MENS 3RDS VS SOUTH NOTTS 17 OCT 2009

This weeks fixture took Derby to Bingham to face South Nottingham who pipped us on goal difference for the championship title battle last season.

Derby has always dominated this fixture home and away. Therefore, hopes were high to continue the good form shown to date. Sadly within 5 minutes of the start South Notts took the lead. Quickly waking up the Derby squad who looked to command the game and get an equaliser quickly. However, consistent poor passing and giving easy balls away provided South Notts a simple second.

Tom Vernon completed the best save seen this season at full stretch to deny a third over the crossbar with relief for half time coming at the right time.

The team talk was simple. Retain possession and dare I say it…….play smart simple hockey! We were all clearly not playing to our standard quality and were giving the match away.

The second half brought new energy and the words of wisdom from Chris Packer were fresh in the teams mind. Jez Sear commanded the midfield and switched between Pete Chesney on left and Ian McWilliams on right. This 10 minute spell had South Notts in disarray with Dez Pope earning multiple short corners. This was swiftly followed by Paul Neilson gaining a Derby breakthrough. At 2 1 hopes were that the match had turned

Unfortunately South Notts followed up with a short corner of their own to go up 3 1. From this point onwards Derby fell back into the trap of the first half and gave the ball away through below par passing.

The final score was sealed and the first defeat of the season. I cannot remember one occasion where South Notts won the ball through a tackle. All players are disappointed that we played well below the standard quality and standards of the 3rds. Here is hoping that next weeks fixture will see a return of winning service. Fundamentally, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A TEAM WARM UP!!!!