Derby Women’s 2nd XI 1-3 Nottingham Women’s 3rd XI: Derby day blues for the home side

Words by Thomas Rodgers.

Nottingham Women’s 3rd XI defeated Derby Women’s 2nd XI with two late goals to progress to the next round of the Conference Cup.

An outstanding goal from Cara Fensome for the hosts was cancelled out by an unfortunate own goal from Chloe Hughes followed by goals from Maxine Bohjar and Emily Wallbank.

Derby began the game well and some neat play was nearly rewarded when Rebecca James found herself in on goal but Megan Brierley held firm with a comfortable save for Nottingham.

The visitors created a few chances of their own, firstly going close through Laura Boarom and then shortly after through Grace George-Sterling but neither could find a way past Megan Cox.

Nottingham were the stronger of the two teams but it was Derby who struck first as Fensome picked up the ball around 25 yards out and hit a powerful effort which sailed into the back of the net.

After half time the away side asserted their dominance and they were finally rewarded when a free-kick was turned into her own net by Chloe Hughes to level the scores.

Cox in the Derby goal was forced into action multiple times in the second half but Nottingham struggled to find a way past until ten minutes before the end. Bohjar got the ball a long way from goal before beating her defender firing past Cox from outside the area.

That second goal seemed to knock the wind out of Derby’s sails and with five minutes to go it was 3-1. Wallbank got the ball just on the inside right of the area and her effort flew in off the crossbar.

That ended any chance of a Derby fightback meaning it would be Nottingham who progress to the next round of the Conference Cup.