03/05/12: New Derby FC (1) v (4) Ashbrooke S.C.
Scorers: Gourlay (pen)
Starting Team: Stothard (GK), Wright, Horn (c), Bunyan, Robson, Jake McGill (Young), Fisher (Boiston), Gourlay, Smiles (Josh McGill), Thompson, Calvert
Subs (Unused): Ashman, Cruddace
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The New Derby were made to pay for defensive mistakes as Ashbrooke ran out 4-1 winners to deny the home side the revenge they craved.
Due to holiday and work commitments, Scott Linton was forced into wholesale alterations and a change of formation from the team which started the game four days earlier. Jordan Stothard returned in goal playing behind a back four comprising of Mark Wright, Ben Horn, Paul Bunyan and Stephen Robson. In midfield Dave Gourlay and Matthew Fisher occupied the central births with Jake McGill and James Smiles being stationed on the flanks. Regular strike duo Martin Thompson and Rob Calvert lead the line.
The Derby suffered an early setback inside the first ten minutes when Ashbrooke were awarded a penalty. While there was no disputing the fact that Fisher fouled the Ashbrooke player the incident quite clearly took place a good few yards outside the area. The useless and clearly blind official, Mark Ryan, had no hesitation though in awarding the spot kick although his explanation that it was in fact Robson who committed the foul rather than Fisher was all the more laughable given that the Derby left back was on the other side of the pitch some twenty yards away from the incident. Ashbrooke striker, Jon Nicholson, showed no mercy however, and crashed his penalty high into the net.
Shortly afterwards and the referee evened things up when he once again blew for a spot kick, this time though in the Derby’s favour. As Smiles attempted to run onto Calvert’s ball over the top he was shoved in the back by an Ashbrooke defender and that was good enough in the eyes of the referee. Up stepped Dave Gourlay and he made no mistake, sending the keeper the wrong way.
Both teams were playing some nice football but the end product was sadly lacking.
Rob Calvert had an effort which was destined for the bottom corner blocked as the Derby sought to up their level.
Jordan Stothard made one excellent save to parry a header over the crossbar whilst another Ashbrooke effort went narrowly wide of the right hand upright.
Then, with just over ten minutes remaining of the first half, Ashbrooke regained the lead. A cross from the right looked as though it was going to result in a bread and butter catch for Stothard but he was beaten to the ball by Nicholson, who bundled it home from close range.
Almost immediately and the Derby were level once more but Martin Thompson could only blaze his shot miles over the bar when he was played through.
Things got worse for the Derby right before the break when Ashbrooke doubled their advantage. A large punt forward saw the hapless Bunyan completely miss his kick and this allowed Ashbrooke forward, Gav Nesbitt, to sprint clear and slip the ball past Stothard as he came out to close him down.
It was a despondent Derby team at half time. Whilst they had competed well against their opponents they found themselves trailing thanks to a poor refereeing decision and two uncharacteristic errors for the other goals.
Ashbrooke enjoyed the better of the early stages of the second half but for all their pretty passing they failed to really test Stothard.
At 3-1 the Derby were still very much in the game but the next goal was going to be crucial. Stephen Robson curled a fine free kick off the bar whilst Calvert and Thompson both found themselves in promising situations in the penalty area but the ball just wouldn’t drop for either to get a shot away.
With a little under twenty minutes remaining, Ashbrooke made the game safe when following another Derby error they scored a fourth goal. Ben Horn sliced his attempted clearance back towards his own goal and Jon Nicholson completed his hat-trick by pouncing on the loose ball and firing past Stothard.
The Derby continued to push, with substitute Dec Boiston showing some nice skills but Ashbrooke hung on comfortably to keep their slim title hopes alive.
A second league defeat on the spin for the Derby leaves them requiring a seven goal victory on Sunday to jump above Washington River Bar and seal fourth place and with it the last promotion spot. The Derby’s opponents Hendon Vics will have something to say about that however, as they know that a win for them would see them leapfrog the Derby into fifth place. It is sure to be a good game as the Dome hosts its final match of the 2011/2012 season.
