A late winner from Yasmine Swarbrick sent North End into the third round of the FA Women’s Cup, making it an incredible nine game winning streak to date.
The win now means PNE will travel to Nottinghamshire to take on Nottingham Forest on Sunday 7th February in the third round.
Alice Forshaw’s early goal sent Luke Swindlehurst’s side into the lead before Derby County brought the game back to stalemate, but it was a poacher's goal from Swarbrick that ultimately won the tie.
Two forced changes to the starting line-up for PNE meant Gemma Watson missed out due to being cup tied, and Lagan Makin picked up an injury during midweek, opening up opportunities for Swarbrick and Keeleigh Savage as they both returned to the starting XI.
Savage, starting in her familiar position as striker, had the ball in the back of the net on six minutes but it was ruled out for offside.
This time Savage was onside, a ball into the box from Stanfield found its way to Savage perfectly, but she could not force the ball into the net as Morgan’s goal lived a charmed life.
It was one minute later on the 12th minute that saw North End break the deadlock. Forshaw’s ball down the line played Swarbrick in to run at the Derby defence, and then releasing the ball to Forshaw as she drove into the penalty area and calmly finished into the bottom left corner.
The home side continued to threaten Sarah Morgan’s goal with chances from Charlotte Farrell, firing inches wide of the post from a free kick, and Swarbrick’s powerful effort was tipped excellently round the post by the goalkeeper.
On the counter attack it was Derby that displayed a clinical edge to their game on 35 minutes. Melissa Johnson outpaced the North End defenders against the run of play, and provided the finish past the onrushing Dan Brown.
PNE continued to create chances in the second half, Swarbrick again in the thick of the action as she crossed the ball into the danger area but Savage could not manage to get herself on the end of it.
Nicole Ledgister threatened Brown’s goal on the 66th minute but the PNE goalkeeper held the ball well as The Rams looked to add pressure in the closing stages, pegging Swindlehurst’s side in their own half.
However, substitute Melissa Ball had a golden chance as she broke free of the away defence, Ball attempted to round the goalkeeper but Morgan read the situation well and denied Ball an attempt on goal.
With only a few minutes remaining of the 90, it was a game that looked destined to go to extra time.
Then, on 86 minutes some exquisite passing football from North End paved way for Danielle Young to pick out Hannah Forster’s down the right side, Forster squared the ball into the area and it was Swarbrick who duly delivered the back post finish. A goal deserved of winning any game of football sent PNE through to the next round of the SSE FA Women’s Cup.
PNE starting line-up: Brown, Stanfield, Forshaw, Carroll, Farrell, H. Forster, Walker, Young, Swarbrick, Flanagan (Turner 89), Savage (Ball 78)
Unused subs: P. Forster
Derby County starting line-up: Morgan, Hughes, Perry, Webb, Jeffery (Ward 78), Griffiths, Johnson, Clarkson, Ledgister (Pashley 80), Grimadell (Tinsley 45), Reay
Unused subs: John