Derby County Women were beaten 2-1 by Stoke City Women in a hard-fought FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division contest at the Don Amott Arena on Wednesday night.

The Ewes took the lead after 12 minutes in Mickleover via a fantastic long range free-kick from Georgia Stevens - her fourth goal of the season.

Stoke levelled things three minutes into the second thanks to an Evie Priestley header and Abby Clarke then netted in the 69th minute to claim all three points for the visitors.

Sam Griffiths’ side entered the fixture off the back of Sunday’s 6-0 win over Coventry Sphinx Ladies in the First Round of the Adobe Women’s FA Cup. They will be aiming to return to winning ways when they go head-to-head Liverpool Feds at the weekend.

Key Moments

Derby had the first opportunity of the game after six minutes as Shannon Stamps curled a free kick toward the far post, but nobody in a Potters shirt could get onto the end of it.

It took just 12 minutes for the Ewes to take the lead, as a Stevens stood over a free kick and fired it into the top corner from 30-yards-out.

Olivia Edwards came near to doubling Derby’s advantage as...