Match Report

Derby Ams (9) v Nottinghamshire III (3)

Date: 19/12/09
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Nottinghamshire III

After a poor run of results and performances notably last Saturday’s 6-1 defeat at Thursday night’s 4-0 cup winners Nottingham III, also that night saw a superb 2-1 and a valuable 3 points win at second in the table Radcliffe. This fixture was going to be interesting to say the least. The game started smartly as both teams looked to take the initiative and get the first goal as it turned out it was Derby after only a few minutes when a free kick by Morris in his own half went over the visitors defence and was dispatched into the back over the net by Hanstock 1-0.
This was the start of a to and fro to the game as Nottingham came back and grabbed an equaliser 1-1, after some good play in the middle of the park with Savage using the ball well into the forwards feet as well out to the flanks were some progress was made. Derby’s second goal came courtesy of good work by Bravo who finished smartly 2-1, but again a long throw deep in the home sides half wasn’t dealt with and the visitors again with an easy header equalised 2-2.
Derby’s third came before half time as Savage found Bravo who twisted and turned on the edge of the area before the ball was cleared but only to the right back clay who put the ball straight back in over the Nottingham defence to Bravo who again finished coolly for his second of the game 3-2, it could have been 4-2 had Kearton who burst into the area to see his effort well saved. The half time team talk was all about focus and not giving away cheap goals, changes were made at half time saw Bravo and Kearton come off with Prytherch replacing Hosker in goal as he took Bravos place up front and with Kearton’s replacement Cartwright taking up position on the left of midfield.
The second half got under way and Derby stamped their authority on the game with Hosker grabbing the forth and the first of many for himself 4-2. Nottingham were still putting passes together and trying to make inroads into the Ams area but with Selby and Morris stopping most of the play before it got near the goal to trouble new keeper Prytherch. Captain R. Smith was seeing a lot of ball on the left and was the start of many a good move down the flank which resulted in some good ball into the opposing penalty area were Hosker got goal number five and his second 5-2.
The half was still young when Hosker again popped up in the area to dispatch the ball with great finish for his hat trick and Derby’s sixth 6-1, Nottingham made changes as they tried desperately to find a way back into the game. Chances were coming thick and fast for a slick attacking Ams team as Crosby dribbled his way into the area and fired just wide but soon after Hosker latched on to a through ball and grabbed his forth to make it 7-2. Our visitors substitutions paid off as they picked up the ball and rode four challenges and squared the ball and saw it driven home from the edge of the area took make it 7-3.
More was to come from Derby when Jebbett forced his way into the area to get a goal for all his hard work in the game to make it 8-3, Jebbett then made way for K. Smith for a late cameo. Hosker wasn’t done as his one man goal machine then made it 9-3 but he could have had six but for his late run into the box and from 3 yards out managed to put the ball past the post in what seemed to be his easiest chance. This was an impressive turnaround from last week’s 6-1 thrashing boys but let’s not get carried away next week’s fixture is just as important as this. I’ll settle for another land slide score line but 1-0 will be just as good.