Derby County Women fell to their second consecutive defeat as they were beaten 3-1 by league leaders Wolves Women.
The Ewe Rams were unable to find gold at the end of the rainbow as they were defeated by Wolves Women on the weekend the rainbow laces campaign kicked-off.
Three second-half goals by Wolves were enough to see off the Ewes and keep the West Midlands side top of the FA Women’s National League.
Derby started the game lively with an early chance falling to the Ewes’ highest scorer this season, Amy Sims.
The ball was played into Sims, who has found the net from similar positions in previous games, but this time she dragged her shot wide of the post.
The Ewes continued to cause problems for the Wolves defence, especially in the 10th minute as Keira Barry had a chance to open the scoring.
Barry fired wide after being picked out by Anita Gaspar, who was playing in a different role to usual finding herself on the right-hand side.
Derby did have some defending to do moments later when Camille Jenkins was called into action to deny Wolves an opportunity.
The resulting corner did cause some problems for the Ewes’ defence. However, the ball was eventually scrambled narrowly behind by Wolves for a goal-kick.
Barry had her second chance of the game but again she failed to hit the target, dragging her shot just wide of Bec Thomas’ goal.
The best chance of the first-half fell to Wolves in the 35th minute. Amber Hughes dribbled the ball around Imogen Maguire before unleashing a shot at the empty net, only to be denied by the woodwork.
Hughes opened the scoring for Wolves in the 55th minute after a scramble in the penalty area saw Jenkins and Maguire both attempting to clear the ball from the goal-line.
The Ewe Rams were not behind for long as Gaspar levelled in the 62nd minute. Sims picked out an unmarked Gaspar to smash home the equaliser.
Wolves thought they had scored again in the 71st minute but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Maguire.
Substitute Ali Miller did however put Wolves back ahead in the 75th minute as she tapped the ball into the net from close range.
Jess Camwell tried her luck from range and was very close to equalising for the Ewes as her venomous effort just went wide of the post.
Miller got her second of the game and Wolves third in the 88th minute. The substitute was on hand to tap the ball into the back of Maguire’s goal.
The Ewes will look to end their winless run when they face Chorley away on Sunday, October 30.
Derby County Women
Maguire; Jenkins, Jackson, Clarkson; Gaspar (76), Joyce, Sutherland, Rhodes-Andrews (57); Sims, Wilson; Barry
Subs: Morgan, Rai (57), Ward, Camwell (76), McGrother
Wolves Women
Thomas; Johnson, E. Cross, Morphet; Dermody, George (90), Holmes; J.Cross, Merrick (73); Hughes, Gauntlett
Subs: Cooper, Price, Elsmore, Dicken (90), Miller (73)
MITCH BARWELL UOD JOURNALIST
