27/11/11: New Derby FC (1) v (0) Silksworth Fleece
Scorers: Thompson
Starting Team: Udale (GK), Bunyan, Horn (c), Scott, Robson, Smiles (Waites), Gourlay, Hutchinson, Dodsworth, Thompson, Calvert
Subs (Unused): Boiston, Binks, Taylor, Young, Wright
Yellows: None
Reds: Scott
A display of real grit and determination saw the New Derby finally get one over on Silksworth Fleece as the home side recorded a 1-0 success despite playing the majority of the match with only ten men.
The Derby suffered a real blow in the week building up to the game when no.1 Jordan Stothard damaged knee ligaments playing five-a-side and was ruled out for up to a year. Luckily, the Derby were able to call upon reserve keeper, Steve Udale, who was drafted in for his second appearance of the season. Vice-captain, Graham Binks, was dropped to the bench with the Rob Calvert being restored to the starting line up.
Extremely strong winds gusted around the Dome and both sides struggled in the early stages to adapt to the difficult playing conditions.
The games first real talking point came with just over a quarter of an hour gone. Rob Calvert intercepted a poor back pass but was then unceremoniously cleaned out by the Silksworth Fleece keeper as he charged out of the area. It was the most blatant foul you could wish to see and given that the keeper was the last line of defence and had denied a goal scoring opportunity a red card was expected to follow. Incredibly the referee, John McDowell, deemed the offence to be worthy of just a caution, a decision which incensed the Derby touchline. From the resulting free kick, Stephen Robson saw his firmly struck left footed effort pushed away by the keeper.
The Derby’s anger increased five minutes later when the referee having just failed to send the Silksworth Fleece keeper off, decided to dismiss Derby defender, Sam Scott. While there can be no doubt that Scott’s hauling down of the attacker when clean through should be punished with a red card it demonstrated a staggering lack of consistency from the official who was beginning to lose his grip on proceedings.
With the Derby now down to ten men, Linton responded by withdrawing the unfortunate James Smiles and bringing on James Waites for his debut. Waite’s introduction also prompted a tactical change with James Dodsworth joining Ben Horn and Paul Bunyan as one of three centre backs with Waites and Robson deployed as wing backs.
Despite having a man advantage, Silksworth Fleece struggled to make their numerical advantage count. The closest they came to scoring was when one of their players cottoned onto a ball over the top, rounded Steve Udale but was then crowded out by a posse of Derby defenders.
At the break, Linton rallied his troops telling them that the game was still very much there for the taking.
The Fleece continued to dominate possession at the beginning of the second half but as was the case in the first period they struggled to create any clear cut chances. The Derby backline were proving extremely well organised.
Just before the hour mark, the Derby almost took the lead. Martin Thompson beat the offside trap and raced clear but his shot brought a decent save from the Fleece keeper.
Then with twenty eight minutes remaining, the deadlock was finally broken as the New Derby went ahead. A ball forward by Waites found Calvert in the penalty area. He turned his marker but was blocked off by the other centre half. The ball ran loose to the oncoming Martin Hutchinson, who could only kick his shot against Calvert. The ball rebounded kindly straight to Martin Thompson who, once he had sorted his feet out, struck a shot past the Fleece keeper at his near post. The goal may not have been out of the top drawer in terms of quality but it was one which would prove to be oh so important.
For the remainder of the game, Silksworth Fleece pressed hard but other than one effort which was headed wide and another that was tipped round the post by Udale they failed to seriously test the exceptional Derby defensive unit.
As the final whistle went the Derby celebrated a brilliant win, one which was all the sweeter given they had played for so long a man light. Next week sees the Derby return to cup action as they play host to Division Three side, Grange Park, in the quarter finals of the Solex Manufacturing Cup.
