Match Report

Keyworth United (2) v Derby Ams (2)

Date: 27/10/07
Team: 2nds
Match Type: League
Venue: Away
Opposition: Keyworth United

Derby arrived for their final league game of October against a young Keyworth team after a consistent two weeks of cup games. Grum set the tone for the afternoon by demanding penetrative width from the starting eleven.

Derby started with old face Neil Smith in goal, a centre back pairing of Neale and Grum, Tom making his first start at left back and David Hart in the more familiar right back role. Across the midfield John and Greeny started in the centre, Jack moved to the left wing and Bravo took up an unfamiliar role on the right. Up front Grum stuck with Grants bearded trickery and after his athletic preparations of a sausage sandwich, Crosby.

Derby started the brighter with some good passing moves that looked frighteningly like football with Tom looking very composed at left back. Unfortunately, against the run of play Keyworth took a lucky lead. The ball run free from a Derby attack around half way and the big ginger Keyworth centre half booted it clear down the pitch. Due to wind assistance and the weight behind the kicking leg it whistled into the top corner leaving a stranded Nez helpless in the Derby net.

Unlike previous weeks this wasn’t the catalyst for collapse and we responded with some good quality fast flowing football. John and Greeny got the ball down in the centre to start some good passing moves and Jack was looking comfortable on the left. It didn’t take long before Derby responded with a good passing move that resulted in a deft near post finish from Bravo who had replaced an injured Crosby upfront.

After a positive team talk the much improved side came out for the second half with wind and slope assistance. They started fairly well, but were caught out at the back two times early on and were only saved by the impressive Derby keeper. Just as Derby were getting back into the match Michael Hart showed composure to lash the ball as hard as he could from the halfway line and the resulting shot narrowly drifted over.

Derby continued to push and although it started to get a little ragged they were looking more potent than in recent weeks. Then against the run of play a pass from John was intercepted by the pacey Keyworth sweeper. Keyworth attacked down the right, the winger whipped in a good ball and the substitute left midfielder went to kick it in an empty net. David Hart cleared the ball off the line and a goal mouth scramble ensued until Grum took charge and confidently rifled the ball home for Keyworths second goal.

Again we responded well and put the Keyworth back line under pressure. From one of the attacks we won a corner which Jack swung in to the back post area for Grant to head home. Celebrations were cut short when the referee highlighted a non-existent push in the box which even mystified the Keyworth supporters.

Derby still stuck to their task well and when Michael Hart burst out of defence hopes were high. He picked out Greeny well on the wing who found Grant unmarked on the edge of the box. He jinked inside and was hacked down by the Keyworth sweeper. Grant picked himself up and slotted home the penalty for the equaliser to screams of “JUSTICE” from Derby’s manager.

Keyworth again came back at us and pushed for the winning goal. It took a strong last ditch tackle from Matt Fisher in the right back position to expel a Keyworth attack and the ball ran free to Grant on half way. As he turned the Keyworth centre half came chugging into shot and preceded to continue his favourite hobby of booting Grant. The ball came to Bravo and we had a 4 on 3 attack, but the referee decided the time was right to hand out the defenders 2nd booking and sent him off.

All in all, we were much improved and showed some good passing. Tom’s composure at left back helped us build attacks, midfield battled better (although John’s not as good in the air as Jebbett), the whole defence made better decisions and we gave Grant more of the ball to his feet.

Report by Mark Jebbett