04/09/11: City FC (0) v (5) New Derby
Scorers: Thompson (3), Calvert (2)
Starting Team: Stothard (GK), Josh McGill, Horn (c), Scott, Taylor (Gourlay), Dodsworth (Young), Binks (Mather), Hutchinson, Robson, Thompson, Calvert
Subs (Unused): None
Yellows: None
Reds: None
A hat-trick from Martin Thompson and a brace from Rob Calvert saw the Derby record a 5-0 victory over City FC in a game which the away side won at a canter.
With manager Scott Linton absent due to work commitments, Nigel Saddington stood in as caretaker manager. He named a strong starting line up which was boosted by the return of Josh McGill, Stephen Robson and Rob Calvert after the trio missed last week’s 3-0 reverse against Willow Pond.
The early stages of the match were pretty even with the Derby struggling to retain possession as they came under heavy pressure from their tough tackling opponents.
It took until the tenth minute for the first sight of goal to arrive but when it did the Derby should have taken the lead. A long throw in was flicked on by Graham Binks to Calvert but his volleyed left footed effort from ten yards comfortably cleared the crossbar.
City FC’s reprieve was to be short lived as with thirteen minutes gone the Derby did indeed go ahead. A left footed in swinging free kick from just outside the right edge of the box by Calvert found its way to Martin Thompson who slid the ball home from close range.
Tackles continued to fly in from the City players and Luke Taylor was on the end of a particularly meaty challenge which saw the Derby left back require treatment. Taylor was soon to be forced off as a result of the injury sustained in this incident.
The Derby were now starting to crank up the pressure and as the first half reached its midway point they doubled their advantage. A clever pass from James Dodsworth found Martin Hutchinson free inside the penalty area and he cut the ball to Martin Thompson who turned the ball home at full stretch.
A couple of minutes after the goal and Saddington was forced to make his first substitution as Luke Taylor failed to shrug off the effects of that earlier injury and was replaced by Dave Gourlay. Gourlay’s introduction saw Robson revert back to his more familiar left back role with Dodsworth moving to the left wing and Gourlay taking up a position on the right flank.
The change failed to disrupt the Derby momentum and both Calvert and Thompson went close to adding to the Derby lead. Calvert snatched at a left foot shot to drag it well wide of the target and almost out for a throw in whilst Thompson also lashed a shot over the bar after keeper Stothard’s kick had been missed by the City FC defence.
With eight minutes of the first half remaining, the Derby went three goals clear. After Martin Thompson had showed excellent strength to hold off his marker he laid the ball into Calvert’s path and he turned and scored with a left footed shot from just inside the penalty area – the City keeper could only stand and admire as the shot whistled into the bottom corner of his net.
In the final few moments of the half City had their best spell but they failed to seriously threaten the Derby goal. A couple of tame shots which were easily dealt with by Stothard were the sum total of their efforts.
At half time, the Derby received a warm ovation from their touchline who were no doubt delighted with what they had witnessed in the opening forty five minutes.
The Derby didn’t need long after the game had resumed to add to the three goals they had already scored. On fifty minutes a ball over the top by Graham Binks saw Thompson drill the ball home from inside the area to complete his first hat-trick of the season. While it was a great finish by Thompson the City keeper will not have been too impressed with his positioning as he left half his goal completely exposed.
The Derby suffered another injury blow ten minutes into the second half when James Dodsworth limped off with a hamstring problem. Adam Young came on in his place.
As the second half reached its midway point, Dave Gourlay came very close to getting his name on the score sheet but his well uted free kick from just outside the box was just tipped around the post by the City keeper, who was at full stretch. From the resulting corner Rob Calvert nearly scored a worldy. As the ball was cleared by a defender it dropped to the Derby forward just outside the box and he met it flush on the volley and sent it hurtling towards the top corner. Unfortunately for the Derby man the ball cannoned off the inside of the left upright and away to safety. Had that gone in then we would never have heard the end of it although at least if that was the case we wouldn’t have to listen to him whinging about his poorly groin for a bit!
Chris Mather came on for Graham Binks with twenty minutes remaining and City went close as a header from a set piece went over the bar.
With twelve minutes remaining, City had a narrow escape of their own as one of their defenders sliced a Rob Calvert cross narrowly over his own crossbar.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, the Derby grabbed a fifth goal as Calvert scored his second of the game. After some good close control and trickery from Thompson he teed the ball up for Calvert to smash home with his left foot.
Any thoughts of the game petering out in the final stages were put to bed when following a foul on Martin Hutchinson a mass confrontation between virtually everyone on the pitch ensued. Referee, Ray Dobson, a spitting double of darts player Raymond Van Barneveld, however had his back turned to the incident and elected just to give both groups of players a stern talking to.
Another long range effort from City in the last couple of minutes was as close as they got to a consolation goal but the Derby defence was not breached as they recorded their first clean sheet of the season and according to Saddington their first in twenty three competitive games.
All in all it was an excellent performance by the team from first whistle to last. Next Sunday sees the Derby switch their attentions to the Cup once again. This time they face Division Three strugglers, Washington F Pit FC, in the Solex Manufacturing Cup. The match will also mark the Derby’s first home appearance of the season at the newly named Downhill Dome.
