Match Report

Derby Ams (1) v Lady Bay (1)

Date: 27/03/10
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Lady Bay

Today’s visitors were Ladybay who narrowly beat us 3-2 in the fixture just before the enforced Christmas break, naming the same back four for two weeks running something not done this season saw Derby looking to build on the 1-1 draw last week and hopefully beat a team we’ve never taken points off. Kicking off the game was going to be contested by both teams as the early exchanges saw both teams attack looking for an opening to stamp some authority on the game.
The game settled into a rhythm of to and fro but an early blow to Ladybay saw their goal keeper go off injured after a run and shot by Mayrick landed in a very sensitive area, later in the half a move down the right saw Morris find Jebbett and after some twisting and turning hit a fierce shot which hit the post. Towards the end of the first half the score looked like being nil nil at half time when a Ladybay corner was cleared and the ball put back in saw a player at the far post have an easy tap in 1-0.
At 1-0 down at half time the team talk focused on the fact that the team performance as a whole was poor, with this in mind derby started the half very positively as Jebbett almost from the restart went on a mazy run and got into the penalty area but it came to nothing. Going forward created a few chances one of which saw a counter attack down the right and a cross into the box which found White who chested it down only to see the keeper smother it.
Ladybay were still pushing forward looking for a second goal and Derby’s defence coped with the pressure until a through ball saw R. Smith chasing the striker and clumsily bringing him down just outside the penalty area which saw the ref produce a red card. After a reshuffle of personal the resulting free kick sailed over the bar, 25 minutes to play with ten men saw the Ams still push for an equaliser. A couple of substitutions saw Perry replace Hanstock and Macmillan replace Selby, with Macmillan on the left and Perry on the right minutes later a corner was cleared by Ladybay but only as far as Perry who hit a low drive which deflected of a defender and into the net 1-1.
This then encouraged Ladybay to push forward and at times the Derby penalty area seemed besieged and K. Smith was earning his money as he pulled off save after save to deny our opponents determined attack. A change with 10 minutes to go saw Clay replaced by Yarnall and with the game heading for a draw as the Ams held on under relentless pressure then a late break again saw a ball fired into the Ladybay area and with the last kick of the game White put his effort wide of the post.