Scorers: Scorers: Ward 2, Walker 2, Grimadell 2, Marriott 1, Clayton 1

With the league championship wrapped up last week Derby County Ladies travelled to Wolves Belles to conclude their season. Avoiding defeat would complete an unbeaten season in all competitions and a win would have meant that they would have beaten each team at least once this season.

Derby started off slowly and it was the home side that took the game to them by snapping into every tackle and playing a direct style of football. A couple of half chances fell Wolves way early on but they were unable to break the deadlock.

Against the run of play Derby scored and it was with their first meaningful attack. Phallon Barker and Hannah Ward combined down the right and the latter was able to out pace her fullback before finishing off at the second attempt despite the goalkeepers best efforts. 

Wolves were deservedly level minutes later when Derby failed to stop a cross from the Wolves left and poor marking allowed the dangerous striker to fire in an equaliser. Derby were struggling to find their rhythm and went behind for only the second time this season. A cross from the Wolves right brushed the hand of Katie Duggins and a harsh penalty was awarded. That was blasted home to give the home side the advantage.

Derby's response was to go straight up the other end and get themselves an equaliser. Demi Greenan's corner was cleared back to her and her excellent second cross found Shanice Clayton who made no mistake from close range. That goal marked a change in how the game would pan out as Derby started to play the kind of football that has brought them the league and cup double this season.

Firstly a ball over the defence saw striker Lucy Marriott burst through and fire in an excellent shot from the edge of the box to give Derby another lead and minutes later another excellent Demi Greenan cross bounced over the goalkeeper and allowed Hannah Ward to tap in on the back post.

It was one-way traffic in the second half as Wolves struggled to get the ball into Derby's half with the young rams starting to pass the ball fluently and open up the home teams defence at will.

Farrah Walker added Derby's fifth goal in the opening minutes of the half and then Jemma Grimadell hit an unstoppable effort into the top corner to give Derby their sixth. Many changes were made to the Derby team with players rotating their positions however this did not make any difference to the way the game was played.

Farrah Walker held off a strong defensive challenge before lobbing the Wolves goalkeeper to give Derby their seventh goal and Jemma Grimadell added her second and Derby's eighth goal with a good finish through a crowd of players late on.

Cameo appearances as strikers from Katie Duggins and Demi Greenan did not yield any more goals however Katie saw a 25 yard effort saved by the Wolves goalkeeper as Derby pressed for double figures.

So an 8-2 victory rounded off an excellent campaign for the U16s this year.....a year in which they have scored around 150 goals in all competitions (including friendlies) and conceded around 20 goals. That shows an excellent effort from goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and attackers. The girls head to the Nottingham tournament next weekend in the hope of achieving more success for the club.

Ash, Dave and Sheila would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the players for their hard work and commitment this season and we would also like to thank the parents for supporting the team throughout the campaign.

Scorers: Barker (2), Chapman, Walker, Greenan, Ward, McCance

Derby County Ladies U16s went into this clash knowing that a victory would give them the league title with a game to spare. West Brom also had aspirations of winning the league title but knew they had to win the game if they were to stand a chance of doing so.

Kicking with the wind West Brom immediately signalled their intentions by hitting the ball long and putting the Derby defence under pressure. Early on the home side found themselves with a couple of shooting opportunities outside of the box but were unable to hit the target.

Derby struggled to get going and uncharacteristically gave the ball away on a number of occasions allowing West Brom to continue their direct approach to the game and knock the ball long at every opportunity.

Against the run of play Derby took the lead. A corner from the left by Natalie Chapman was driven in low and cannoned off the defender at the front post and nestled into the net. The goal lifted Derby and they began to enjoy more territory and pressure as the game went on.

Goalkeeper Beth Tyler pulled off a superb save towards the end of the half when she dived full length to her left and tipped the ball onto the post from a well struck shot. Derby had a goal wrongly disallowed when Hannah Ward’s cross shot went straight in and although a couple of players were standing in an offside position, they were not interfering with play.  The girls were able to see out the remainder of the half despite West Brom pressing for an equaliser. Defenders Sam Bennett, Emily Ellis, Katie Duggins and Demi Greenan worked exceptionally hard to keep West Brom out and should be commended for their efforts.

It was the home side who started the better in the second half as well and within a few minutes of the restart they pulled level. Emily Ellis was harshly adjudged to have fouled a West Brom player in the box and the penalty was scored to make the scores 1-1.

Derby were spurred into life and went on to dominate the rest of the game leaving West Brom to rely on breakaways in order to try and get something from the game.

Good work from Hannah Ward down the Derby right saw her cross from the touchline headed home by Farrah Walker to give Derby the lead and minutes later Demi Greenan’s inswinging corner floated straight in at the back post to give Derby a two goal advantage.