Coventry Women’s First XI 0-1 Derby Women’s First XI: Visitors claim three points in season opener

Words by Harry Tizard

Derby Women’s XI ended their first match of the season victorious as they left Coventry with all three points.

Substitute Sarah Hassainin latched onto the end of an Evie Garner corner late on in the second half to break the deadlock and help the visitors on their way to their first win since promotion.

“We knew that this would be a strong challenge because we got promotion and it’s a higher level so we knew that everyone was fighting until the last minute,” Sarah Hassainin explained after the match. “I read the game really well in the first half and I followed Adam’s instructions and that’s it, we deserved the goal.”

When asked about her goal, and the possibility of her starting the next game – she shied away from giving herself any real credit: “It was a great corner from Evie [Garner].

“It doesn’t matter who starts and who is on the bench as long as we get the three points in the end and of course we enjoy our football so this is all that matters.”

Manager Adam Jones was more than impressed with the impact that Hassainin made when coming on at half time. “[The impact was] very good, she gave us another threat.

“She was a threat in the channels, we wanted to get in behind their full backs more and try and bring them out a little bit, exploit the spaces in behind and Sarah did that really well.”

Jones on the match itself: “Wow what a game. We did say at half time that whoever scored the first goal was probably to go on and win it. Luckily for us it is us.

“Great delivery and a brave header at the back post in the penalty area for Sarah to get on the end of that.”

Derby’s manager was also more than happy with his sides defensive display. “[The defence was] very good, a clean sheet, certainly great to build on strong foundations.

“For me moving forward, I want to play good football. I want to play attacking football. I want to be pleasing on the eye, but if you get games and it’s only a 1-0 win then you take that all season.”