Match Report

Derby Ams (1) v Sherwood Colliery (1)

Date: 23/01/10
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Sherwood Colliery

Today’s home fixture saw the visit of Sherwood colliery the highest scoring team in the division and after the 7-1 thumping at their place this was going to be a tough fixture defensively, also the extended Christmas lay off would come into play. Right from the kick off it was clear that our opponents were hoping to add not only to their goal tally but their points tally as well.
Derby’s back four were under pressure with balls down both flanks and through the middle calling early into action keeper K. Smith, with the early play coming down the right and through the middle Derbyshire and Prytherch were in the thick off the action with Sherwood’s midfield and forwards giving the Ams defence no rest bite.
Derby struggled to get hold of the ball and play with balls pushed forward seeming to come straight back at the back four, the good work done by the defence keeping the forwards at bay ended when Sherwood got the first goal with a ball over the top dropping at the strikers feet and coolly finished over the advancing keeper 1-0. This kick started the Ams as they started to string some moves together and threaten our opponent’s goal finally getting some shots on target.
The half ended with Derby looking the better team and causing Sherwood to argue amongst themselves as they didn’t like the physical nature of the game. The team talk over and the second half began with the Ams players looking for ball retention, space was being found and exploited down the left by White and with similar joy on the right by Macmillan but the final ball wasn’t forth coming in the final third. With Hanstock and Selby working hard in the middle our youthful opponents were pushing through the middle and a succession of corners saw them put pressure on the goal but the back four held on with R. Smith clearing on more than one occasion.
The front two of Perry and Bravo were having not much joy against a disciplined Sherwood defence and the keeper was little troubled due to this, changes made saw Clay replaced by Kearton and Bravo replaced by Crosby this seemed to bring new impetus as Derby pushed for an equaliser. The play now seemed to ebb back and forth but the advantages started to fall Derby’s way as pressure was applied to Sherwood’s goal. A corner floated over and after some ping ponging in the area the ball fell to Derbyshire who poked the ball home 1-1.
The game was nicely poised for the final 20 minutes Derby’s final substitution saw Perry make way for Yarnall, as Sherwood pressed for another goal and the hopefully the winner but this was leaving gaps into which Crosby was finding picking the ball up easy and drawing fouls which were to the Ams advantage. Yarnall was holding the ball up well and Kearton was playing some good balls for Hanstock to chase. Crosby went close just over the bar and Yarnall hit the bar.
Another good point boys proving were a team to be beaten not just a team to turn up against to get 3 points. Credit to the work rate and effort today after the extended brake. Man of the Match today was close between R. Smith and Prytherch two outstanding displays against a good passing team with Prytherch just shaving it.