similar opportunity was placed wide of the post - a third goal would have provided a much more comfortable final few minutes.

As the game moved into time added on for a couple of stoppages, Buxton pulled a goal back. From an attack down the left flank the ball was driven into the centre and, although Jess Galbraith got a hand to it, the ball was bundled home at close range.

There was one further stoppage after Otty Baker sustained an injury and had to come off, leaving no further cover on the bench, but The Pride saw out the remaining minutes to cap a resilient, determined and disciplined performance and return to Derby with three points. The weather ensured it wasn’t a game for the purists and in bitterly cold, wet and windy conditions all the players deserve full credit; this was a result that The Pride really had to grind out.

Jess Galbraith was three minutes away from keeping a clean sheet on her debut - which in the conditions would have been remarkable - and her outstanding second half reaction save was vital to the win. Steph Eadon had a hand in both goals and also covered in defence well. The forwards and midfield put in a real shift, working tirelessly - especially in the second half - and the defence dealt very well with the second half pressure and conditions - it was another gritty whole team performance with everyone contributing fully to the result, the importance of which was underlined by Castle Donington’s win against Duffield Dynamo.

A stop-start second half of the season continues with another two week break in League fixtures. The Pride then face two decisive games in April, both against second placed Castle Donington, the first of which is at Moorways on 19th April (KO 1.30pm).