Team Derby’s Women Footballers Continue Their Flying Start
Kate Wright’s 25-minute hat-trick helped Team Derby’s women’s football first team to a 5-2 victory over Nottingham Trent University’s second team.
Derby started brightly and Wright opened the scoring after just seven minutes with a free-kick that evaded everyone to go straight in over the keeper. She doubled the tally soon after with a powerful volley from 20 yards out.
Before 30 minutes were on the clock, Wright had helped herself to a hat-trick. She tapped home her third after a scramble in the penalty area following Millie Elson’s set-piece delivery.
Derby continued their dominance in the second-half; Holly Percival’s clever solo run and finish put Derby 4-0 up shortly after half-time. She glided past two defenders and finished one-on-one.
Derby captain Hannah Barber helped to continue the goal-fest, nodding home Wright’s corner to score the hosts’ fifth goal of the afternoon.
Nottingham did reduce the deficit with goals either side of Barber’s effort but ultimately the afternoon belonged to the home team.
Hat-trick hero Wright said: “My natural position is a defender so to score three goals is a bonus. I’m just happy to get the team going to get our second win on the trot.”
Wright admitted her free-kick had a hint of luck as it went in. She said: “I was just trying to put it in the area around the keeper and hope someone could get on it. [The goalkeeper] fumbled it and luckily it went in.”
Wright is very optimistic that Derby can continue their positive start to the season. She said: “I definitely think we can keep this up. The girls are brilliant and we’re starting to pick up some momentum. Pushing forward I think we are going to be great.”
The team have six points from their opening two matches, after a 3-0 victory last week away at University of Nottingham 3rds. Their next match is an away tie at Warwick on November 1st.
BY ALEX BROOM