WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: DERBY COUNTY 0-2 BURNLEY

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Substitutes make the difference in Derbyshire

2024-03-03T14:00:00.000Z

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: DERBY COUNTY 0-2 BURNLEY

Substitutes make the difference in Derbyshire

2024-03-03T14:00:00.000Z

Substitutes make the difference in Derbyshire

Aimee Kelly and Abby Clarke both scored after coming off the bench to earn Burnley Women a 2-0 victory over Derby County on Sunday afternoon.

Kelly’s ninth goal of the season in all competitions broke the deadlock before Clarke secured an important three points on her Clarets debut.

Rebecca Sawiuk made three changes to the 11 that started against Newcastle United last time out, with Gracie Prior and Tilly Wilkes coming into the defence and Amaya joining the forward line.

The Clarets started brightly, with Ginny Lackey testing Derby goalkeeper Anna Draper one-on-one and finding the net soon after – only for it to be ruled out for a rolling ball at a free-kick.

Buoyed by an FA Women’s National League Plate semi-final victory last week, Derby grew into the contest and Rebecca May shot narrowly over.

WOMEN’S MATCH REPORT: DERBY COUNTY 0-2 BURNLEY - Image 1

Millie Ravening then forced Draper into action just after the half hour, shooting with power from 20 yards.

The Ewes finished the first half strongest, with Burnley defender Naomi Hartley producing a strong block and Amy Sims heading straight at Kirstie Levell from the resulting corner.

The game restarted with a similarly competitive feel and the first chance of note came on 55 minutes, but Derby’s Dolcie O’Connor could only produce a tame shot that Levell held.

Sawiuk then introduced Kelly and Clarke soon after each other and it took the former just 10 minutes to break the deadlock.

After receiving the ball from Ravening, Kelly jinked past a defender and found the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Clarets host Potters in league clash

The goal kicked Burnley’s attacking nature into gear with Leah Embley firing narrowly over and after Paris Dalton also made her Clarets bow, Clarke ensured the team would return to Lancashire with the win four minutes from time.

After Draper failed to hold a powerful Kelly strike, the lifelong Claret reacted quickest to the loose ball to score from close range.

The result and a fourth league clean sheet of the season mean Sawiuk’s team now have 29 points from 13 Northern Premier Division of the Women’s National League matches.

They stay 3rd, however, five points behind Nottingham Forest.