MATCH REPORT: Derby County Women 0-2 Wolves Women

Derby County Women fell to a 2-0 defeat at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers Women as their FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division campaign reached its halfway point.

A goal in each half from Charlotte Greengrass secured the points for the visitors, despite a spirited Ewes display.

Derby had the first effort of the contest in the opening minute when Georgia Stevens slipped through Kate Oakley, who put her shot wide of Alex Brooks’ left-hand post.

After four minutes, the visitors came close as Louanne Worley crossed from the right flank for Beth Merrick, who fired over the bar.

Wolves took the lead in the sixth minute. Former Ewe Amy Sims won the ball in the middle of the park and played two one-twos with Greengrass, who turned the ball in from close range.

Buoyed by the opener, the visitors kept pushing and Greengrass crossed into the hands of goalkeeper Lucy Jones in the 12th minute.

As the tight affair continued, a corner was headed over the bar by Katie Johnson at the near post for Wolves.

The ball broke for Sims again in the 35th minute, and she again combined with Greengrass before Worsey scooped an effort off target.

During a long period of stoppage time in the first period, Anna Morphet curled the ball straight into the hands of Jones from a free-kick, before Derby's number one easily gathered Chloe Williams’ long shot as the Ewes maintained a strong defensive presence during a good spell for Wolves.

Sam Griffiths’ side then sprung another counter-attack after a classy touch from Hannah Sparkes, but Yasmin Mason’s cross was beyond everyone.

The first chance of the second half came for Wolves, when Milly Robertson completed a give-and-go to advance down the right before her cross crept just wide of the far post.

The Ewes hit Wolves on the counter down the left, winning a corner from which Stevens’ header was wayward.

Minnie Wilson then played Oakley down the right, but her effort from a difficult angle was held by Brooks.

In a game which was now end-to-end, Sims then headed off target from a corner on the hour, before she saw another effort deflected behind.

Morphet’s long-range free kick was no problem for Jones in the 73rd minute, with Dan McNamara’s side continuing to be frustrated by the Ewes.

Griffiths made her first change with 13 minutes remaining with Lily Skeldon replacing Stevens as Derby pushed for an equaliser.

Worsey’s strike from distance was gathered well by Jones with 80th minutes to play as Wolves looked to seal the win.

Derby made another change with seven minutes to go, with centre-back Mikayla Wildgoose replacing Oakley and going up top, but moments later Greengrass added her second, nodding Morphet’s pinpoint corner past Jones, to seal the visitors' win.

Next up for Derby is the visit of Rugby Borough to the Don Amott Arena on Sunday 7th December (2pm kick-off).