Tue 19 Aug - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County Women claimed three points in FA Women’s National League Cup Group P with a comfortable 4-1 win over Notts County Women at Coronation Park on Tuesday night.
Striker Georgia Stevens opened the scoring after half an hour and winger Marnie Drake doubled the Ewes’ advantage five minutes later, but a defensive mix-up saw the margin narrowed to 2-1 after an own goal before the break.
Derby were undeterred though, as they came out in the second half and increased their lead in the 50th minute though Stevens again - netting her first and second competitive goals for the club having joined over the summer.
Substitute Kate Oakley capped off the scoring with 20 minutes remaining to secure all three points in the FA Women's National League Cup Group Stage, with ties against Lincoln United at home and Sheffield FC on the road still to come for the Ewes.
Head Coach Sam Griffiths made changes from the side that began the league campaign with a 6-0 defeat against Rugby Borough on Sunday. Stevens started up front, while Hannah Wayne made her debut between the sticks
Both teams looked lively in the opening exchanges, but it was Derby who appeared most dominant on the ball.
The first opportunity came in the 13th minute when Yasmin Mason was played down the left flank by a ball over the top. The wing-back squared the ball into the onrushing Ella Bryan, whose shot was blocked by a Notts defender.
The ball fell into the possession of the hosts, who broke down the other end and fired just wide of the mark by Grace Jones.
Derby got in front in the 31st minute when Stevens nodded in Minnie Wilson’s corner delivery for her first goal in Ewes colours.
The Ewes had the bit between their teeth and soon made it two as Drake latched onto a long ball over the top by Hannah Sparkes to complete a tenacious run and tidy finish.
Stevens went close to making it three in the 39th minute when her effort was cleared from the line by a scrambling Notts defence.
Despite their dominance Derby were pegged back by the hosts after Mason was pressed and her back pass evaded the goalkeeper’s boot and rolled into the net for an own goal.
But Derby made up for the error after the break, with Stevens getting her second goal five minutes into the half after quick feet from Bryan saw her spin her defender and play a perfectly poised cross to the far post, which Stevens duly tucked away.
The performance was topped off by substitute Kate Oakley, who flashed a brilliant strike from inside a packed penalty area that gave the goalkeeper no chance to save.
Derby will look to carry the momentum of the win into the weekend when they host Loughborough Lightning in their first home game of the 2025/26 FA Women’s National League season on Sunday afternoon (2pm kick-off).
Tickets for the Ewes’ Mickleover home fixtures can be found by clicking here.
Derby County Women: Wayne (GK), Melrose (Edwards 64), Mason (Shepherd 57), Joyce (C), Bryan, Ward, Drake, Wilson (May 57), Wheeler (Skeldon 69), Stevens (Oakley 57), Sparkes.
Unused Substitutes: Jones (GK).
