29/1/2012

First Team In their first-ever Derbyshire County Cup fixture Derby County LFC cruised through with an 8-0 away victory over Woodlands, who battled bravely throughout the game. Leading the goalscoring was defender Lorna Abbey who netted a hat-trick which included a powerful header from a corner, a long-range shot, and a penalty. Two goals apiece from Nikki Ledgister and Michelle Kilmartin plus a Hannah Ward strike completed the scoring. The Rams now face another away tie against Pinxton on 19^th February.

First Team Derby Ladies kicked off the New Year with an FA Cup tie against Midland Combination league side Loughborough Foxes. Manager John Bennett made several changes to the starting line up with Nikki Ledgister, Cat Lawson and Lorna Abbey coming into the team.
The opening five minutes saw Derby quickly turn over possession and gain a corner where Sam Griffiths delivered to the near post for Shell Kilmartin to make it 2 goals in 2 with an excellent near post header. Derby then continued to boss and dominate possession, however first touches and accuracy of passing was clearly lacking and the game became a very scrappy affair which suited the visitors.
On 15 minutes a catalogue of errors led to the equaliser as a Lougborough forward had an easy slot into the bottom corner after confusion in the Derby defence after a loose ball was played right across the home team’s box to cause panic.
The game then continued to be very scrappy with none of Derby’s usual sharp passing and moving game and poor decision making continued.
 
In the second half Derby then came out more determined and bossed possession and were camped in the visitors half for much of the second period. Derby hit the post, bar and missed 2 one on ones with the in form visiting goalkeeper thwarting both efforts. At this point the game should have been put to bed but for resilient defending, this was much more pleasing from the home team and it was a question of when and not if as to when the winner was coming. With the minutes ticking away and Loughborough putting 10 players behind the ball they held out for extra time.
 
The first period of extra time was a similar affair to the second half with Derby trying to find the winner, with penalties looming and into the second period John Bennett went for broke by going to three at the back and a change with Danni Taylor coming on to make her first team debut. This paid off when finally Emily Jeffrey made it 2-1 with a shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-1.
 
This clearly affected the visitors as they were holding out for penalties and it was quickly 3-1 when Shell Kilmartin diverted a Sam Griffiths shot into the bottom corner.
 
Derby advance to the next round in a home tie against Southern League leaders West Ham United at home.
 
Derby continued their fine form with 4 wins out of 4 but know they must improve significantly for the next game vs. Preston at home.

First Team

Derby County Ladies were looking to make it three wins on the bounce against the in form Sporting Club Albion.
Confidence was sky high after defeating league leaders Leicester City, so the prospect of derailing the team in second spot was more of a challenge.
 
However the opening exchanges were very messy and Derby's usual passing game was clearly lacking as possession was rushed and decision making poor often placing themselves under unnecessary pressure at times and Rachel Graham had to be at her best with some fine handling on a very wet surface. As possession was bounced back and forth between the two sides Derby did create several attacking opportunities with the midfield linking up well and the forwards working hard. That was rewarded just before the break when Cara Newton slotted from close range to make it 0-1. Derby then finished the half strongly with a high turnover of possession and other chances created.
 
As the teams came out for the second half, Derby dealt with the threat of the Sporting forward three by being more compact and organised and recognising threats, this enabled them to finally start passing the ball and dominate possession. Sporting always looking for the long ball demonstrated a lack of composure in front of goal and Derby were lucky to escape. However with license to attack the flanks Derby overloaded and were always a threat.
 
Finally after dominating in the middle third Derby secured the points when Michelle Kilmartin raced passed the last player to loop the ball over the advancing Sporting Keeper with her blinding pace and finish to get her first goal since stepping up to the first team.
 
On reflection a great three points where Derby weren't at their best but to take 6 points off the top two sides and secure their third win on the bounce and better still only conceding 1 goal in three games is extremely pleasing and ensures an exciting finish to the season.

04/12/11

 Derby County Ladies entertained League leaders Leicester City. Right from the first whistle Derby’s organisation showed as they were able to control the tempo of the game and showed a great turnover of possession on numerous occasions. The battling spirit and self belief was growing as the half progresses with some great moves and spells of possession with some excellent combination play almost resulting in the opening goal of the game. Precious Hamilton, Hannah Ward and Sam Griffiths showed excellent attacking play combining to create several opportunities out wide, which outnumbered and disorganised our opponents. Any possession Leicester had was quickly turned over by the excellent midfield duo of Faz walker and Emily Jeffrey who were able to turnaround possession and create several counter attacking opportunities

With Leicester looking to miss the midfield out in possession Suze Hart and Hannah Baines were able to thwart any attack that came their way and Becky Bryan eliminated any threat out wide on the right with some excellent challenges. Derby continued to boss the midfield and win individual and collective battles and were unlucky to go in at half time 0-0 with Cara Newton and shell Kilmartin showing some excellent link up play and are quickly proving to be a good partnership after two games together.

As the second half got underway Derby had to be compact and organised as Leicester came out all guns blazing and the same defensive organisation that we showed against Rochdale was again evident and Leicester very rarely looked like scoring.

Derby s belief again grew as they were winning individual and collective battles and really started to peg the visitor back. With effective set plays and excellent battling qualities, derby got their reward with Leicester desperately trying to clear their lines from a set play Precious Hamilton slotted the opener after a goal mouth scramble and the in vain efforts of the keeper to keep it out. 1-0.

As the conditions worsened and the half progressed it was still the home team who pressed the issue and any visiting attack was thwarted by the back four and GK Rachel Graham and again Derby demonstrated excellent fight and commitment to add to their lead which resulted in several chances and excellent breakaways and spells of possession. Finally with the last ten minutes another effective set play rewarded in a second goal with Hannah Baines getting her second goal of the season from the back. John Bennett then brought on cat Lawson to replace the excellent Shell Kilmartin to sure up the midfield and ensure Derby had a clean sheet. However the Derby game plan to pressurise and turnover possession quickly was still evident and even looked like a third was coming and Lawson was very unlucky not to convert, again after an excellent move down the right. Finally a much deserved three points against the league leaders capping off a great team performance with some exceptional individual performances to go along.

A much deserved result.

30/10/11

First Team Visitors Rotherham took the lead against Derby County midway through the first half when the Rams failed to clear a low cross and eventually the loose ball was stabbed home by a forward. Cara Newton was always looking to take on the Rotherham defence, having worked her way through but shot too high early in the came, so it came as no surprise when another good turn into the box was only thwarted by a trip and a penalty was awarded. Emily Jeffery thumped the ball home from the spot to bring the scores level at half time.

Hannah Ward scored to give the rams a 2-1 lead, and only moments later could have extended the lead but a great double save by the Rotherham keeper kept her side in the game and shortly afterwards equalised with a long-range strike. Derby continued to pressure their opponent’s goal, hitting the woodwork twice and seeing another great save by the keeper, but in the end they had to settle for a share of the points from a game they should really have won.