Draycott Victoria 4-0 Pride Park
from ‘Boot Room’
An unfortunate combination of mishaps, injuries, ailments and events came together at the weekend to rule several of our players out of our trip to Draycott in the Derbyshire Ladies League, leaving us with just ten fit players available to start the game. With regular goalkeeper Jade Howell one of those missing, Vicky Wilsoncroft took the gloves as a very capable stand-in.
Particularly after last week’s false start to the resumption of our league season after the horrendous injury to Janine Wardman, we were hoping for a trouble – and injury free – game of football, and as if to give us a sign, the sun was out and it was a pleasantly warm afternoon.
The girls started in a determined mood and stayed compact and organised, denied space to Draycott, and mounted a stout defence. Although Draycott, inevitably, had the most of the possession, it was Pride Park with the early chances, all coming on the counter-attack, with Maja Znamirowska – playing only her second game in a year due to the Covid-related restrictions – a constant threat.
It was Maja who broke down the right flank after 27 minutes, and was getting beyond the Draycott defender, only to be taken down just inside the penalty area with a barge from behind. Tash Allderidge took responsibility for the spot kick, and hit it firmly but the ‘keeper managed to get across and get a hand to it – a rare blemish on Tash’s very good penalty record – and the ball was cleared from the rebound.
A minute later and Maja was in behind the Draycott defence again, going very close. Inevitably, despite our best efforts, Draycott were going to get chances and their first opportunity of any note came just around the half-hour, a dipping shot that Vicky did well to tip over at full stretch.
There was nothing Vicky could do about the next shot, after 33 minutes, which flew into the top corner from outside the area. It was a setback, but one that was brushed off quickly as Pride Park continued to defend doggedly and hit Draycott on the break.
There were a couple of minutes left to half-time when Maja latched on to a pass from Tash, and hit her shot for the left corner – only to see it ricochet off a recovering defender’s head and fly only just inches wide of the other post, leaving the goalkeeper completely wrong-footed and stranded. The resultant corner lead to a scramble in the goalmouth, but we just couldn’t find the decisive touch before a defender lifted the ball over the crossbar from the edge of the six yard box for another corner. It was a breathless end to the first half in which Pride Park could feel very unfortunate to not be at least on level terms.
Draycott had been frustrated by a really dogged, well organised and committed first half by Pride Park and, although the goal that divided the teams was very well taken, they could consider themselves a little fortunate to be ahead at the interval.
On a warm afternoon Pride Park were looking for more of the same in the second half – the only question was how long it would take before the prodigious effort they were putting in on a warm afternoon would take its toll. Eight minutes after the restart Draycott won a corner on our left which was initially cleared, but the ball fell to a Draycott player, was played wide and then put back into the box for a header from five few metres to double Draycott’s lead.
With a two goal lead, and a numerical advantage on the pitch – and on the bench – Draycott had a degree of comfort, but Pride Park weren’t giving up, as Maja again went close after some really good combination play down the right between her and Annie Laight. Draycott extended their lead further with an excellent curling shot from wide that was placed in the far corner of the goal, giving Vicky no chance.
Draycott had by now recognised the threat posed by Maja and she was being shadowed by two or three defenders. Despite their close attention, Maja was still proving to be a handful and with fifteen minutes to play she threatened to break clear again, only to be body checked by a defender. The free kick was in range, but although Beth Jones was able to clear the wall, she wasn’t able to get the ball down again enough to trouble the ‘keeper.
The pitch had caused both teams problems with first touch and control, and the ball had a tendency to bobble unexpectedly on the hard, dry, surface. After seeing the players trying to control the ball and play “classic” football, it was entirely appropriate that when Draycott scored their fourth goal, with about five minutes left, it was from a toe poke from about ten metres, which in the circumstances was being smart to do what was effective.
As the game drew to a close Pride Park had one last opportunity for a consolation, as Tash Allderidge hit a close range effort wide of the ‘keeper only to see her instinctively stick out a foot to deflect the shot. It summed up pretty well how the ball just didn’t run kindly for Pride Park on a day when they were always going to be up against it and needed just a little helping hand from Lady Luck.
Nevertheless, it was a thoroughly enjoyable game and a very encouraging performance from which the players can take a lot of pride. The odds were heavily weighted in Draycott’s favour, but they were made to work very hard for their win and the scoreline doesn’t really do Pride Park any justice. At least it was an injury-free afternoon, which is something we are grateful for.
We were pleased to see some old friends – a couple of former players – take advantage of the weather to come down and support us, and really appreciated Simon coming along in the absence of the injured Janine – at times providing her with a commentary of the game in her hospital bed via the phone!
Next week’s opponents are second placed Wirksworth Colts. Kick off at Anthony Gell School in Wirksworth is 1.30pm.
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