Match Report

Derby Ams (2) v Old Elizabethans II (2)

Date: 09/01/10
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Old Elizabethans II

After last week’s narrow loss a win was more important than ever, today’s visitors were Old Elizabethans who we drew with earlier in the season. Making a few changes saw Yarnall, Kearton and Jebbett come into the starting line up, Derby were looking to play some positive football. Derby kicked off and from this pushed forward and with just a couple minutes on the clock Meyrick was brought down in the area for a penalty to be awarded. Hosker stepped up to take the penalty and saw his effort saved by the keeper.
The game then started to open up with both teams pushing for the first goal, good ball was had and used seeing White and Kearton push down both flanks with a couple of good deliveries into the box but little end product, OE’s struck first with a well taken free kick played across the box saw Clay fail to deal with it and keeper K. Smith dive short of saving it 1-0.
A goal down Derby had to collect themselves and search for an equaliser, this saw a renewed effort as Meyrick and Bravo busied themselves pressing the OE’s back four and Jebbett pressing in midfield and using the ball to press an opening. In the end it took a mazy run from Hosker as he dribbled into the area only to be fouled on the by line, penalty. This time Hanstock placed the ball on the spot and stepped up and struck it low and hard beyond the keepers reach 1-1.
The half time team talk went the way of being able to beat them; also Derby made a change seeing the injured Jebbett making way for Perry. As OE’s kicked off the second half it was clear that they were out for another goal, the game ebbed and flowed as each side looked for the next goal and both saw efforts dealt with by both defences. Midway through the second half R. Smith turned on the edge of his own area and played the ball into the path of an opposing striker who squared the ball and the resulting shot found the back off the net 2-1.
Soon after an injury to keeper K. Smith saw him replaced by Macmillan and Hanstock go in goal, this seemed to bring renewed effort as Derby found their way into OE’s area but the end product was missing. The equaliser came courtesy of Meyrick who picked up the ball on the edge of his own area and set off on a run that saw him brought down for a free kick 25 yards from goal. Meyrick took the resulting free kick and his shot went straight and true into the back of the net 2-2.
The game was nicely poised with Derby’s last substitution seeing Crosby replace Bravo. Efforts started to come thick and fast as Macmillan went close with a shot that was well saved by the OE’s keeper. Still at the other end Derby had to defend as time and again the ball was cleared, up the other end Crosby and Perry showed some good touches and used the ball well but the game ended in a draw.