Slow start for the team with the first half falling short of our expectations. It did however have pockets of great play by the Pride Park girls: Greta did some great work in defence including a critical clearance off the line that looked certain to be an Allenton goal – amazing acceleration was needed and she delivered that to defend like a hero. Also, in the F/H, Zoe’s confident finish, completed a lovey bit of play by the girls - the team working the ball nicely through the lines, finding Zoe in space to get us off the mark and crucially bring some confidence to the team. Somehow we found ourselves going into H/T at 1 a piece.

Second half was much better for us. The girls played at a higher tempo and were faster to react. The back 3 were brilliant (Greta, Evie and Iysla). Iysla did have a tentative start to the game, but she settled down into the match and we thought she did a very good job, especially the second half. Good composure under pressure, and great decision making. She won the ball and delivered some great passes forward to start off a sequence of play. Evie was an excellent role model for Greta and Iysla to follow, demonstrating some excellent technique and game awareness - we often talk very highly of Evie and yet again she put on a very strong performance as centre back. Near the start of the S/H the defence win a free kick – Evie floats a high ball over the middle third, it lands dangerously for Allenton, with Lily-May and Myah timing their runs to perfection and a one touch finish by Lily-May finds the back of the net.

Another highlight was our wingers: both Jess and Edie played brilliantly (and Jas and Zoe). Jess and Edie do play in their own style, but both girls had an excellent first touch to set them off in the direction they wanted to go. Both used their fantastic speed, change of direction and ball control to gain ground and then look for the cross, pass or shot. Jess did some nice confident turns and showed determination, and Edie used her agility to good effect.

A great bit of play by the team finds Allenton under considerable pressure, Edie finds herself on the edge of the box with her back to Allenton's goal, she uses her body to role around the defender enough to see Jasmine in space, Edie gets a great pass away and Jasmine takes a really nice touch to put the ball out of reach from Allenton. In a congested goal area - and as quick as a flash, Jasmine belts a beauty on target. It forces a very strong save by the Allenton goalie – I thought that all the Pride Park girls in that sequence of attacking play were superb, and big respect to Allenton's keeper for saving such a tremendous shot.

It’s difficult to fit everyone in the match report, but this last part is dedicated to Layla. Throughout the game she was tricky, twisty and turny, using both feet and varying her play - you just couldn’t predict what she was going to do. And no one (not even her) could have predicted what was going to happen next. In the final seconds of the game, she finds herself near the centre spot and decides to have a pop at goal. She looks up and connects beautifully with with ball, pivoting her body around - the ball flies high and true, glances off the woodwork for an amazing long range top bins beauty. I sometimes say this – but seeing her face when it went in was an absolute joy.

Play of the Match: Layla
Special managers award for outstanding effort: Edie