We came into the game in good form and buoyed by our win in the Challenge Shield on Wednesday. However, injuries to Vicky and  Chelsie from that game, and unavailability of other players, left us in a less than ideal position at the start.  

The pitch was in a poor state, with grass that was far too long and infested with dandelions, the lines barely visible; not at all conducive to good football. As the time for kick off had come, and the referee had not arrived, the game started without him – he only arrived ten minutes into the game.

Playing up the slope and into the wind we found it hard going and Alfreton put us under pressure from the start, creating a couple of chances before taking the lead after 7 minutes. We responded well, hitting in a number of shots before Alice found the net to deservedly equalise just after 20 minutes.

Despite the state of the pitch we were playing some good football and continued to put Alfreton under pressure, and rained shots in on their goal – almost 30 in the game in total. Unfortunately too many of them were either straight at the keeper or from too far out to trouble her – the ball holding up considerably in the long grass. Having worked hard to get back into the game, it was a setback when Alfreton scored a second on the half hour mark, and another three minutes later, in the course of which Vicky – who it had been apparent had been struggling, her mobility severely hampered -  aggravated her ankle injury, and she came off to be replaced by Carly.

There was no further score, although Carly made a terrific reflex save two minutes before before half time, to keep the score at 3-1.

Chelsie, also struggling with a tight hamstring, came off at half time, so we had to improvise with Alice joining Hannah in attack at the start of the second half. The story of the second half is that we absolutely dominated possession, created a hatful of chances – especially from some terrific crosses put in by Jess, Alice, Hannah and Lily - but could not convert them, with the exception of a terrific goal from distance scored by Tash just before the hour mark. Alfreton were hanging on, and apart from occasional breakaways could not get out of their own half. Unfortunately, they broke out with quarter of an hour to go to score a fourth, against the run of play. We continued to push but could not find the net.

Whilst we had played some good football, we had not been able to capitalise on it in front of goal, and had not been as resilient in front of our own goal as in recent weeks. As a result of Buxton’s defeat to Clay Cross, the win confirmed Alfreton as League runners up behind Champions Clay Cross, and our congratulations go to both teams. This was probably one game too far for us, coming so soon after Wednesday’s Challenge Shield, with virtually no time for Vicky or Chelsie to recover from their injuries.

This being the final, decisive game of the season, and with things not going our way in the final stages, substitutions and positional changes were made in the closing stages purely in an effort to get back into the game, and were not in any way a reflection on the players coming off. I know how desperately hard it is for the players brought off, but desperate situations call for desperate measures – unfortunately the changes did not enable us to pull back the deficit. Nevertheless, all of the girls put in a great effort and cannot be faulted on that score, and some of their play on a below standard playing surface was of very high quality.

In the final analysis it wasn’t just this result in isolation that cost us the runners-up spot, but  dropped points from winning positions much earlier in the season at home to Alfreton (lost) and Hasland (drawn). Overall, though, it has been an enjoyable season, notwithstanding the intervention of the weather which made for a stop-start mid season, with the highlights being the win against Clay Cross and the Challenge Shield. Well done girls.

I cannot sign off without thanking everyone that has helped out during the season at various stages – Zach for his support, Dave with running the line and putting up and taking down the nets, Leon and Sam for standing in and running the line when Dave wasn’t available, Andy for helping out wherever and whenever needed, Tracey for providing first aid support, and all the parents, grandparents and other family members  who turn out in all weathers for their support and encouragement of the girls. 

We kicked off, and the ball was laid back to Chelsie, just in front of our back three. She played a long pass into the space beyond the defence, and before they could turn Jordele was past them and was in a race with the goalkeeper – getting there first but the keeper was able to block the shot with her legs. The ball rebounded into the path of Ottie, who had also run beyond the Buxton defence and steered the ball into the net. Fifteen (15) seconds on the clock, one-nil!

After this breathtaking start to the game, play settled down a little. We had to make an enforced change after 15 minutes, Chelsie coming off with a tight hamstring. Two other changes were made in the first half, which were purely intended to bring the girls on the touchline into the game.

