19/02/12: Hendon Vics (1) v (4) New Derby FC
Scorers: Waites, Calvert, Thompson 2
Starting Team: Udale (GK), Josh McGill, Horn (c), Bunyan (Taylor), Robson (Smiles), Waites, Scott, Hutchinson, Dodsworth, Thompson, Calvert (Boiston)
Subs (Unused): Ashman, Gourlay, Fisher, Wright, Young
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The New Derby successfully put last week’s loss to Inn Place behind them as they cruised to a comfortable 4-1 win over mid table side, Hendon Vics.
Derby manager, Scott Linton resisted the temptation to make drastic changes as the two alterations he did make were both enforced. Graham Binks and Dave Gourlay were both in attendance but were deemed unfit so Martin Hutchinson and Sam Scott were handed recalls to form an interesting and certainly not eye catching central midfield partnership.
The Derby were on the money from the word go and dominated possession right from the off.
Many of the Hendon Vics players seemed to still be half asleep as the Derby played some excellent passing football.
Rob Calvert and James Waites both had chances which came and went although it was surely just a matter of time before the Derby took the lead.
In fact the Derby were forced to wait until the 17th minute before the goal came. A flowing move stemming from a short goal kick from Steve Udale ended with James Dodsworth beating his marker and whipping a cross into the box where James Waites calmly steered the ball into the bottom left hand corner. That was Waites’ 5th goal for the club in just his sixth appearance, an impressive strike rate for the right midfielder.
Hendon Vics almost equalised pretty soon afterwards when Bunyan missed a long ball forward but Udale saved well with his feet from the ensuing shot at goal.
Just after the half hour mark the Derby doubled their advantage when Rob Calvert notched his 20th goal of the season. He picked up the ball just inside the penalty area and crashed a shot past the Vics keeper before he really even had a chance to move. It was an important goal for Calvert which everybody recognised and Graham Binks made a point of sprinting onto the pitch to celebrate with him.
Two became three just four minutes later when Calvert’s fellow striker, Martin Thompson also notched his 20th goal of the season. After receiving a pass into feet from Waites, Thompson then proceeded to flick the ball over two defenders heads before slotting past the helpless keeper. It was a piece of play right out of the top draw but no real surprise given the form he has been in this season.
A couple of minutes later, Calvert had a guilt edged chance to grab his second goal of the game but he fired wastefully over when presented with a chance from six yards out.
Thompson then went close himself but he was incredibly unfortunate to see his shot cannon back off the crossbar and away to safety.
Right before half time, Hendon Vics almost pulled a goal back but a header from a free kick comfortably flashed wide of the left hand upright.
At the half time break, the Derby could be delighted with their first half performance where they had controlled the game throughout.
Hendon Vics came out much more positively after the interval, no doubt with their manager’s words ringing in their ears. They went close to getting off to the perfect start when the Derby failed to deal with a long ball forward but once again Udale made the save with his feet.
Ten minutes into the second period the Derby were forced to make a change when Paul Bunyan was forced off with a hamstring problem. His withdrawal forced a reshuffle with James Dodsworth dropping back to centre half and Stephen Robson moving to left wing. Bunyan’s replacement, Luke Taylor slotted into his usual position on the left hand side of the back four.
Shortly after the loss of Bunyan, the Derby made it 4-0 when Martin Thompson grabbed his second of the game. A ball into Calvert by Hutchinson was then flicked wide to Robson on the left wing. He crossed the ball into the box to Thompson, who in turn laid the ball off to Calvert. His shot was blocked by a defender but rebounded straight back out to him and this time he squared it to his unmarked strike partner who scored at the near post.
With the game all over bar some miraculous comeback, Linton elected to withdraw Calvert and Robson in order to give some game time to Dec Boiston and James Smiles.
The Derby continued to push forward as Boiston went close with an effort from just outside the edge of the area.
Then, with just over ten minutes left, Hendon Vics grabbed a consolation goal. A free kick was delivered into the Derby box and the ball was diverted into the corner of the net by a Hendon Vics player. Replays later showed that the ball had in fact gone in off the back of the goal scorer who had completely messed up his actual attempt to head the ball. Derby keeper, Steve Udale, didn’t look too impressed with his sides poor marking as he saw his hopes of a clean sheet go up in smoke.
In the final few minutes there was almost time for Martin Thompson to grab a hat-trick but he was narrowly off target with a shot while Martin Hutchinson was nearly presented with a goal on a plate by Boiston but for a superb last ditch interception from a defender.
At the final whistle the Derby could look back on a job well done. Next week sees Scott Linton’s side take a break from league action as they go up against The Guide Post in the semi final of the Solex Manufacturing Cup. That is sure to be a gripping encounter and the Derby are expecting a bumper attendance at the Downhill Dome to witness it.
