11/09/11: New Derby FC (5) v (2) Washington F Pit FC
Scorers: Calvert 3 (1 pen), Lamb, Scott
Starting Team: Stothard (GK), Josh McGill (Wright), Bunyan, Scott, Robson, Young, Lamb (Boiston), Hutchinson, Dodsworth (Mather), Thompson, Calvert
Subs (Unused): Ashman, Cruddace, Jake McGill, Saddington
Yellows: None
Reds: None
The New Derby overcame Division Three side, Washington F Pit, to advance into the next round of the Solex Manufacturing Cup. The win was built on a first half treble from Rob Calvert as well as goals from Sam Scott and debutant Ian Lamb.
Scott Linton once again found himself without key members of his squad but he was able to keep changes to a minimum as he made just three to the side which started against City FC a week earlier. Both captain, Ben Horn and vice captain, Graham Binks, were away while Luke Taylor will be out for at least the next month with the ankle injury he picked up in the last match. In came Paul Bunyan, who had shaken off an ankle injury of his own, Adam Young, and Ian Lamb, who was making his New Derby debut. Martin Hutchinson took over the captain’s armband.
The Derby struggled in the early stages finding life extremely difficult kicking against the wind. Despite having the wind at their backs the F Pit themselves posed little threat and seemed intent on trying to lump long balls forward from the back.
Both sides were restricted to shots from distance which either went high, wide and not very handsome or were comfortably saved by the respective keepers.
The opening goal duly arrived after around twenty minutes as lowly F Pit took the lead. After receiving a pass back, Derby keeper Stothard only succeeded in kicking the ball straight to an F Pit attacker. As he advanced on goal he was barged over inside the area by Josh McGill and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. From the resulting spot kick the F Pit striker calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left hand corner.
The Derby equalised five minutes later when they scored a penalty of their own. After a ball was played into the box, Martin Thompson was clearly dragged back by an F Pit defender. The F Pit players protested vehemently to the referee but there was no denying that it was a penalty. Up stepped Rob Calvert and he side footed his spot kick virtually down the middle as the keeper dived to his left.
The turnaround was complete with just over ten minutes of the first half remaining when Calvert put the New Derby ahead. A cross from the left by Ian Lamb was narrowly missed by Thompson at the near post but Calvert was on hand to fire the loose ball into the bottom right hand corner from almost on the penalty spot.
In the final couple of minutes of the opening period, Calvert completed his second hat-trick of the season. The Derby broke forward from an F Pit corner and Thompson played a nicely weighted through ball for Calvert to scamper clear and slam a left footed shot past the keeper at his near post.
At half time, the Derby could reflect on a decent first half display safe in the knowledge that they would have the wind at their backs in the second period.
After ten or so minutes of the second half the Derby made the score 4-1 when Ian Lamb capped his debut with a goal. A ball from Thompson found Calvert and he skilfully backheeled the ball into the path of Adam Young on the right edge of the penalty area. He advanced goal wards before unselfishly rolling the ball across the six yard line for Lamb to tap home from close range.
An ankle injury forced Josh Mc Gill off and he was replaced by another new signing in the shape of Mark Wright, who was deployed as a makeshift right back. Lamb was also brought off with Dec Boiston coming on in his place.
Just after the hour mark, F Pit were given a glimmer of hope when they were awarded a second penalty of the game this time following a clumsy attempt at a tackle by Sam Scott. The spot kick was saved by Stothard but the referee ordered a retake as he had not blown his whistle. From the second attempt the F Pit striker made no mistake and crashed the penalty home.
Scott made amends for conceding the penalty shortly afterwards when he put the Derby three goals clear again at 5-2. Following a a foul on Robson, Scott advanced forward seemingly headless chickenesque and played the ball into Calvert’s feet. Calvert then knocked the ball forward back towards Scott and with the help of a little flick by Boiston, the Derby defender found himself bearing down on goal. As the keeper came out to close him down he showed surprising composure to stab the ball past the keeper and the ball dribbled into the bottom corner of the net.
The Derby made there third and final substitution when Chris Mather came on for a tiring James Dodsworth with around fifteen minutes remaining.
The Derby continued to push forward in search for more goals – Scott and Boiston both headed chances over the bar whilst the less said about Hutchinson’s effort from just outside the edge of the box the better.
The final few minutes petered out though and the Derby completed a comfortable 5-2 victory. The Derby return to league action next Sunday with a short trip to Thompson Park to face Chaplins FC.
