Jake Quellin reports from Kedleston Road
Derby women’s firsts goalkeeper Millie Smith praised her side’s resilience to earn a late point against Nottingham – but wished it could have been three.
Adela Qose equalised for close range in the 90th minute after Emma Egstham had given Nottingham the lead in the 52nd minute.
Smith said: “It was good – [a] good comeback. [There was only a] short time left really, one minute left and then four minutes extra time, so [it was] good to score at the end and [we’re] happy to get a point.”
However Derby’s goalkeeper agreed that her side were looking for more at the end.
She added: “Hopefully we were trying to get one [more goal] out of it but it is what it is really but we tried so [hard].”
Her side narrowly missed out on a dramatic rivalry comeback as they drew 1-1 against University of Nottingham seconds.
The game got off to a quiet start with Nottingham creating the best chances in the game through Egstham who forced numerous saves from the Derby goalkeeper.
In the 18th minute Egstham had the ball in the back of the net but it was disallowed for offside.
The visitors were on top as the teams went into half-time level but were yet to find their breakthrough.
This arrived through Egstham who scored from close range to give Nottingham the lead after a free kick from Lauren Murray was parried by the Derby keeper.
Egstham thought she had her second of the game before the referee called her effort from close range offside.
Derby then gained control of the game and were pushing for an equaliser through Ellie Kemp who fired a shot from the edge of the box straight at the Nottingham goalkeeper.
With five minutes of normal time remaining a foul on Lucy Trail won Derby a free kick on the line of the penalty area. Qose chose to cross rather than shoot but Derby were unable to score.
In the 90th minute Derby got the goal they deserved through Qose who scored from inside the penalty area.
When Nottingham had another huge chance in added time, Smith made an impressive save to deny them a winner.
Up next for Derby women firsts are Oxford firsts in the National Trophy Cup.
