Pride Park Women got their inaugural campaign in the East Midlands Women’s Regional League underway with a hard-fought point on the road on Sunday afternoon, sharing the spoils in an entertaining 2–2 draw away at Sherwood.

Pride Park had the better of the first half, taking a deserving two-goal lead into the break, but a second-half resurgence from the hosts ultimately saw the points shared.

Pride Park set the tempo right from the opening whistle and were inches away from taking the lead after just 16 seconds. Tash Collyer picked out Beth Jones with a sharp pass behind the Sherwood backline, but Jones' strike rattled back off the post.

Ellie-Mae Coleman tested the home goalkeeper after four minutes, before Tash Collyer delivered a dangerous free-kick into the penalty area on seven minutes that just evaded a decisive touch.

Sherwood’s first sight of goal came after nine minutes when a quick central combination sent their centre-forward through on goal. With Rachel Weaver applying pressure from behind, Pride Park goalkeeper Jade came off her line to narrow the angle brilliantly, deflecting the shot behind for a corner.

Pride Park’s early control paid off in the 24th minute with the opening goal. Beth Jones drove powerfully down the channel before pulling a precise cross back into the box, allowing Daisy Bowen to turn the ball home with a composed side-foot finish from close range [0-1].

Sherwood threatened a response on 35 minutes when a lapse in concentration allowed Sherwood’s winger to run clear, into the area and draw Jade Howell out, before slipping a ball across the six-yard box. Megan Nowak produced a superb block and clearance to preserve the lead, though she unfortunately had to be replaced by Annie Laight immediately afterwards.

Jade Howell was called into action again on 41 minutes, safely gathering a Sherwood free-kick around the defensive wall despite a tricky kick up off the turf. Shortly before the break, Annie Laight picked up a yellow card after accidentally clipping an attacker's heel.

Just as the half drew to a close in the 46th minute, Pride Park struck a clinical second. Ellie-Mae Coleman executed a sublime outside-of-the-foot pass to finD Beth Jones, who produced a first-time finish from the edge of the area to send the visitors into half-time 2–0 up.

Pride Park entered the second half looking to manage their lead, with Jade Howell handling early physical pressure exceptionally well from a Sherwood corner and then coming out quickly to clear smartly off an attacker's toe on 56 minutes.

Pride were not having such good possession as had been the case earlier and the ball was being played more in Pride’s half as the second half wore on. There had been little in the way of chances for either side but the momentum shifted midway through the second period. After Jas Sanghera was shown a yellow card following an unfortunate tangle of legs in the 67th minute, from the resulting free kick Sherwood pulled a goal back. The free-kick was miskicked but hooked on from the edge of the area, looping over defenders and attackers alike, Jade Howell misjudging the bounce off the hard ground as the ball went over her to make it 1–2.

Pride Park pushed back to try to restore their two-goal cushion. In the 71st minute, Annie Laight’s free-kick was prodded toward goal by Jasmin Sanghera, the Sherwood goalkeeper turned it away at full stretch, and Eliot Sayavong instinctively almost turned it into the net but it agonisingly went the wrong side of the post.

The hosts found their equaliser ten minutes from time when they caught the Pride Park defensive line out of shape, and trying to step out – but after the forward pass - allowing the Sherwood striker to run through unchallenged to slot home for 2–2.

Sherwood applied heavy pressure late on, utilising a series of long throw-ins near the corner flag and sending direct balls into the channels and a diagonal cross behind the defensive line which Jade Howell anticipated to collect well, as Pride Park dug deep through eight minutes of added time to secure the draw.

Match Analysis & Key Stats
It was a tale of two halves for Pride Park. Controlling possession and generating seven attempts in the opening 45 minutes, the team built fluently through midfield to earn a commanding position.

However, second-half control weakened as possession dropped and more of the game was played in Pride Park's half - Sherwood capitalised ruthlessly on two defensive errors, scoring twice from their only two shots on goal in the half.

In the end a draw isn’t a bad start to life in the Regional League, although after building a two-goal lead and limiting Sherwood to five shots compared to Pride’s nine overall, it was difficult not to feel a little deflated at the end.

Nevertheless, The Pride remained competitive throughout with a strong first-half display and plenty of attacking intent. It also should not be overlooked this was the 25th league game without defeat for The Pride stretching back to Feb ’25, so on balance it was a positive point on the road with plenty to build on.

The Pride are at Moorways next Sunday (20th) when Melbourne Dynamo are the visitors.

Final Score: Sherwood 2–2 Pride Park Women
Pride Park Scorers: Daisy Allen (24'), Beth Jones (45+2')