04/12/11: New Derby FC (5) v (1) Grange Park
Scorers: Thompson 3, Calvert, Boiston
Starting Team: Udale (GK), Bunyan, Horn (c) (Fisher), Scott, Taylor, Waites (Josh McGill), Binks, Gourlay, Robson, Thompson, Calvert (Boiston)
Subs (Unused): Ashman, Gardner, Mather, Young
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The New Derby moved into the semi finals of the Solex Manufacturing Cup on the back of a comprehensive 5-1 win over Division Three side, Grange Park.
The quarter final match nearly didn’t go ahead at all as scheduled referee, Fatai Balogun, pulled out less than an hour before kick off. However, after a few hasty phone calls, Kieran Mersh, agreed to fill the breach and officiate the contest.
Scott Linton made three changes to the team which started the last game. James Dodsworth was away in the Lake District, James Smiles was cup tied and Martin Hutchinson was given the opportunity to rest his dodgy achilles. In came Luke Taylor and Graham Binks whilst there was also a first New Derby start for James Waites, who performed well after coming on as a sub against Silksworth Fleece.
The New Derby bossed proceedings from the start, enjoying good spells of possession and on numerous occasions they looked like being able to open their opponents up only to be let down by the final ball.
Both sides had early penalty shouts turned down. Grange Park appealed for a spot kick when a shot cannoned into Ben Horn but despite the fact the ball hit his hand it was clearly a case of ball to hand. At the other end, Rob Calvert was denied a penalty when he went down under a challenge inside the box but Mr. Mersh, recognising his tendency to go down too easily, waved play on.
Calvert then saw one effort saved by the keeper while he also screwed another left footed shot wide of the post.
The New Derby’s pressure finally told as the first period reached its midway point as they went ahead. A chipped pass over the top of a defender from James Waites found Martin Thompson and the Derby’s player of the season so far hit a crisp half volley into the bottom corner from just inside the area.
Just over five minutes later and the Derby doubled their advantage. After a neat one-two between Calvert and Gourlay, the diminutive Derby striker shaped to cross the ball into the penalty area. He skewed his cross so badly that it beat the keeper, who had left a gap at his near post, and ended up in the back of the net from an extremely acute angle.
That was to prove to be as good as it got for Calvert as he was substituted shortly afterwards after sustaining a hamstring injury. Dec Boiston came on to replace him.
Boiston’s impact was almost immediate as he played a part in the New Derby’s third goal of the game. He was played through but saw his shot saved by the Grange Park keeper. However, the ball rebounded kindly for Thompson who was following in and he made no mistake in sliding the ball into the empty net.
Stephen Robson almost added a fourth just before the break but he saw a crisply struck half volley from the edge of the bar well tipped over by the Grange Park keeper.
At half time the Derby had a comfortable three goal cushion and one foot very much in the semi finals. Scott Linton praised his troops but warned them not to be too complacent in the second period.
Grange Park started the second half well and had a couple of efforts from long distance which were narrowly off target.
With just over ten minutes of the half gone, the Derby netted for a fourth time. Thompson skilfully flicked a ball forward into the path of Boiston and he unleashed a cracking right footed half volley which whistled into the bottom left hand corner at a rate of knots leaving the keeper helpless.
Six minutes later and Thompson completed his hat-trick. A New Derby corner was headed clear but only as far as Thompson who was stood just inside the penalty area. He smashed a right foot volley in off the bar, helped by a little nick off one of Ben Horn’s man boobs on the way.
With the game as good as over, Horn was sacrificed with twenty five minutes remaining in order to protect an ongoing thigh problem. Matty Fisher was brought on in his place.
Grange Park were still providing the odd threat on the counter attack and they almost pulled a goal back with a little over fifteen minutes remaining but Steve Udale made an excellent save low to his left when he was confronted with a 1v1 situation. Udale chose to celebrate the save by walking back to his goal line holding his right arm in the air with one finger up signifying that he fully believed he was the number one. This went down an absolute treat with the passionate New Derby following on the touchline.
Josh McGill came on for the last twelve minutes with a tiring James Waites making way.
In the 88th minute, Grange Park again almost grabbed a consolation but after their forward had rounded Udale, Paul Bunyan was back their covering and he slid the ball out for a corner. The reprieve was to be short lived as from the resulting corner Grange Park did get themselves on the score sheet. After only half clearing the corner a shot was drilled back in but this took a deflection off Fisher which saw the ball ricochet straight to another Grange Park player and he swept the loose ball home from six yards out.
While the Derby were disappointed not to keep a second consecutive clean sheet the concession of the late goal did not take the gloss off what was a dominant display. The 5-1 score line illustrated the gulf in class between the two sides.
The semi final draw which took place on Sunday evening saw the Derby handed an away tie against fellow Division Two side, The Guide Post. The Derby have happy memories of the meeting earlier in the season at Ryhope Rec when the Derby ran out convincing 5-0 winners. Scott Linton’s men will no doubt be hoping for a similar result to help the club reach a first ever cup final. Next Sunday sees the Derby return to league action as they travel to King Georges to play second bottom, Chesters XI FC in an earlier than usual 9:45am kick off.