In some respects the early goal may not have helped us as we seemed to struggle to develop a discernible rythym to our play, and were tending to hit long hopeful balls, which more often that not were going to Buxton. We were also standing off and giving them too much time on the ball in midfield, allowing them to pick up the loose balls, and pick out passes for their front players, forcing us onto the back foot and putting additional pressure on our back three.

Nevertheless, we restricted Buxton to very few shots on goal, without creating too much at the other end ourselves, Buxton’s only real shot that I can recall coming just before half time and being saved by Vicky. HT: 1-0

The message at the start of the second half was to close Buxton down more quickly in midfield, and to get support closer to Hannah up front to give her options when the ball was played up to her. We also brought Jess on, to give goal scorer Ottie a breather, not knowing how long she would last after her injury – and for twenty minutes or so she posed a threat to Buxton down the right, combining well with the girls around her and putting in several telling crosses which, unfortunately, we weren’t quite able to capitalise on.

Buxton were still dangerous, however, and in the first quarter hour of the second half forced good saves out of Vicky.

Chelsie was itching to get back on and, although clearly hampered by the tightness in her leg, came back on to combine  well with Hannah, particularly on the hour mark when from a corner there was a scramble, the keeper parried Hannah’s shot and Chelsie put us 2-0 ahead from the rebound.

We still had players to bring into the action and so at that point made further changes, changing to a midfield four  to accomodate them.

The next goal was now going to be the most important one, as a third for us would make us more comfortable, but if Buxton pulled one back they would be back in the game with over twenty minutes to play. It’s possible that switching to four in midfield gave Buxton the impetus, or that with twenty minutes to go they simply had to go all out, probably a combination of the two, but for the next fifteen minutes we came under a period of sustained pressure, and were having to really dig deep to keep Buxton at bay – Vicky again being called into action to make another excellent save – tipping a goalbound shot around the angle of post and crossbar, as we made our final substitutions. 

During this period we had been limited to counter attacks, but as the final whistle started to draw near we began to reassert ourselves and played some attractive football, bringing the ball out from the back involving combinations of BethT,BethJ, BethL, Tash, and Hannah – culminating in a counter attack in which BethJ powered through and played Chelsie in to stroke the ball home for a 3-0 lead with only four minutes of normal time remaining.

Two minutes into time added on, Chelsie returned the favour, lobbing the ball over a defender for Beth to control the ball on her chest, take one touch to take it out of her feet, look up, and pass the ball beyond the keeper into  the net to seal the victory, 4-0. It was a fitting way to cap another commanding and disciplined performance at the heart of the defence.

It was our third game against Buxton in a little over a week and had been another absorbing and entertaining game between two well matched teams, played in a competitive but sporting spirit that was a credit to both teams. 

The situation at the top of the league was very tight. Clay Cross almost have the title wrapped up, but Buxton could still overhaul them should they win their remaining games, whilst we needed to win to keep in the fight for the runners up spot; a three way tussle between Buxton, Pride Park and Alfreton.

The game started as a carbon copy of Tuesday's game, as we were were awarded a free kick when Chelsie was brought down about 25 yards out, in the centre of goal - Beth Jones territory. Up stepped Beth and drove her shot around the wall to bounce once in front of the keeper, who was deceived when it shot through quite low off the wet grass. It was a brilliant shot and just the start we needed.

The game was being played at a high tempo, with both teams naturally very committed. It wasn't as frantic as Tuesday’s game at Buxton, however, where the pitch is smaller, so there was a little more time on the ball, as a consequence the game was more open, and shots on goal more frequent.

Vicky came out to challenge a striker through on goal and as the ball was slipped past her, BethJ, running back to cover was able to clear off the line. Carly put in a superb block on the edge of the area to deny a shot,

I felt we were edging it, but with a one goal lead the game is always very finely balanced and so it proved as Buxton built up some pressure as half time approached.  I had just been saying we needed to hold out to half time, when Buxton equalised with one minute of the first half remaining. I was  saying this was a bad time to concede, when Chelsie restored our one goal advantage: ".....as I was saying!" Half time 2-1

Buxton started the second half where they left off the first, forcing Vicky into a terrific save diving to her left. She couldn't do anything about the next one a few seconds later, however, and so it was all square again at 2-2 within three minutes of the restart. Chelsie restored our lead within ten minutes, but this prompted a period in which Buxton were creating chances and firing in shots on goal - but found Vicky to be immovable as, through a combination of excellent positioning, reactions and handling, and perhaps that little bit of luck every team needs, she wasn't to be beaten.

