Match Report

Wollaton IV (2) v Derby Ams (2)

	Player	Rating
1	kirt smith	8
2	James Derbyshire	7
3	Robin Smith	7
4	Simon Prytherch	7
5	Elliot Clay	7
6	paul kearton	8
7	Darren Hanstock	6
8	Mark Hosker	7
9	Ben Perry	6
10	Aiden Meyrick	7
11	Ashley Bravo	8
12	Dale Blackburn	6

Date: 06/03/10
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Away
Opposition: Wollaton IV

Today saw an away trip to another team at the bottom of the table Wollaton who like ourselves were looking for points. With a depleted squad Derby were hopeful of coming away with 3 points. Starting with a new formation the game got under way and early pressure from our hosts saw them have a couple of efforts at goal. The Ams were slow to get to grips with the game as time and again the ball came back at Derby’s back four and after a succession of corners Wollaton took the lead with Derbyshire heading into his own net.
Early bookings for the Ams didn’t help settle the team, but football was trying to be played but without success. Wollaton had a chance to further their lead after Hanstock was judged to have handled the ball in the area; the resulting penalty was saved by K. Smith to keep the score at 1-0.chances were few and far between until Prytherch went up front to partner Bravo, things started to happen as balls up front were held up and a few shots on target helped settle Derby.
Late in the first half the ball over the top had troubled the Derby back four and this time it paid off for Wollaton as it was latched on to and dispatched past K.Smith to make it 2-0 going into the interval. The team talk was full of home truths as this was one of the worst first half performances this season and things needed to change, going to 4-4-2 Hanstock coming into the back four and Hosker moving to midfield and Kearton and Perry swapping flanks. Derby started the second half more positive and were starting to play the game at a tempo which was causing our hosts trouble.
Some good play saw chances created and from set plays Meyrick and Kearton were putting good ball into the area, with the efforts on target and being unlucky not to get an early 2nd half goal. But with persistence the goal eventually came as a counter attack saw Prytherch play in Bravo who finished well to bring the score back to 2-1, Wollaton did try to push and did get some balls into the Derby area but with the half time rollicking still ringing in their ears the back four held firm.
With the full time whistle approaching and Derby seemingly starting to camp in our opponents half more chances were created one of which saw Kearton run down the left flank and find Prytherch who played the ball across the 6 yard line and Hosker slid in at the far post to make it 2-2, an exciting finish was set up. With the pressure still firmly on Wollaton, the Ams were throwing everything up the field in an attempt to get the winner as at the death a corner was given and much to derby’s frustration was dealt with and the whistle blew. A much better team performance 2nd half boys, but with a strange twist of fate every game in division one was drawn. A win is needed next week boys to propel us to safety.