Off the back of an impressive point last week away to league leaders Rugby Borough, a home fixture looked a good springboard to return to winning ways.
The game got off to a fast start. Captain Morgan Rogers tested the Derby keeper from distance in the second minute, before the visitors went up the other end and did the same with a shot from the edge of the box.
Lightning threatened down the flanks, with some excellent play from Evie Williams and Lucy Mutch causing issues for the Derby defence.
Derby took several long shots, most notably an effort from around halfway in the 17th minute that was comfortably saved my Murphy.
However, just two minutes later, Derby took the lead. A ball in behind found their winger in space down the right-hand side, and her square pass fell invitingly to the forward who finished well to open the scoring.
Lightning responded almost immediately, with a clear-cut chance in the box falling to Mitchell Ramon. Her attempt looked a certain goal; however, the Derby keeper produced a spectacular save - getting a slight hand on the ball to send it just wide.
Lightning continued to create with the Derby goalkeeper denying multiple chances. However, Lightning eventually found the net in the 34th minute. A corner was followed by a scramble in the box, with Ferne Powell reacting quickest to a rebound and finishing calmly to level the scoring.
Powell was almost decisive once again just 4 minutes later, after a superb through pass from Rogers unleashed her into the box. However, her driven cut back was read well by the keeper.
Lucy Mutch was shown a yellow card in the 39th minute, after being deemed to have caused a collision between two Derby players.
A few minutes were added on after the visitors received treatment, but despite both sides pushing to take the lead in the closing stages, the score remained 1–1 going into the break.
Lightning came charging out of the blocks after the interval. Lucy Mutch came close to scoring minutes after the restart, with her first-time finish testing the keeper but ultimately being too central. The resulting corner was met by Ella West who also saw her effort saved.
Ella Jarowicki was played through one on one in the 53rd minute. She opted to try and bend her effort around the keeper, but her shot agonisingly rattled the woodwork.
Lightning made their first change in the 58th minute, with Lucy Mutch being replaced by Gabriella Spillman after an electric display.
Lightning continued to create chance after chance with waves of attacks and momentum. Williams put in a number of inviting deliveries, as well as chances falling to the likes of Greenwood, Mitchell Ramon and Powell.
In the 71st minute, Derby County won a free kick just outside the Lightning box after a fast counterattack. Teresa Murphy spilled the shot and Derby scored on the rebound. Fortunately, mid-celebration a delayed offside flag disrupted their delight, and the goal was ruled out, leaving the score level.
Lightning continued to knock on the visitors’ door, with coach Charlie Baxter making three more subs in hopes of the injection of fresh legs making the vital impact.
Lucy Chads replaced goalscorer Ferne Powell in the 74th minute, followed by Stevie Kennedy replacing Morgan Rogers in the 81st minute and Issy Conway replacing Ella Jarowicki in the 85th minute.
And make an impact they did!
In the 91st minute, Gabriella Spillman burst down the right-hand side and fizzed the ball into the box. It ultimately landed at the feet of Issy Conway who hammered her strike emphatically into the top corner to put Lightning ahead in stoppage time.
Issy Conway scored just minutes after entering the field, with the dazzling winger netting her first ever goal in the third tier.
Lightning came inches away from adding another just two minutes later, as Spillman found herself in acres of space after Derby had thrown their whole team up in search of an equaliser.
Her initial effort was saved, and on the rebound - with the goal wide open - she narrowly missed the target and the opportunity to make victory a certainty.
Ultimately, it proved insignificant, as not long after the referee blew the final whistle. A huge win for Lightning and a performance that was well-deserving of the 3 points!
Lightning showed fantastic ability to keep the game at their pace and were fiercely resilient to keep on pushing right until the end, with their persistence being rewarded with a late winner.
Every player can be proud of their performance today, with the standouts including Doris Greenwood and Olivia Mitchell Ramon who were excellent at dictating the tempo of the match.
After the victory, Lightning find themselves 9th in the table with 11 points on the board - 4 more than 10th placed Middlesbrough.
Lightning will travel to Middlesbrough in two weeks’ time in a game that now provides a chance to breakaway and cement their place higher in the table.
The FA Cup journey continues next weekend, as Lightning will host i2i International Soccer Academy.
Lightning XI: 1. T. Murphy 14. B. Hogg 54. E. West 2. E. McMaster 23. E. Williams 30. M. Rogers (20. S. Kennedy 81') © 7. F. Powell (8. L. Chads 74') 35. O. Mitchell Ramon 22. D. Greenwood 10. L. Mutch (18. G. Spillman 58') 25. E. Jarowicki (19. I. Conway 85')
Unused substitutes: 31. B. Kingerley 37. N. Davies 13. D. Thompson