BY and large, it's been a good week for Derby County Ladies.
Arsenal and their star-studded side of international household names have agreed to help the club celebrate their forthcoming 25th anniversary by playing in a second prestige friendly within in a year.
Also, three of the club's youth sides notched large wins last weekend, though the first team's miserable run of form continued with a
3-1 defeat at home to Bradford City.
Jenny Sugarman's side are at home again tomorrow when they take on Sporting Albion at Borrowash Victoria's Anderson Electrical Stadium and, despite recent poor form, she feels this is the game that could re-ignite the season.
"Slowly but surely, we are getting players back on to the pitch and it was great to see Hannah Ward return to the fold against Bradford last weekend," said Sugarman.
"Earlier this season we came from two goals down to draw away to Albion, so there is absolutely no reason why we can't go one step better and turn that into a much-needed three points.
"We're mindful that it's Forest away the week after and the squad are well aware of the boost that a win will give us going into that."
There were significant wins for the junior sides, with Jack White's table-topping Under-16s winning 6-1 away to Sedgeley, while Paul Wigley's Under-14s maintained their unbeaten start with a 7-0 victory at Marston Green.
The limelight was stolen by the Under-15s who, under stand-in manager Dave Cholerton, were 14-0 winners over West Bridgford.
Off the field, the club are already planning for the 25-year anniversary in 2015 and Arsenal, who came to Derby as part of their Women's Super League preparation last season, will return on February 25.
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