Derby County Women
Derby County Women progressed to the Second Round of the Women’s FA Cup after a rampant 5-1 victory over Lincoln City at the Moorlands Railway Sports Ground on Sunday.
A hat-trick from skipper Amy Sims and a brace from Yasmin Mosby saw a ruthless Ewes side secure qualification, with a second half strike from Imps striker Toni McHamilton proving to be nothing more than a consolation for the hosts.
Derby started as they meant to go on in the first half, as Eleanor Ashton bore down on goal after a neat flick-on by Mosby found her in space, but the Ewes’ attacker could only force a save from Lincoln shot-stopper Poppy Irvine.
It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken, however, as Emily Joyce’s crossfield ball expertly found right wing-back Maria Timms on the flank, and she whipped a dangerous cross into a crowded box for Sims to direct beyond the goalkeeper.
After half an hour, a minor injury to centre-back Sarah Jackson saw her depart the field, with Charlotte Steggles replacing her. Still, Derby were happy to maintain possession and assert dominance for much of the half.
The next real chance came five minutes later when Timms spotted Molly Sutherland in space, who stole in behind Lincoln captain Tilly Fantom, but once one-on-one with Irvine, she could only direct the ball agonisingly onto the post.
Joyce went for the spectacular just before half-time, when a poor clearance found its way towards the midfielder on the edge of the box, who hit the ball on the half-volley like a rocket towards the upright. But a superb stop from an alert Irvine kept the Ewes at bay.
Eventually, the pressure told for the hosts as Mosby played Sims into space to convert the last kick of the half beyond an onrushing goalkeeper and double her tally for the afternoon.
With the bit between their teeth, the Ewes scored almost straight out of the blocks in the second period as Mosby flicked up a powerful low pass from Steggles into the air and connected with a half volley that gave the goalkeeper no chance.
The hosts weren’t down and out, though. In the 56th minute, a long ball bounced beyond the Derby defence and found Lucy Farrow on-on-one with Sarah Morgan in the Ewes net. The striker shot hard and low and forced a fantastic stop by Morgan, but it wasn’t enough to keep the hosts out as an onrushing McHamilton swept up the scraps and tapped into the net.
This setback only served to fuel the Ewes attack, as Sims claimed her hat-trick when a neat one-two with Mosby engineered a one-on-one with the goalkeeper, where a confident Sims was never going to miss.
The final blow came ten minutes before time, when Derby were awarded a penalty after Lincoln defender Sinead Fletcher was judged to have committed a foul in the box after a Derby corner. Mosby stepped up and chalked up her second goal with a powerful and confident strike into the right of the net.
The Ewes could have made it six just before the whistle when 17-year-old substitute Amy Cotton surged beyond the Imps defensive line - but the development team regular was denied a dream debut by Irvine, who made a fine save down low.
With Derby in the hat for the draw, they now have a week’s break before the next round of the competition, which is expected to take place on Sunday 26th November.
Lincoln City: Irvine (GK); Fletcher, Fantom (C), Thompson-Moulding, Mcintosh, Horner, Williams (Quaintance 66), Hardy, Green (Footit 73), Farrow, McHamilton (Hincks 82).
Unused Substitutes: Timson, Wood, Wilson.
Derby County Women: Morgan (GK); Tinsley, Jackson (Steggles 30), Timms, Sutherland (Rhodes-Andrews 65), Joyce, Mosby, Ward, Sims (C), Ashton (Cotton 65), May.
Unused Substitutes: Draper (GK), Jenkins, Camwell.
Words: Alfie Dickin
