Mens 1st XI stay 3rd after draw with Corby

Saturday saw Derby take on runaway league leaders Corby at Wilsthorpe and come away with a very creditable draw.

With a full squad of 14 and only Dave Elliott and Will unavailable Derby were as strong as they could be taking into account the long term injuries in the squad.

The game started at a frantic pace and onlookers would have thought that it was Derby who were the league leaders as they pinned Corby back thanks to determined play across the Derby Midfield. With Neil and Nick causing havoc up front with their pace it came as no surprise when Neil found himself unmarked just 4 yds out to slot home the opening goal.

This sparked Corby into action as they began to exhort pressure on the Derby defence but they only found Andy Knight in majestic form sweeping up with aplomb.

As Corby pressed they forced numerous corners and from one of these found an equalising goal from a straight strike that was deflected passed a helpless Chris in the Derby goal from a Derby defender.

As half time came and went Derby began to falter in their game-play allowing Corby to begin to dominate. With Neil taking a nasty hit on the foot and leaving the field for the rest of the game Derby lost some of their attacking pace but his partner Nick showed just how dangerous Derby can be.

From a well rehearsed penalty corner, the slip to Nick allowed him to pick his spot passed the Corby Keeper to send Derby into raptures at 2-1 up.

But Corby would not lay down and soon scored a deserved equaliser to go 2-2, but if nothing else the final 8 minutes were full of drama.

As chance after chance went by for both teams it was again Nick who inside the ‘D’ lifted the ball passed a helpless keeper only for the Corby defender to stop the ball on the line with his foot giving away a penalty stroke.

Up stepped Will Lanoe only to see his stroke saved by an ecstatic keeper, but Derby should have put the game beyond Corby despite this miss.

In the final 4 minutes Derby should have scored no less than 3 times as chance after chance was wasted with a seemingly unfortunate inability to put the final touch to the ball from only 5 yds out from no fewer than 3 different players.

The final score of 2-2 was probably the correct scoreline when you bear in mind that Corby were unfortunate to have a perfectly legal goal ruled out in the 1st half and the Derby penalty miss.

Coach Taylor Commented:

The efforts put in today were outstanding but the loss of Neil certainly put a sour note in things and the well worked penalty corner we scored from shows what can be done when the guys take on board the guidance given.

The return of Dave Vessey was another positive as he can through 40 mins pitch time unscathed and looking reasonably fit for the remaining games.

Next Saturday we travel to Ashbourne for a win or bust game. We still lie in 3rd but 4 pts adrift from Ashbourne and despite there gamesmanship of putting us on at 11am I am sure this will do nothing but focus our efforts even more!