Match Report

Derby Ams (1) v Nottinghamshire (4)

Date: 21/03/09
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Nottinghamshire

A sunny, if slightly windy, afternoon playing at home hosting Nottingham before the return fixture next week. We started 4-4-2, but again with a shortage of options at centre half and with yet more injuries worries to contend with we still put out a strong team. With M. Hart’s 30th birthday just a few days away it was decided to give him the captain’s armband for the afternoon. Derby were slow from the kickoff and struggled to find a rhythm looking ragged with passes going astray and not holding on to the ball. Nottingham put the ball to good use to putting attacks down both flanks one of which resulted in their first goal a shot that looped over our keeper and into the net.

It got slightly better when composed ourselves and put a few passes together and forced our way into our opponents area at times but a finishing touch was lacking, a melee between both sets of players ensued after a foal by Hanstock for which he was booked got out of hand with the referees whistle sounding like a train passing through.

After both teams settled down Derby broke down a Nottingham attack and two passes later saw the ball at Perry’s feet who found the back of the net with a low effort for his 5th goal of the season. towards the end of the half a forward probe found the ball in the air on the edge of our area with Clay playing the Nottingham striker on side who volleyed the ball home to make it 2-1 at the interval.

Getting the 2nd half underway Derby were looking to up their first half performance and get back into the game. At times some good football and effort saw some shots on goal and the Nottingham back four on the back foot under a bit of pressure, but again the finishing touch was lacking; had a goal came at this point, 2-2, it would have made the game more difficult.

Alas, a 3rd Nottingham goal saw the game go out of Derby’s reach. Substitutions were made with McCrystal, M. Hart and Gale coming off , and saw D. Hart, Fisher and Blackburn coming on. Some good passing was produced, but all too often the ball was coming straight back at the Ams back four, with the opposing forwards moving well across the front line and showing good touches.

A late 4th goal for Nottingham came with a ball from the wing inside into a midfielder who had time and space to hit a long effort from the edge of the centre circle over the keeper into an empty net. With the drop looming large now is the time to step up and get some much needed results.