Sun 14 Dec - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County Women bowed out of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup at the Third Round stage as they were beaten 5-1 by Women's Super League 2 side Sunderland at the Don Amott Arena on Sunday.
Sam Griffiths’ side started fast out of the traps as striker Chenè Muir netted inside four minutes to put Derby ahead in Mickleover.
Sunderland showed their quality to earn qualification, though, as braces from Kiera Barry and Katy Watson, and a strike from Hannah Greenwood, sealed the Black Cats' spot in the Fourth Round.
Derby were made to play the final 30 minutes of the contest with 10 players, after Jess Melrose was dismissed as she received a second yellow card in the match.
The Ewes had progressed through to the Third Round Proper with a 4-1 win against Stockport County Ladies on home turf in November, and they were handed a home tie against Sunderland, who sit a division above Derby.
The contest was Derby’s final competitive match in 2025, with the Ewes next in action away from home in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division against Loughborough Lightning on Sunday 4th January 2026 (2pm kick-off).
Muir opened the scoring with an effort from outside the penalty area inside the opening few minutes as she struck the ball low beyond goalkeeper Demi Lambourne and into the bottom left corner of the net.
Sunderland provided a swift response as Watson’s effort was deflected and steered into the back of the net from close range by former Ewe Barry, who played for Griffiths’ Ewes on loan from Manchester United in the 2022/23 season.
Watson put the visitors in front and in control with two goals in ten minutes. In the 14th minute she struck hard into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area, and then she converted Rhiannon Roberts’ cross in the 25th minute.
Muir continued to be Derby’s threat as she twice found herself in space on the right flank, but was thwarted by good defending from the opposition in the 36th minute and a smart save from goalkeeper Lambourne as Sunderland held their advantage into the half-time break, with Barry also hitting the woodwork with a free-kick.
In the second period, Derby midfielder Becky May headed towards goal in the 48th minute, but again the Black Cats’ shot-stopper was equal to the threat.
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Barry pounced in the box to poke home the visitor’s fourth goal in the 56th minute, before Derby were reduced to ten players when Melrose was sent off for a second bookable offence on the hour mark.
Greenwood bundled in from close range for Sunderland's side’s fifth goal of the afternoon minutes later to round off the scoring.
Derby remained resolute, despite the numerical disadvantage for the final half an hour, but Sunderland secured qualification to the next stage of the Women's FA Cup.
Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Melrose, Mason, Edwards (Wheeler 75), Wildgoose, Joyce (C), Ward (Shepherd 88), Wilson (Oakley 78), May (Drake 75), Sparkes, Muir (Stevens 75).
Unused Substitutes: Morgan (GK), Thomas, Bryan, Skeldon.
