A dominant display against Stourbridge Women sealed all three points and a 4-0 victory for Derby County Women in their final game of the 2024/25 FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division season on Sunday.
Defender Charlotte Steggles put the Ewes ahead after 25 minutes with some individual endeavour to run the length of the pitch and score from close range.
Attacking midfielder Becky May’s thunderous strike from distance made it two for the Ewes before the break.
Derby continued to threaten in the second period, and a run down the wing from Kira Rai won a penalty that she converted in the 66th minute.
The display was topped off when Chenè Muir’s defence-splitting pass played in defender Camille Jenkins to net the fourth as the clock hit 84 at Lye Meadow stadium.
Key Moments
Muir had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute as she saw her driven strike from the edge of the area blocked wide for a corner. The strike followed some good combination play between the striker and May to fashion the chance. The resulting corner was headed narrowly over the bar by Daisy Burt, who rose highest in a packed penalty area to make contact.
Stourbridge looked to be through on goal in the tenth minute, but strong defending from Steggles and Sarah Jackson jostled the ball away from the attacker and allowed goalkeeper Lucy Jones to collect.
Jones was called into action again in the 17th minute when she rushed off the line to block a shot, which deflected wide and was crossed back in, but Steggles was on the line to clear the danger for the Ewes.
A minute later, Derby were certain they’d taken the lead when Muir pounced on a low driven cross into the box by May. The striker’s effort went towards goal, but the ball was cleared acrobatically by Stourbridge defender Lizzie Bennett-Steele on the goal-line.
A fantastic run from Steggles saw her run the length of the pitch and give the Ewes the lead in the 25th minute. She dribbled beyond multiple defenders and played a give-and-go with Burt, who found her inside the penalty box to steer the ball into the back of the net.
After prodding and probing some more, the Ewes doubled their advantage in the 43rd minute. May struck a stinging effort from 25 yards, which left goalkeeper Harriett Grimshaw with no chance to make a save.
Rai had an immediate impact from the bench in the second half as the substitute ran down the wing and drove into the box to win a penalty in the 66th minute. She stepped up to take the spot-kick and planted the ball into the right side of the net with confidence.
The winger tormented the Stourbridge defence again in the 77th minute when she dribbled beyond her marker and sent in a low cross that Jenkins poked just wide.
Muir turned on the style in the 79th minute as he executed a tidy backheel to see Evie McCaffrey in a one-on-one with Grimshaw, but the Glassgirls’ shot-stopper did well to smother the opportunity as she reacted quickly to come off her line.
Muir did get her assist five minutes later after captain Emily Joyce’s direct ball to feet allowed the striker to turn her marker and slide a precise ball to Jenkins, who shot over the goalkeeper and scored the Ewes’ fourth goal.
It was almost five for the Ewes with two minutes of regulation time remaining after McCaffrey’s corner delivery to the far post was headed just over the crossbar by Muir.
The emphatic win sees Sam Griffiths’ side finish the campaign in ninth-place in the Northern Premier Division table as they leapfrogged Sporting Khalsa on the final day.
Team News
Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Steggles (Ward 54), Jackson, Wilson, Joyce (C), Muir, Oakley (Rai 63), Jenkins, Dalton (McCaffrey 63), Burt (Hilliard 80), May (Meadows 72).
Substitutes Not Used: Morgan (GK), McGowan.
