MATCH REPORT: Hull City Ladies 1-1 Derby County Women

Derby County Women came from behind to earn a point on the road as they secured a 1-1 draw against Hull City Ladies in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division on Sunday.

Hope Knight put the hosts ahead in the first half at the Versa Sportswear Stadium, but a second-half rocket from Olivia Edwards restored parity and gave the Ewes a deserved leveller.

Sam Griffiths’ side dominated large spells after the break and pushed for a winner, though they couldn’t find a decisive finish.

The point keeps Derby in sixth place in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division.

The Ewes will now switch their focus to a fortnight of cup action, with ties in both the FA Women's National League Cup and the Adobe Women’s FA Cup coming up.

Key Moments

Head Coach Griffiths made two changes to the team that lost 3-0 at home to West Bromwich Albion last Sunday, bringing Mikalya Wildgoose and Eve Shepherd into the starting XI in place of Hannah Sparkes and Minnie Wilson.

The hosts started brightly and had an early chance when Rachael Ackroyd met a cross in the box, but her header lacked the accuracy to trouble Lucy Jones in the Derby goal.

After a positive start from the hosts, the Ewes steadily regained control midway through the first half and fashioned a string of openings. Kate Oakley scrambled a close-range effort over the bar, and Edwards saw a powerful strike superbly blocked as Derby ramped up the pressure.

A loose pass from Hull goalkeeper Abi Wallace then fell to midfielder Becky May, who drove toward goal and fired from a tight angle, but Wallace recovered to hold the shot comfortably.

Despite the Ewes creating plenty of chances, it was Hull who struck first; just before the half-hour mark Knight burst through on goal and slotted low into the bottom corner.

The Ewes came close to an equaliser later in the half. Georgia Stevens spotted Wallace off her line and unleashed an audacious strike from distance, her effort flying narrowly wide.

At the break Griffiths introduced Ché Thomas in the hope of injecting more attacking firepower in place of Shepherd. The Ewes’ first opening of the second half fell to Oakley, who fired over from close range after meeting a deflected Edwards effort from the edge of the area.

Then, in the 55th minute, Edwards produced a moment of real quality - a thunderous half-volley that arrowed into the top corner to level the scoreline and leave Wallace helpless.

The equaliser lifted the Ewes, with Thomas quickly making her presence felt off the bench. The summer signing smashed a shot on goal after brilliant work down the right, only for Wallace to push it away, and was involved again moments later when her attempted cut-back from the byline was well read and cleared by the Hull defence.

In the closing stages the Ewes went agonisingly close. Captain Emily Joyce threaded a perfectly weighted through-ball to Thomas, who couldn’t get her shot away and recycled the pass back to Joyce - her effort lacked the necessary power to trouble Wallace.

Derby kept pushing for a winner as Muir’s late cut-back looked dangerous but was safely gathered by Wallace, who denied the Ewes a winner and ensured the spoils were shared.

Derby will now turn their attention to a fortnight of cup action, with a trip to Real Bedford in the FA Women's National League Cup first on the agenda for Griffiths’ side next Sunday (2pm kick-off).

Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Melrose, Mason, Edwards, Wildgoose, Joyce (C), Ward, Oakley (Muir 67), Stevens, Shepherd (Thomas 46), May.

Unused substitutes: Bryan, Skeldon, Drake, Wilson, Wheeler.

Words: Ella Barber

Images:Terri Lee