Match Report

Nottinghamshire (1) v Derby Ams (0)

	Player	Rating
4	James Derbyshire	8
5	Elliot Clay	8
6	Ben Perry	8
7	Michael Hart	8
8	Darren Hanstock	8
9	David Hart	8
10	Adam White	8
12	Edward Macmillan	7
14	David Crosby	7

Date: 28/03/09
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Away
Opposition: Nottinghamshire

Today saw the return fixture against last week’s opponents Nottinghamshire, it was a windy day with the wind blowing diagonally across the pitch. Derby kicked off playing in a 4-5-1 formation hoping to have more joy in midfield than last week, we started brightly getting the ball up field though at times carried to far by the wind.

Some good early pressure down the left found chalky getting into crossing positions on more than one occasion but when the ball got into the box hoping to find Derby players but the ball was smothered by an alert Nottingham back four. The game wasn’t all one way and our opponents probe down both flanks and through the middle but failed to trouble our back for or Razor the 5th Ams goal keeper this season.

The game flowed to and fro and Derby held firm, pushing forward were unlucky not to score but in pushing forward at times became stretched allowing Nottingham to get into the box and get some shots of their own away. Going in at half time all square gave hope of getting something in the 2nd half.

Starting the 2nd period as they finished the first tackling hard and winning headers and ball in midfield, Derby played against the wind which Nottingham used to their advantage and put the ball long into the channels but finding little joy getting round a solid Ams back four.

Going forward was tough for Derby but on occasions broke past the Nottingham defence with only last ditch tackles saving the day and denying a shot at goal. An injury to Clay (two stud holes in his shin) saw him replaced by Macmillan on the left of midfield with Chalky slotting in at left back. The game drew on and looked to be heading for a draw, two changes with around 10 minutes remaining saw the Hart brothers replaced by Fisher and Crosby with the team shuffling to 4-4-2. A huge punt forward caught the Ams back four square and the resulting shot found the top corner of the net.

Late efforts from Perry which was only just saved by Nottingham’s goal keeper who minutes later tipped Gale\'s free kick over the bar. A much better effort all round this week and not the rollover that our opponents were expecting and we were unlucky not to get some points out of this game.