Match Report

Derby Ams (0) v Swanwick Pentrich Road (3)

Date: 22/08/07
Team: 1sts
Match Type: League
Venue: Home
Opposition: Swanwick Pentrich Road

On paper it was a strong Derby Ams squad which saw Grant move back upfront and the return of our captain Ady Colley and defender Bradders to add some solidity to the spine of the team and the bench be reinforced by Sam Marshall, Kelvin and Singo in waiting.

Anybody who has logged on to this in their break from work or at home wanting to read a report on how Derby Ams tore apart their latest opposition playing quick precise football, delicate passes, and possession play had better look away now.

WE WERE AWFUL! By far and away the worst we have played (and hopefully will play) this season. I have the luxury of being able to read what Swainey has given us as ratings before I write this, but to give us all a 4 (except Ady, who I thought was the worst player on the pitch – no joke) (Swain here Ady got 5 for effort as once I was subbed was the only person I could hear on the pitch, 4 was me being nice) was a bit lenient.

The pitch was perfect for a passing football game. And for the first twenty minutes at least, that is what we did. We had all the play and after just two minutes a one-two was played in the middle of the park, which saw Colley go through one-on-one with their keeper (who was the biggest man in the whole world) only for him to strike the ball straight at him.

Swanwick couldn’t clear their lines quick enough and when they did the ball was just played through the park right back at them. And just in an instant, as if someone had switched off the Derby Ams footballing light, which had so far beaconed like a lighthouse on far and distant shore, our hard work stopped. Roll on the laughter!

Thirty minutes into the game Swanwick had to change their formation to try and apply more pressure on us at the back putting their left-winger in attack and created a three-man strike force.

It was this extra man that was put through on goal after some sloppy short passing by the midfield who shot off target only to see a forward who gambled, find himself in three acres of space and time to build a house on it, slot home and fall over when running off to celebrate (the silly sod). 1-0.

Shortly after the same third striker broke through the midfield only to be fouled by Colley in a dangerous position, on the edge of our box. The wall was assembled but with Morris facing goal and the other three being deaf mutes, the keeper had no idea whether to expect a quick free kick or wait for the whistle. The free kick was taken, lofted over the wall and found the top corner. Keeper should have done better really. 2-0.

Half time couldn’t come quick enough and when the whistle blew it was a relief to us all. Maybe you would have to look at the manager for not changing formation (edited by Swain again I did you obviously was not listening, but being fair that’s no surprise as no one is doing) when we realised of their formation change, or maybe you should blame the midfield as they outnumbered the opposition five to three. Either way it was this extra man introduced up top that won them the half.

The second half got underway and within ten minutes the visitors had been reduced to ten men for abusive language towards the official. This coupled with a strong wind now in our favour meant that we had the upper hand and could move yet another player into midfield to try and play ‘our game.’

But in true ‘back against the wall’ fashion we started to play a long ball game with the ball often rolling out of play. Ads Morris came closest with his effort from thirty-five yards that was destined for the top corner, only to be denied a goal by a fine one handed save from the keeper.

The one thing that has been evident so far this season is that we have had strength in depth so when Singo, Kelvin and Marshall came on in the second half it re-injected a bit of life into a dying team. It was these three players that combined to give us our best effort in the second half.

Singo played a ball out to the left that saw Kelvin dribble past his defender cross the ball on Marshall’s foot only to see him blaze over from inside the six-yard box.

With constant pressing we were always going to leave ourselves vulnerable at the back, which is how their third goal came about. A quick break saw a ball drop 50/50 between our keeper and their forward. Our keeper got there first and drilled the ball away hitting their striker on the arm, quite blatantly, only for the official (I refuse to call him a referee as it was an obvious obstruction with his arm!) to wave play on and the striker had an open goal to score into. 3-0.

This turned out to be the last notable action of a match that saw a good Swanwick team come up against a very below par Derbyshire Amateurs.

BONK of the Match: Ady Colley – Saw a shot of his in the second half, just outside the opposition box, fly higher and wider than a high wide thing.

Man of the Match: James Derbyshire – Best of a bad bunch really. Just cant remember him doing a lot wrong

Article by: Adam Blackburn