20/11/11: New Derby FC (3) v (1) Chaplins FC
Scorers: Thompson, Gourlay (pen), Calvert
Starting Team: Stothard (GK), Bunyan, Horn (c), Scott, Robson, Gourlay (Boiston), Binks (Fisher), Hutchinson, Dodsworth (Calvert), Thompson, Smiles
Subs (Unused): Taylor, Young, Wright
Yellows: Gourlay
Reds: None
The Derby’s excellent run of form continued as for the second week running they recorded a 3-1 win, this time against Chaplins FC. The Derby, who have not tasted defeat in the league since the end of August, are now up to fourth in the Division Two table.
Scott Linton took the decision to bring in James Dodsworth and rest Iain Ashman in what was the only change from the team that beat Kings Arms FC seven days earlier. Dodsworth’s inclusion brought a reshuffle with Stephen Robson dropping back into left back and Paul Bunyan swapping flanks to play on the right side of the defence. Leading scorer, Rob Calvert, had shaken off a hamstring problem to take his place amongst the substitutes.
The Derby started positively and immediately had their opponents on the back foot.
Chaplins endured a torrid time as Robson and Dodsworth attacked with real purpose down the Derby left. Dodsworth was particularly unlucky when, after he skinned a Chaplins defender, his pull back was just cut out and played behind for a corner.
The opening goal arrived just before the quarter of an hour mark and it was the man in form Martin Thompson who got it. He collected a ball from James Smiles just outside the penalty area and after turning he curled a sublime shot into the top corner of the net with his right foot. The Chaplins keeper didn’t have a prayer.
A second goal almost immediately followed but Graham Binks was denied a first goal of the season when the referee, David Fairley, chalked a goal off for offside. Binks turned in James Dodsworth’s shot from virtually on the goal line but he was clearly ahead of the last Chaplins defender. Had Binks left Dodsworth’s effort alone then the ball would have gone straight in and the Derby would have been two in front.
Ben Horn and Sam Scott also both came within a whisker to adding to the Derby’s advantage but neither could quite get on the end of crosses into the box.
On twenty three minutes, the Derby second goal did finally arrive. A ball in between two Chaplins defenders saw Martin Thompson bearing down on goal only to be stopped in his tracks by a clumsy tackle from the covering centre half. It was as blatant a foul as you could wish to see and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. The Chaplins player, who launched a pretty vocal protest, was cautioned. With Calvert on the bench, Dave Gourlay, despite his miss in the Silksworth Fleece shoot-out, stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Chaplins were beginning to get frustrated with the way things were going. Their captain was booked for an extremely late and rash tackle on Gourlay, while Gourlay was also yellow carded although somewhat harshly for a foul tackle of his own.
James Dodsworth’s match came to an end after half an hour when he went off after feeling unwell. This allowed Rob Calvert to make his comeback. He came on up front with Smiles moving out to the left.
Chaplins started to come into the game a bit more. Following a flurry of corners, Stothard made an excellent save at full stretch diving to his left to keep out one header. Chaplins were also thwarted by a last ditch tackle from a combination of Bunyan and Robson.
The first half finished with Chaplins looking the most threatening but at the break, the Derby still lead by two goals to nil.
The Derby started the second half extremely sluggishly and they only just kept their two goal cushion when Chaplins went very close with an effort in the opening minute of the second period.
With less than five minutes of the second half gone, the Derby were punished for their slack start when Chaplins pulled a goal back. A long ball forward was not dealt with by the Derby centre backs and the Chaplins forward collected the ball before sliding a shot past the onrushing Stothard.
The Derby were proving architects of their own downfall as continued efforts to play the ball out of defence only succeeded in encouraging pressure and allowing Chaplins chances on goal.
Chaplins went close again when a header from a corner narrowly cleared the crossbar while Stothard made another good save to deny a shot from the edge of the box.
Chaplins then had a loud shout for a penalty rejected after Robson tangled with the right winger on the corner of the box. On another day that may well have been given.
Graham Binks, was substituted on the hour mark and replaced by Matthew Fisher as Linton tried to bring some composure and organisation back into his team. Fisher’s introduction saw Sam Scott pushed into midfield alongside Hutchinson.
Despite struggling the Derby were still proving to be a problem for the Chaplins backline. Calvert sliced an effort wide from distance whilst James Smiles could only find the side netting when he cut inside from the left.
The Derby then went close again, After Smiles chased a long ball and rounded the Chaplins keeper to a ball forward his pass to Calvert was just over hit and with that the chance went begging.
With a little less than ten minutes remaining, the Derby all but killed off Chaplins as they scored for a third time to make the score 3-1. Following a good passing move involving Robson, Thompson and Scott, the latter squared the ball across the box to the waiting Calvert who was left with the simple task of tapping the ball in.
Dec Boiston replaced Dave Gourlay for the final stages on the right wing as Linton through on fresh legs.
Chaplins came on strong again as the game entered its final knockings. Stothard made a superb reaction save to deny a close range shot whilst a headed opportunity came back off the Derby post.
However, the Derby held out to record their fourth straight league win. The Derby are back at the Dome next week with Silksworth Fleece the visitors. The home side will be out for revenge after the Fleece eliminated the Derby from the Total Sport Challenge Trophy on penalties less than a month ago.
