13/11/11: New Derby FC (3) v (1) Kings Arms FC
Scorers: Gourlay, Thompson (2)
Starting Team: Stothard (GK), Ashman, Horn (c), Scott, Bunyan, Gourlay, Binks (Josh McGill), Hutchinson, Robson, Thompson, Smiles (Dodsworth)
Subs (Unused): Boiston, Fisher, Gardner, Jake McGill, Taylor, Young, Wright,
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The Derby’s good form continued as they defeated table toppers, Kings Arms FC, by three goals to one a result which sees the home side shoot up the Division One table into fifth.
Despite being without striker Rob Calvert due to a hamstring injury sustained on Thursday night playing five a side, Scott Linton had an embarrassment of riches to choose from with no fewer than twenty players turning up and making themselves available. This included Graham Binks, James Dodsworth and Josh McGill who all reported fit and raring to go after a spell on the sidelines. With Ben Horn passing a late fitness test on an ankle injury, the Derby manager elected to make just the one change to the side which started seven days earlier. Graham Binks came in for the injured Calvert and resumed his central midfield partnership with Martin Hutchinson. Dave Gourlay was shifted out to the right wing whilst James Smiles was given the task of filling the little man’s shoes up front.
Following an impeccably observed minutes silence both teams came out of the traps with positive intent.
The Derby had the first real chance on goal but Martin Thompson saw his left footed effort saved by the trailing legs of the Kings Arms keeper.
James Smiles, Dave Gourlay and Martin Hutchinson all saw shots from outside the area go close as the Derby started to turn up the heat.
It took until around the twenty five minute mark for Kings Arms to muster their first attempt at goal. A left footed shot by Division Two top scorer, Jon Nicholson was straight at Jordan Stothard.
Just after the half hour, Smiles almost put the Derby ahead. His right footed half volley after Robson’s cross field pass was kept out by a worldy of a save from the Kings Arms keeper who dived high to his left to claw the ball out of the top corner.
Kings Arms also had an excellent chance of their own. Stothard spilled a shot to a Kings Arms player who was following up but he lashed the rebound miles over the bar.
In the dying minutes of the first half, Kings Arms thought they should have been awarded a penalty but referee, Ray Dobson, quite rightly spotted that the Kings Arms forward had slipped over whilst under pressure rather than being felled by a Derby defender.
At half time there was nothing to separate the two sides as the score line remained locked at 0-0.
The Derby started the second period on the front foot and almost scored with their first attack of the half.
Then, with around fifty five minutes on the watch the opening goal came and it went to the home side. A Paul Bunyan throw-in on level with the edge of the penalty area found Stephen Robson and his left wing cross found Dave Gourlay, who was lurking just inside the box. Gourlay brought the ball down, stepped inside his marker and fired a left footed shot past a helpless Kings Arms keeper and into the top right hand corner of the net. Gourlay, clearly delighted with his strike celebrated as though he had just scored the winning goal in an FA Cup final by sliding on his knees along the slick Downhill Dome turf.
Five minutes later and the Derby almost doubled their advantage. After some nifty footwork from Smiles down the right, he squared the ball to Thompson but his shot from twelve yards cleared the cross bar by some distance.
Smiles himself then went close shortly afterwards but his header from a left wing cross narrowly went wide of the upright.
Kings Arms were struggling to penetrate the New Derby defence. However, they were almost handed an equaliser with twenty minutes remaining when Bunyan was caught in possession but Stothard came to his rescue making a good save at his near post to tip the ball wide for a corner.
Kings Arms were now exploring every avenue in their quest to score. Long throw-ins began to rain into the Derby box. One particular throw-in missed every one and had to be tipped onto his own bar and over by Stothard.
With just over quarter of an hour remaining, Linton swapped the two James’ as Dodsworth came on for Smiles.
Dodsworth was to have an almost immediate impact as he claimed an assist for the Derby’s second goal. After a good interchange down the left between Robson and Dodsworth, the Derby substitute drove into the penalty area before finding Thompson, who was stood on the penalty spot and the Derby striker made no mistake to send the home touchline into raptures.
Graham Bink’s return came to an end with eleven minutes left when he was replaced by Josh McGill.
Kings Arms came close to pulling a goal back but Jordan Stothard made a superb save diving high to his left to palm a shot destined for the top corner over the bar.
The Derby’s reprieve was to be short-lived though as with a little over four minutes to go, Kings Arms set up a grandstand finish by pulling a goal back. Striker Jon Nicholson delivered a cross from the left wing which was met by a Kings Arms midfielder who headed the ball back in the direction from which it came, out of Stothard’s reach and in off the inside of the post.
In the final minute the Derby killed the game off when Martin Thompson scored his second goal of the game to make the score 3-1. A ball forward saw James Dodsworth run in behind. As he attempted to sprint clear he tussled with a Kings Arms defender and stumbled but the ball broke kindly for Thompson, who rounded the keeper before slipping the ball into the empty net.
So, for the second week in a row the Derby turned in another excellent all round team performance and thoroughly deserved their win against the Divisions current leaders. The Derby are starting to climb the table and importantly now have some good momentum behind them. Despite next week’s fixture being classed as a home one, the Derby travel to Thompson Park to play Chaplins.
