11/03/12: New Derby FC (7) v (1) The Halfway House FC
Scorers: Calvert 3, Thompson, Waites 3
Starting Team: Udale (GK), Josh McGill, Horn (c) (Bunyan), Scott, Robson, Waites, Binks, Gourlay (Gardner), Dodsworth, Thompson (Boiston), Calvert
Subs (Unused): Fisher, Smiles, Wright, Young
Yellows: None
Reds: None
An inspired performance by Rob Calvert helped the New Derby record a 7-1 victory over Halfway House in a very one sided contest. Calvert and midfielder James Waites both scored hat-tricks whilst Martin Thompson also chipped in with a customary goal.
Despite last week’s cup semi final win Derby manager Scott Linton demonstrated his ruthless streak before the match by axing centre half Paul Bunyan from the starting line up. His place was taken by the recalled Graham Binks in a move which saw Sam Scott revert back into defence to allow Binks to occupy his usual midfield role.
The New Derby started very positively and dominated proceedings right from the first whistle.
They almost took an early lead when Rob Calvert’s trickery down the left saw him present Martin Thompson with a virtually open goal but unusually for the Derby’s normally reliable striker he fired his effort over the bar.
Thompson came close a few minutes later when Calvert fashioned another chance for him but this time he just couldn’t connect with a diving header.
Dodsworth and Calvert were causing no end of problems for the right side of the Halfway House defence and following good link up play between the two of them, Dodsworth had a shot saved by the keeper.
Halfway House were struggling to offer anything as an attacking threat although they did force a flurry of corners, from one of which they nearly took a shock lead themselves. A ball was delivered into the penalty area and headed goal wards where only an alert bit of defending on the post from Stephen Robson saw him header the ball over his own crossbar.
The Derby were forced to wait until first half stoppage time before finally moving ahead. A ball from Dodsworth was played into the feet of Calvert, who turned his marker. Calvert then went on a mazy run beating three more defenders before shovelling a right footed shot past the keeper into the bottom corner. It was the perfect time to score right before the break and nothing more than the New Derby striker and his team deserved for their first half endeavours.
At the interval there was a plea for patience from Linton who advised his troops that if they continued playing in the manner they had then the goals would come.
Just over five minutes into the second half he was proved correct as Calvert grabbed a second goal. Following a pass from striker partner, Thompson, the diminutive forward jinked past the Halfway House left back and once again slotted the ball home with his right foot.
Things got even better for the Derby and Calvert two minutes later when the little man completed a welcome return to form by grabbing his fifth hat-trick of the season. After more excellent work down the left by Dodsworth he delivered an inch perfect cross for the unmarked Calvert to nod home. That goal was also his 24th goal of what has been an up and down season.
With the game as good as over, Ben Horn came off to rest a tight thigh. Bunyan was introduced in his place and endured a trying half an hour of football.
Midway through the second period and the Derby made it four when Martin Thompson got himself on the scoresheet. A Halfway House defender made a total mess when trying to deal with Calvert’s ball into the box and Thompson took full advantage by rounding the keeper and slipping it into the empty net.
A fifth goal followed with seventeen minutes remaining when James Waites tucked a pass from Thompson past the keeper at his near post.
The Derby made a double alteration shortly afterwards with Martin Thompson and a leg weary veteran Dave Gourlay withdrawn. Dec Boiston and Jonny Gardner came on. This was to be Gardner’s last appearance in a New Derby shirt as both he and James Smiles decided to leave the club the day after the game.
Waites doubled his tally with just over ten minutes to go when he scored at the second attempt. His first shot from Calvert’s flick was saved by the keeper but the ball rebounded kindly back to him and he made no mistake after being given another opportunity.
The only black spot on the Derby’s day came inside the last ten minutes when Halfway House ruined their clean sheet by grabbing a completely undeserved consolation goal. A hopeful punt from about thirty five yards saw the ball sail over Udale, who lost it in the sun, and drop just under the crossbar into the back of the net.
James Waites had the final say when he completed his first half ever Derby hat-trick with five minutes left. Some good work by substitute Dec Boiston resulted in him chipping a cross to Waites at the back post who volleyed home from close range. As the Derby midfielder quite happily told everyone after the game that took his tally to eight goals in just seven starts – a statistic which illustrates just what a good signing he has proved to be.
The Derby were understandably delighted at the final whistle but know that next week’s game at the Downhill Dome against Willow Pond will prove to be a much tougher test. Revenge will also be on the agenda after a weakened Derby side lost 3-0 to their opponents in the reverse fixture at the end of August.
