25/09/11: New Derby FC (2) v (2) The Guide Post
Scorers: Thompson, Gardner
Starting Team: Stothard (GK), Ashman (Binks), Horn (c), Scott, Robson, Gourlay, Gardner, Hutchinson, Dodsworth, Thompson, Calvert
Subs (Unused): Young, Wright
Yellows: Gourlay, Binks
Reds: None
Goals from Martin Thompson and Jonny Gardner proved to be not enough as the Derby were denied a third straight league win when The Guide Post grabbed an injury time equaliser to secure a share of the spoils.
Scott Linton’s hopes of naming an unchanged side were dealt a blow in the warm up when Graham Binks declared himself unfit to start after he picked up a knock in a game the day before. This meant the returning Jonny Gardner, was handed an immediate recall to play in the centre of midfield alongside Martin Hutchinson.
The Derby almost struck an early blow with just five minutes on the watch. Centre back Sam Scott broke out of defence and after exchanging passes with a couple of team mates he found himself clean through on goal. However, he was only able to shoot straight at the keeper who parried the ball wide for a corner.
Both sides were struggling to get the ball down and put together a move of any note.
It took until the twentieth minute for the next chance on goal to materialise. A Guide Post effort from just outside the edge of the penalty area was comfortably saved low down by Stothard.
Just over five minutes later though and the Derby took the lead. A ball from Martin Hutchinson down the right found Martin Thompson. He skilfully lifted the ball over a Guide Post defender, and hit a nicely controlled right footed half volley past a static keeper at his near post.
Dave Gourlay was cautioned shortly after the half hour mark for dissent.
The final action of note during the first half came in the thirty eighth minute. Following a long ball forward from one of the Derby backline, a poor defensive header saw Rob Calvert scamper clear. After manoeuvring the ball back onto his usually reliable left foot he fired the ball over the bar with just the keeper to beat. It was a chance that Calvert would normally have taken.
At half time Scott Linton was forced into a change. With Iain Ashman having picked up an injury during the first half, the manager decided to throw on Graham Binks. The introduction of Binks meant that Jonny Gardner moved out to cover the right back slot vacated by Ashman.
The Derby nearly added to their advantage a minute or so after the break. A nicely weighted through ball by Calvert found Hutchinson, who had made an excellent run from deep. This left Hutchinson with a 1v1 chance and the perfect opportunity to score his first goal of the season. However, the moment seemed to get to the Derby midfield playmaker and he hit a tame shot straight at the keeper who saved it with his legs.
The long ball seemed to be the weapon of choice for both teams and on the odd occasions when decent football had been played the final ball went astray.
Stephen Robson came agonisingly close to scoring the second goal of the game but his well uted free kick from twenty five yards was just tipped onto the bar by the Guide Post keeper who was at full stretch.
Just before the hour mark and against the run of play, The Guide Post equalised. Following a Derby corner, the ball was delivered long back towards the penalty area where it was cleared by a defender. The Guide Post then counter attacked to perfection. A pass was played out to the left winger and he made his way to the by line before cutting inside and pulling the ball back to a team mate who fired home from close range. It was a poor goal to concede from the Derby’s point of view but it meant it was very much a case of game on again. Graham Binks was booked for dissent in the aftermath of the goal for what can only be described as optimistic appeals for offside.
Five minutes later and the Derby almost went ahead again but Thompson’s glancing header from Calvert’s cross narrowly cleared the crossbar.
As the game entered the final fifteen minutes it was still all to play for. The Derby again came within a whisker of regaining the lead. A Graham Binks header from a corner was cleared off the line and Sam Scott was only able to stab the follow up inches wide of the upright.
Then, with less than three minutes remaining, the Derby scored to go 2-1 up. Some excellent work by man of the match, James Dodsworth (yes he was still on the pitch in the 88th minute of the game for once!), saw him skip down the left evading a couple of attempted hacks on the way. He then crossed the ball into the box and despite it being missed by Calvert and another Derby player, it fell to Jonny Gardner who was unmarked on the far post and he rifled the ball home. The goal sparked scenes of celebration on the Derby touchline who no doubt believed that goal had seen their side snatch the points.
The drama did not end there though as in the 97th minute the Guide Post grabbed the latest of late levellers. A long ball forward was fatally missed by Ben Horn, who had had an excellent game up to that point, and the Guide Post forward sprinted clear and slotted the ball past Stothard to break both the Derby players and supporters hearts. To rub further salt into the wound, Derek Callaghan, almost immediately blew the final whistle not even allowing the game to restart again.
While the Derby will count themselves unfortunate to have conceded an equaliser so late in the game, the truth is that the team’s performance was not really good enough to warrant the three points. The Derby now have a week off before their next match – a League Cup 2nd Round clash against the side currently top of the Premiership, Humbledon Plains Farm.
