Young Ewes lift the Derbyshire Women's Cup
A red card, penalty save, and a late goal saw Derby County Women U20 victorious over a battling Chesterfield Ladies.
The Ewes put on an amazing display, as a penalty save from Lola Smith and goal a 70th minute winner from Poppy Hobson saw them win the Derbyshire FA’s Women’s Cup, sponsored by Cawarden.
Chesterfield Ladies took the first shot of the game in the 10th minute. Sophie Marshall was found on the edge of the box and fired goalward which took a wicked deflection that forced Lola Smith into action to tip it behind for a corner.
The Ewes fired back in the 15th minute as Amy Cotton found Poppy Hobson with a cutback, but Kath Connell flew in with an excellent challenge to keep the tie level.
Smith was forced to make a magnificent save on the 18th minute, as some excellent play from Imogen Fowler saw her get past her defender and find Marshall on the edge of the area, but Smith at full stretch kept her effort from nestling into the top corner.
Cotton was at it again for the visitors, as in the 24th minute a mistake at the back left her on course to draw first blood, but she dragged her effort narrowly wide of the post.
Just as the first half fell to a close, Derby had a golden opportunity deep into additional time, as Isabel Sheridan caught a loose ball on the volley inside the area, but her effort was dragged wide of the mark.
Just eight minutes after the second half commenced, Derby’s Lataya Bojang palmed a Chesterfield effort off the goal line, leading to a red card and a penalty for the visitors, but Lola Smith got down to save the effort from the spot to keep the tie at a deadlock.
Despite giving away a penalty early in the half, it was Derby who broke the deadlock. A corner taken in the 70th minute found Poppy Hobson, who’s towering header flew into the back of the net.
And the final whistle blew, and the tie ended 1-0 to see The Ewe’s lift the trophy despite being down a player for the majority of the second half, despite late claims of the ball crossing the line deep into additional time from The Blues.
Written by Max Stairs