Match Report

Derby Ams (2) v Acorn Athletic (4)

	Player	Rating
1	Mark Hosker	7
6	Ben Perry	7
7	Michael Hart	7
8	Darren Hanstock	7
9	Mark Jebbett	7
10	Edward Macmillan	6
12	David Crosby	7

Date: 11/04/09
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Acorn Athletic

This afternoon’s fixture was against the Acorn side who won the cup 2-0 on Thursday night, being one of the division’s top sides we were in for a tough game. With the players available we played in a 4-5-1 formation that frustrated our previous opponents Nottingham but saw us unlucky to not take any points from the game. Playing on the smallest pitch we’ve played on all season the game kicked off and saw Acorn come flying out of the blocks, Derby coped well for the first 20 minutes and even got some forward action themselves, which saw a Gale effort needing to be tipped round the post.

Acorns first goal came from a good through ball which split the defence and saw the striker race clear and finish with a low effort into the corner. The second came from a free kick on derby’s right and headed into the top corner by McCrystal giving the keeper no chance, getting to half time 2-0 down it was clear that the formation wasn’t working, their midfield moved the ball well if all too easy this needed to be counted.

Changing to 3-5-2 Fisher went upfront alongside Gale, maintaining the midfield five and attempting to push forward and not be on the back foot as much. Acorn still applied pressure as all good footballing teams do, a succession of corners saw more pressure for Derby’s defence and saw another goal for the visitors. Our fortunes didn’t get any better when a forward run resulted in Razor giving away a penalty, which was dispatched with the keeper not getting near it.

4-0 down and with Fisher being bullied by the opposing number 3 all of which the ref didn’t see, a change with 25 minutes left saw Crosby replace Fisher in a straight swap. Then M. Hart picked up a knee injury which saw Crosby drop into midfield and Hart push up front. Hosker’s long kicks up field started to bare fruit with Gale and Hart getting on to these balls and forcing some pressure on Acorns back four. A throw on the left saw Gale find Harts feet on the by line and a quick low cross saw Perry net from close range his 6th of the season. Late on in the game after more pressure from derby’s midfield found more opportunities to get forward, and Hart beat 3 players to be in the area and to rifle his shot into the top corner giving the keeper no chance.

The result being a loss now adds more pressure to the remaining 3 games of which are all winnable and 9 points would be a nice way to finish the season and beat last season’s points tally. So lets every one of us produce his best not just for himself but for the team.