26/02/12: New Derby FC (3) v (2) The Guide Post – After Extra Time
Scorers: Thompson 2, Calvert
Starting Team: Udale (GK), Josh McGill, Horn (c), Bunyan, Robson, Waites, Scott (Binks), Gourlay (Gardner), Dodsworth (Taylor), Thompson, Calvert
Subs (Unused): Ashman, Boiston, Fisher, Wright, Young
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The New Derby went one better than last season as they reached the final of the Solex Manufacturing Cup thanks to a hard fought 3-2 win over The Guide Post after extra time.
Derby manager Scott Linton’s hopes of naming an unchanged team were dealt a blow when Martin Hutchinson ruled himself unfit due to an ongoing achilles problem. This meant a recall in the centre of midfield for team veteran, Dave Gourlay, who missed out in the last game with a spot of man flu.
Both teams started nervously in front of a packed crowd no doubt mindful of what was at stake.
There was little in the way of goal mouth action although Dave Gourlay did see a right footed shot strike a post albeit after it had taken a couple of deflections on route.
The Guide Post were doing a good job of frustrating the Derby but were offering very little as an attacking threat.
It took until the 39th minute for the games opening goal to arrive and when it did it went to the home side. James Waites won a header in midfield which the Guide Post defender misjudged and this allowed the in form Martin Thompson to race clear and dispatch a shot past the keeper to send the Derby touchline into raptures.
The New Derby went into the break with that slender one goal advantage.
After the interval the Derby struggled to get into gear and they were made to pay seven minutes into the second half when with virtually their first shot on target, The Guide Post scored. A ball from midfield was dinked towards the back post where their striker brought the ball down before lashing an unstoppable shot past Udale and into the top left hand corner.
Despite the concession of the equaliser the Derby still failed to spring into life and thing’s got even worse a little under ten minutes later when The Guide Post took the lead. Another ball was delivered from the right into the box where the scorer of the first Guide Post goal looped a header goalwards. Time seemed to stand still as the ball travelled goalwards but the Derby were only able to look on as Udale left the ball, presumably thinking it was going over the bar, only to see it creep just under his crossbar and nestle in the back of the net. It was a rare mistake from the Derby keeper who has been in excellent form since regaining his place in the side.
The Derby now had just under half an hour to save themselves and keep their cup dream alive.
Both players and spectators were getting more and more frustrated with every misplaced pass. Linton responded by sending on Graham Binks for Sam Scott as he attempted to get a grip of the game again.
With sixteen minutes to go, the Derby grabbed an equaliser. Following some good link up play down the left between Stephen Robson and James Dodsworth the ball was moved on to Rob Calvert. He then proceeded to beat a couple of Guide Post defenders before squaring the ball to his strike partner, Thompson, who took one touch to steady himself before slamming the ball home.
As the game entered its final stages, Luke Taylor came on for Dodsworth, a change which saw Robson switched to left wing to allow Taylor to play at full back.
Both sides cancelled each other out for most of the remainder of the half although The Guide Post did almost snatch a winner right at the death. Thankfully, though Udale more than made up for his earlier misjudgement by making a smart save down to his left to divert a shot wide.
And so the game went to extra time.
In extra time, the Derby, who were clearly the fitter of the two outfits, started to regain control.
Gourlay almost put the Derby ahead but he was thwarted by a good save from The Guide Post keeper.
Then, in the 112th minute of the match, came the all important winning goal. Martin Thompson flicked a long ball forward into the path of Calvert. He displayed good upper body strength to outmuscle his marker before sprinting clear and shovelling a left footed shot under the keeper and into the back of the net. While the finish will not live to long in the memory the significance of the goal certainly will. The New Derby touchline were going mental at this point but The Guide Post had come from behind to draw level once before, the big question was could they do it again?
The answer to that question from a New Derby perspective was thankfully no, as they comfortably played out the remaining minutes to secure their passage into the final.
While the Derby were not at their best in a game like this it is simply the result that matters and everyone connected to the Derby was thrilled with the victory. The win represents a fantastic achievement for the team who in only their second season have qualified for a cup final. In the final the Derby are scheduled to meet Inn Place in what is sure to be a very tough test. Next up for the Derby is a return to league action as they welcome mid table, The Halfway House FC, to the Downhill Dome.
