Both goals from Willis and Fletcher earn a narrow 2-1 victory against Derby County in front of 225 spectators at Jericho Lane on Sunday afternoon.

The quiet start to the first half, where both teams cancelled each other out, was lit up by Fletcher’s first shot on target from 30 yards out which narrowly missed. Parry did well to spin and found her out wide and Fletcher looked for the early strike which had the keeper worried for a second.

Feds increased their pressing and performance and ended up having the ball in the back of the net following a well worked move from front to back but it was ruled offside as Anderson taped it in.

Despite the flagged offside, the hosts were quick to take the lead shortly afterwards with Willis ghosting in front the keeper to tap in a Francis delivery after Deering found her out wide.

The home outfit dominance continued with them coming close to doubling the lead as Francis nicked the ball but she was too wide for the strike. Her pull back to Deering was well blocked by the Derby defender.

With half-time approaching, Boydell tried her luck from 35 yards with the keeper getting her fingertips to it, clearing it for a corner and leaving the Feds one up at the break.

After 10 minutes in the second half Fletcher grabbed the second for the home side. Francis drove the ball into the box with Fletcher’s brilliant first touch to allow her to smash home a strike with her left foot.

Derby reduced the gap shortly after as Muir, on a half-volley, fired it straight down the centre of the goal and into the back of the net.

The guests constantly sought the equaliser calling Doran to a remarkable save to deny Muir a wonder goal. With a powerful strike to the far post, the Feds goalkeeper was forced into a diving save to keep the hosts ahead.

Feda responded promptly with Francis, but she was denied as she was sent through, with the Derby keeper standing up tall and getting a good hand to the strike.

Ten minutes to go, and Derby were fighting for an equaliser first with Skeldon going for goal from range, but her strike was off-balance and went wide for a goal kick. Then, as they kept being a threat in the Feds area, a corner found Hilliard at the far post, but her shot was just wide of the post.

In the closing stage of the encounter the guest came agonisingly close to level the score as Meadows cut in from the edge of the box with her strike to the near post finishing just wide.

After the boost of confidence with the triumph over Derby County, Feds will face Woolton in the semi-final of the Couty Cup.

Doran, Thompson ©, Carrington, Fryer, Fletcher, Parry, Boydell (Cole 61’), Deering, Anderson, Francis, Willis (Donoghue 73’)

Norney, Donoghue 73’, Cole 61’

Match Report by Margherita Scarcella