Derby County 5-0 Coasters

Fylde Ladies suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at the hands of Derby County in the Women’s Premier League.

Coasters boss Conrad Prendergast stuck with the same line up from victory over Nottingham Forest the previous weekend, but it didn’t take long for Derby to get into gear, as Lisa Giampalma opened the scoring in the 13^th minute. A cross into the box was not dealt with by the defence and after her first shot was scuffed, Giampalma buried the loose ball.

Two minutes later and the hosts doubled their lead. Melissa Johnson on the counter attack was left one-on-one with Alex Brooks and fired an impressive shot into the top corner.

Johnson should have scored again in the 23^rd minute, again left with just Brooks to beat, but the keeper got down well to save.

The Coasters slowly started to get a foothold in the game and hit the crossbar on the stroke of half-time – a corner flicked off a combination of heads in the area and grazed the woodwork.

The second-half was far more even affair, but Derby still looked the more dangerous and their dominance showed in the 74^th minute as Nicole Dale grabbed a third for the home team. Another counter left the keeper with little cover and Dale rounded off a deadly move.

In the 85^th minute Giampalma scored her second, another scrappy goal as a low cross ended up at her feet, leaving her with very little to do, as she tapped home.

And two minutes later, Lauren Cresswell wrapped up the game with a stunning strike from 25 yards that left Brooks with no chance, and condemned the Coasters to a disappointing defeat.

Fylde are back in action at Mill Farm on Sunday afternoon (2pm) against Newcastle United.

Fylde starting XI: Brooks, Wilkes, Carroll, Farrell, Wild, Turner, Walker, Forster, Young, Adams, Swarbrick. Subs: Kennerley, Foster, Topping