The effort in trying to draw level was beginning to tell on Buxton with a quarter of an hour to go, and three goals in five minutes, the first from Chelsie and a brace for Jordele, sealed the game and three points.

Buxton have had a heavy fixture schedule and a number of players out with or carrying injury and this told on them in the final stages of the game, but we can only play the team that is in front of us and the girls are finishing the season strongly. The win moves us into second, a point ahead of Buxton (who have two games in hand, with their remaining games against Alfreton and two against Clay Cross), and thee points ahead of Alfreton (who have their game against Buxton on Monday “in hand”), and who we play in our final league match of the season, next Saturday.

Before then, we face Buxton – again – in the Challenge Shield at the Reynolds Stadium, Matlock. Kick off is at 8.15pm and all support will be very welcome!

Result: Pride Park 6-2 Buxton

Scorers: Chelsie (3), Jordele (2), BethJ

As has been the custom at the business end of the season, the girls were asked their opinion of substitution policy for the remaining three games. The answer was that they really wanted to give runners-up spot their best shot, and to do whatever we could to achieve that - so do our best to get players on, but make substitutions according to the demands of the game, rather than simply to achieve a certain amount of playing time. This also reflects the natural evolution of a team as it progresses from youth to senior football.  

It was immediately apparent the girls were in a determined mood and from the off we made a good start – closing down, snapping into tackles, tracking back, talking to and encouraging each other. We won a corner on the left in the 7th minute, from which Tash dropped the ball into the 6 yards box, there was a bit of a scramble before Chelsie lashed it into the roof of the net to give us an early lead.

We continued to press Buxton back and had the better of possession, although we had to stay alert as they did break and keep us on our toes at the back, but our back three stood up well to the task, and on the hard ground most of the balls ran through to Vicky.

We had a setback just after 1/4 hr when Alice pulled up with a hamstring injury and could not continue, being replaced by Lily. We continued to have the better of the play, without ever being comfortable, and clear chances were at a premium. We made two further changes before 1/2 time, Emily coming on for Carly, and Ottie for Hannah, with Jordele moving up front to play alongside Chelsie.

We were very conscious of the danger of a one goal lead being pegged back against the run of play, and just a couple of mins before 1/2 time Buxton had an opportunity, with a good shot on goal, but Vicky got down smartly to her left to push the ball round the post for a corner. It was a good save, especially as it ensured we stayed ahead at half time; 1-0

The first half had been played at a frantic pace, with both teams putting in lots of effort, especially in closing down, which together with a hard bobbly pitch made control difficult, and first touch especially important, with so little time on the ball. It wasn’t really conducive to a fluent passing game - but despite this it was proving to be a really good contest.

It was important not to let up in the second half, but - perhaps not surprisingly - although the game was still being played at a good tempo, it wasn’t perhaps quite as frantic as the first half. It certainly seemed we were slightly less quick to close down after the restart. Nevertheless, we created a couple of chances; Chelsie forcing Buxton’s ‘keeper into a save on the hour mark and BethJ doing so a couple of mins later.

We could certainly have done with a second goal, at which point we would have tried to hold what we had, but it just wasn't coming. Nevertheless, a final change was made to try to be more solid in the middle when BethL came on for Lily, Hannah also dropping into midfield, in anticipation of Buxton pushing forward more in search of an equaliser. The danger of doing this too soon, at least without the benefit of a second goal, was that it could have the effect of inviting the opposition on to attack us whilst limiting our attacking options. Nevertheless,  BethL and Tash combined well with Chelsie late on to test the Buxton keeper one last time.

There were a couple of nervy moments (on the touchline, at least) in the second half, when BethT shepherded the ball back to Vicky under severe pressure from a striker, and when Vicky came out to clear off the foot of a striker, but overall the girls defended really well as a team, working hard to close Buxton down, and limit their time and space on the ball – restricting Buxton to just three shots on goal – and were rewarded with a thoroughly deserved win. Well done girls.

