Match Report
Derby Ams (4) v Matlock United (0)
| Player | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adam Blackburn | 7 | |
| 3 | Adam Morris | 8 |  |
| 5 | Andrew Singleton | 8 | |
| 6 | Richard Swain | 8 | |
| 8 | James Derbyshire | 8 | |
| 11 | Ady Colley | 8 |   |
| 12 | Duncan Yarnall | 6 |
Date: 22/09/07
Team: 1sts
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Matlock United
The starting line up was again changed from last week with Adam – I wont play again this season but straight back in the team next week – Morris back in his best role of sweeper, Bradders and new addition Jolley (Not Dom) completing the back three. The Singo, Swain and Magee starred in central midfield with Hurst as our left-winger and Derbyshire pretending to be our right. James (newly nicknamed ‘J’) Whittaker accompanied Colley upfront, due (dropped) to (dropped) a (dropped) lack (dropped) of (dropped) goals (dropped) from (dropped) strikers (dropped). Yarnall, Lewis and another new addition Moore completing what is the most talented subs bench we have had this season.
It was refreshing to see some new faces and after only being able to find eleven players last week, we had a squad of fourteen players packed with youth, talent and Bradders. The basis of any competent footballing team, I think you’ll agree!
Our latest opposition were Matlock United. A team who, again, were on a very level playing field to ourselves with them attaining only two more points than us at the start of play but with one more game played.
The match got underway. Early on, after a needless foul by our captain Colley, Matlock were awarded a free kick just inside our half. Their captain took it and floated a ball high into our box, which invited their strikers and anyone else who had gone up for it to challenge our keeper. But never fear, the ball was plucked out of the air (under heavy challenge I might add) by our keeper who instantly distributed to one of our players and got the ball rolling again. You can never under-estimate the importance of a good goalkeeper but when you have the king of reassurance behind you, it must be comforting to every other player on the pitch.
Not long after we had the lead, it was a carbon copy effort from which Dibbsy took so much grief over (see Derby Rolls Royce Leisure Reserves, date 03/09/07) and got the much coveted ‘BONK of the match award for’. The corner came in from Swain which wasn’t dealt with, fell to Richard a yard from goal on his left foot but this time instead of belting the ball over, he calmly side-footed the ball into an open net. The look of joy and jubilation on his face was comparable to that of a seven year olds face coming down stairs on Christmas day to find Santa had visited. He ran off and was, quite rightly, mobbed by all the Mighty Ams players in the opposing half. 1-0.
Not long after we were awarded a penalty. Ads Morris is on penalty duty this year and so far has not let us down with his set pieces. So when he stepped up to take this, we were all fairly confident in his abilities. He didn’t let us down and powered the ball into the bottom corner and sent the keeper the wrong way. 2-0.
The next goal came, and it was that man Dibbsy again who had seemed to find his goal scoring touch. Another corner came floating in and after a moment of scrappy defending the ball fell kindest to Rich who once again, instead of peeling the leather of the ball, slotted home under their keeper to grab his second and our third. Not so much of a celebration this time but still smiled like little red riding hood did when the wolf said he was going to eat her (DVD 18+ version). 3-0.
Then came the most controversial moment of the match. After a kick out by one of their midfielders at Colley, they tried to argue about it not happening by saying that they didn’t see it. To which a certain player in our team, who shall remain nameless, spoke out and said, “I didn’t see the Holocaust, but it still happened.” Shame on you whoever you are. Shame!
Just before the half, we bagged another. Singo this time on target. Another corner came in from the left from Swainey, Andy arrived following a well timed run and swept the ball home with a left footed half volley. If I’m honest it wasn’t brilliant defending but the goal stood. 4-0.
Half time came and we were well in control. We could only lose this game if we either gave in to complacency or took our foot of the proverbial pedal of gas, not literally speaking, and let them back in it. The message was if we keep a clean sheet, we win the game. Simple words, simple meaning and said by someone simple, Swainey.
The second half started. This time it was Magee who ran the show from midfield (ran being the operative word, he must have covered a marathon in the second half). Half way through the second half (does that make it a quarter?) Gary had the better of their captain and was through one-on-one, to which he was hacked down from behind for a second bookable offence and he walked.
From the resulting free-kick the ball was played into the box to which Singo rose like a fish out of concrete to head the ball which crashed against the post/crossbar combo only to see it rebound out and away. It was one of those where a lesser header, and he probably would have scored again.
Substitutions were made and Yarnall replaced Morris, Lewis replaced Whittaker and Moore replaced the goal scoring Derbyshire who received a standing ovation. But, as has been the case with the mighty Ams this season, quality replaced quality and each of the subs coming in did more than an adequate job and filled in as if they had been playing all match.
Lewis came in and caused havoc with constant running and didn’t give their defence a minute of rest. Yarnall did a good job by coming in and talking a simple game, and general all round stability. The debut of John Moore, and he came in with some calming touches and talked, which for a player being involved in his first game was an achievement but for someone in this team is even more remarkable.
All in all, it was our best performance of the season and our first clean-sheet, with massive credit going to the back three (four when Uncle Dunc came on), especially debutant Mike Jolley who seemed to always have time on the ball, the sign of a quality player and Bradders who didn’t put a foot wrong all game. Just what we needed as this weekend we are playing current top team Willington FC away. But with us now six games undefeated, it should be a true tester of how far we have come in the last few weeks.
Another special mention to Swainey for the second week running. He made sound tactical changes when needed and asked us all for a clean sheet and we delivered. Is he the new ‘special one’?
BONK of the Match: Ady Colley – went upfront to try and improve on our strikers scoring ratio and didn’t even have a shot on target. Also, when I told him to try and keep up with play in the second half he bitched about not being able to. Mardiest player in the world????
Man of the Match: Ady Colley – despite not having a single shot on target, did cover a lot of ground from the top and hurried their defence into loosing the ball.
Article by: Adam Blackburn