Ewes end season in style with win against Clarets
SPECTACULAR strikes by Dolcie O’Connor and first-team captain Amy Sims ensured Derby County Women finished their National League Northern Premier Division campaign in style.
They celebrated a 2-0 win against division runners-up Burnley at Turf Moor and club captain Hannah Ward believes the Ewes have shown their potential.
They have finished seventh after back-to-back victories, the win against the Clarets following the previous week’s 4-3 thriller against Liverpool Feds.
Manager Sam Griffiths missed the win at Turf Moor and Ward says the boss will be disappointed that the Ewes have not produced this kind of performance more often.
“I think the performance was really good,” said Ward.
“But Sam is probably pulling her hair out at the fact we can do that at the end of the season and in certain games but not be consistent throughout the season.
“It’s a great way to end and puts a really good bounce into the girls’ steps. It’s nice to be able to end on a positive note and give something back to the staff and the girls.”
And Ward says the Ewes should be proud of their attacking prowess.
“It was really nice to cap off the season with a clean sheet,” she added. “But there were two really impressive strikes that got us the win.
“We’ve got some great talent in the squad and some are out with injury at the moment. Dolcie and Simsy are players who can always pop up with those kinds of goals.”
The Ewes started the game looking slick on the Premier League pitch and Emelia Wilson went close when she met Eleanor Ashton’s cross in the opening exchanges but the side’s young player of the season couldn’t direct the ball on target.
O’Connor opened the scoring in the 24th minute following a sharp counter-attack.
The winger was on the edge of the box to pounce on a loose ball after Ashton’s shot was parried by Clarets keeper Lucy Farrell.
Ewes keeper Anna Draper made a superb save to deny Rhema LordMears as the Clarets tried to respond.
Burnley were on top in the second half and midfielder Laura Elford will wonder how she didn’t score with three good chances at the back post.
After weathering the storm, Sims netted her 21st goal in all competitions this season.
And she left the best until last, dummying past three defenders before striking a fierce, curling shot from 20 yards beyond a helpless Farrell.
First-team coaches Mark Russell and Lauren Taft took charge of the Ewes in the absence of Griffiths.
Russell said: “When we tell them to put a Derby kit on and play for the badge, we test them and ask them to give us a performance. We couldn’t have asked for any more.
“At times this season the staff have been frustrated and the players have been frustrated with the performances – sometimes they give us the right answers (on the pitch) and sometimes they don’t.
“We have been inconsistent this season, there’s no two ways about that. But it all clicked today.”