REPORT: Derby County Women 3-0 Hull City Ladies

Derby County Women came out victorious in a 3-0 win over Hull City Ladies in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division on Sunday.

Two first-half goals gave the Ewes a comfortable advantage; an outrageous finish from Becky May put Sam Griffiths’ side in front before Hannah Ward buried a second to double the lead.

Loanee Bryony Donnison secured all three points for Derby late into the second half in emphatic fashion.

The win gives the Ewes a boost in the push for survival in the FA WNL Northern Premier Division; Derby sit 10th, having leapfrogged Halifax in the table to go two places and three points above the drop zone with just two matches remaining.

Key Moments

The Ewes started in fast fashion, as Layla Kennerley’s effort was turned behind from a short angle in the fourth minute.

Derby continued to attack in first gear, as a synchronised team move saw Chenè Muir get into a promising position, but her effort from distance was parried to safety by goalkeeper Rebecca Sidwell.

The deadlock was deservedly broken in the 24th minute as May twisted and turned her way into a devastating shot as it curled into the bottom corner from a tight angle.

Not even 10 minutes later, Derby ruthlessly doubled their advantage as Hannah Ward made the most of Ebonie Locke’s free kick over the top of the defence and followed the bounce to roll a strike past the visitors’ goalkeeper.

The Ewes looked in the mood to add another before the whistle blew for half-time, piling the pressure onto Hull, but their efforts were thwarted by the opposition, and Derby headed into the interval with a two-goal lead.

Hull looked more compact in the second half and caused Derby’s attack, which was fluid in the first, some problems, but the hosts remained in control of the tie.

Kennerley finally found some purchase through the heart of the Tigresses’ defence, as she laid a ball back to Donnison, whose 20-yard shot was tipped behind for a corner.

Just as Hull started to really ramp up the pressure, it was Donnison who finished emphatically, as some great link-up play was rewarded with a wonderfully placed shot into the far corner from 20 yards out to seal the win with 10 minutes remaining.

Team

Derby County Women: Jones (GK), Melrose, Mason, Joyce (C), Ward, Wilson (Edwards 66), Donnison (Oakley 87), Kennerley, Locke, May, Muir (Stevens 87).

Unused Substitutes: Morgan (GK), Thomas, Drake, Sparkes.