This sets up the return on Saturday, at Alvaston, nicely. We can expect another tough game but if we approach it in the same manner, with determination, commitment, and concentration, we will give ourselves a good chance.

It was good to see Jess, recovering from a groin strain sustained on Saturday, make the trip to come and support the girls, and thanks to everyone for whatever they had to do get over to Buxton, and for their support. Thanks too to Dave for running the line, after a late fitness test:) and Andy, acting as transport manager.

Result: Buxton 0-1 Pride Park

Scorer: Chelsie

We dominated possession for the opening 25 minutes, our pressing preventing Hasland from building any meaningful moves and keeping them penned in their own half, whilst we moved the ball around well, probing  their defence for  openings. The only thing missing was an end product and Tash provided it after 17 minutes to open the scoring.

We continued to dominate possession, but as so often is the case when one team has so much possession but doesn’t capitalise on it, we were caught by a sucker punch on 25 minutes when a long ball over our defence caught us flat footed and before we could react the Hasland striker was in behind us and on to the ball, running in to equalise from their first shot of the game.  

Five minutes later and we were caught out in an exact copy of that move, and Hasland took the lead. Having been caught out twice, against the run of play, we needed a reaction and Chelsie provided it to level the score at 2-2, courtesy of a precisely played through ball by BethJ.

The second half could not have started worse for us, as Hasland replayed their moves for the first two goals and scored yet another in the same fashion within two minutes of the restart, adding another only two minutes later to make it 2-4. For a while this knocked us out of our stride, and we allowed our frustration with ourselves, with refereeing decisions, with what appeared to be time wasting by the Hasland girls, and with the frustration being shown by our own support on the touchline, to become a distraction. This wasn’t the first time we have allowed things over which we have no direct control to influence us in a negative way, and we should know by know the best way to respond to this is not to react at all, but to concentrate on our game.

In another breakaway, it looked like Hasland were going to catch us out again and but for a reflex save by Vicky, pushing the ball onto the bar before it was hooked away,  we’d have gone further behind. The importance of that save was underlined a few minutes later when skipper Beth launched into one of her trademark runs, showing great determination and skill to open up the Hasland defence and finish smartly, to pull the score back to 3-4.

Chelsie equalised only a minute later but, as has so often been the case this season, we weren’t able to consolidate this position and only a few minutes later conceded another (4-5). As the referee had mistakenly played only 40 minutes in the first half, there were now only ten minutes of the shortened second half to play, and with some of the Hasland players showing the effects of their efforts we mounted a series of attacks in an attempt to pull the score back. In our anxiety we were trying almost too hard, however, and were shooting from too far out, or straight at the Hasland ‘keeper.

However, Tash, who was again outstanding in the centre of midfield, picked the ball up with five minutes of normal time left and ran at the Hasland defence before finding the net to score the equaliser. Right on the end of normal time Tash very nearly set up a dramatic winner, as she ran to the bye line and pulled the ball back across the face of the goal, beating the ‘keeper and, unfortunately, only just eluding desperate lunges from Jordele and Jess as they raced in to the six yard box. In trying to reach the ball Jess was injured and had to come off. There wasn’t enough time to create any further chances and we had to settle for a draw.

We were the architects of our own downfall yesterday; we created three times as many chances as Hasland but our finishing wasn’t clinical enough, and we gifted soft goals to our opponent. In the end, the draw was a reward for a spirited  fightback and just about keeps our hopes of a top two finish alive.

If we are to achieve that, we must learn lessons quickly from yesterday’s game – taking note of how opponents beat us and adjusting our position or play so that we are not caught out the same way again – better decision making in front of goal – and not allowing ourselves to be distracted from our game by the actions of opponents, refereeing decisions, or distractions on the touchline. Parents and supporters have a part to play in this, by avoiding being drawn into arguments with opponents and especially officials, and by sticking to supporting the girls through positive encouragement.

Result: Pride Park 5-5 Hasland

Scorers: Tash (2), Chelsie (2), BethJ