MATCH REPORT: Derby County Women 1-2 Stoke City Women

Derby County Women were beaten 2-1 by Stoke City Women in a hard-fought FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division contest at the Don Amott Arena on Wednesday night.

The Ewes took the lead after 12 minutes in Mickleover via a fantastic long range free-kick from Georgia Stevens - her fourth goal of the season.

Stoke levelled things three minutes into the second thanks to an Evie Priestley header and Abby Clarke then netted in the 69th minute to claim all three points for the visitors.

Sam Griffiths’ side entered the fixture off the back of Sunday’s 6-0 win over Coventry Sphinx Ladies in the First Round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and will be aiming to return to winning ways straight away when they go head-to-head Liverpool Feds on the road at the weekend.

Key Moments

Stoke had the first opportunity of the game after six minutes as Shannon Stamps curled a free kick toward the far post, but nobody in a Potters shirt could get onto the end of it.

It took just 12 minutes for the Ewes to take the lead, as a Stevens stood over a free kick and fired it into the top corner from 30-yards-out.

Olivia Edwards came near to doubling Derby’s advantage as she saw her shot from the right flank loop just beyond the post.

Lucy Jones was called into action with a fine stop as Stoke started to find a rhythm in the 27th minute when Evie Priestly tried from close range.

Just before the stroke of half-time, Stevens had a golden opportunity to net the Ewes’ second, but her headed effort thundered onto the crossbar and was cleared to safety.

The Ewes survived an onslaught of Stoke pressure before the break as some great defending saw Derby maintain their one-goal lead into the second half.

Priestley scored the equaliser for Stoke soon after the break in the 48th minute as she got on the end of a cross into the box which was headed past Jones in the Derby net.

The Potters’ pressure didn’t halt, and City took the lead in the 69th minute as Clarke hit the ball low and hard into the bottom left corner of the goal.

Derby made changes to push to get a goal back, with attackers Marnie Drake and Ché Thomas entering the field, but the Ewes struggled break down the Stoke defence and the final whistle blew at 2-1 with the visitors taking maximum points.

Derby will look to bounce back when they head out on the road to Liverpool Feds in the league on Sunday (2pm kick-off).

Team News

Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Melrose, Mason, Edwards (Sparkes 88), Wildgoose, Joyce (C), Ward, Oakley, Wilson (Wheeler 64), Stevens (Drake 78), May (Thomas 78).

Unused Substitutes: Morgan (GK), Bryan, Muir.

Words: Max Stairs

Images: Terri Lee