Match Report

Derby Ams (1) v Matlock Sports (3)

Date: 11/08/07
Team: 1sts
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Matlock Sports

On a sweltering day in Draycott, Derby Ams took to the field for their first league match of the new 07/08 season. The scene was set for the big kick off with several fans expecting a festival of football, while the inventive pitch markings raised eyebrows for both teams and would play an interesting part in the game.

An under strength Derby team took their place on the pitch against a youthful Matlock Sports team. In an interesting starting line up the main twist saw Derby manager R. Swain playing between the posts and looking like a flying banana. Early exchanges saw Matlock play some flowing football creating several chances to deliver the ball into the mixer, eventually a pinpoint corner was met at the near post and flicked into the far corner despite an acrobatic effort (stood completely still) Swain was beaten.

Derby then started to play more positive football and when the ball was kept on the floor they looked a decent team, hard work by Strickson, Morris in the middle of the park meant Ams began to progress up the pitch and some nice touches by J. Whittaker and Clements gave confidence to the team. Again Matlock had a sustained period of play and moved the ball quickly in both half's of the filed and looking solid at the back pushed forward looking to increase there advantage which they did, the goal came again from a corner which swain punched weakly to an unmarked Matlock player who poked the ball home.

Half time came and went with plenty of water being consumed by both teams, Matlock came out looking to put the game out of reach, which they eventually did soon after, they were given time to bring the ball down have a cup of tea and a sandwich erect a small village, paint the Forth Bridge and prod the ball into the far corner past a hapless Swain.

By this stage captain for the day Morris got his caged rattled and let his players know what they were doing wrong and encouraged the referee to be sterner with some Matlock challenges. Marshall replaced Rampton and injected some extra fight to the Ams front line and put himself about falling awkwardly but continuing on.

Then came a controversial moment of the game a long ball over the top saw Swain exit his area and wait for the ball to bounce back in the box, Matlock claimed he was out which linesman Derbyshire agreed with however the referee disagreed and waved play on much to the relief of Swain and his back pocket.

Several well worked free kicks throughout the game eventually proved fruitful for Derby as a Morris delivery was planted straight on the head of the impressive debutant Bradly and he flew like a salmon to rocket the ball into the roof of the Matlock net. In all the excitement the ball remained in the back of the Matlock net for what seemed like an eternity, before Derby realised it was to their benefit to retrieve it.

Other chances came and went for Derby and the game ended soon after to which most players breathed a huge sigh of relief and walked away heads low but with a worthy effort made.

Congratulations to Matlock Sports who played very well in the hot conditions and were a credit to playing football on a some times difficult pitch, I am sure they will be up at the top of the league come the end of the season.

Man of the Match: Grant Strickson

Article by: Richard Swain