Derby Schools Football Association |
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Match Reports: Derby Schools v Leeds Schools : Saturday 14th November
Derby Schools 0 v Wolverhampton Schools 1
Derby travelled to Leeds and were met with a motorway accident which delayed the start and gave no time for Derby to Warm up. This was a very close game with both sides nulling each other out in Midfield and defence. The first half saw two chances one at each end and both Keepers produced saves to keep the score level at 0-0 at half time.
The second half was a repeat of the first half with very little chances for both teams. Derby had the best chance first when Brad Ellis rounded the keeper and from a tight wide angle saw his shot go all the way across the goal line and cleared away by Leeds. Leeds then had a great chance from a corner with floated inwards over the keepers head a going into the goal if not for a fantastic goal line headed clearance from Greg Ordish. With 5 minutes to go and the game looking like a 0-0 draw, Leeds launch an attack and get the winning goal, the initial shot stopped by the Derby keeper but the rebound fell to a Leeds player who fired it home from close range.
Derby’s player of the match goes to Defender Greg Ordish, he put in many tackles to keep Leeds out and a spectacular goal line headed clearance.
Derby Schools v Wolverhampton Schools : Saturday 7th November
Derby Schools 5 v Wolverhampton Schools 1
Derby hosted Wolves in the 2nd round of the Cup. Derby started well having the majority of the possession and chances on goal. Against the run of play, in fact Wolves first time in the Derby half Wolves break out and score with a free header over the Derby keeper following some indecision from the Derby defence. Derby still having the best of the possession despite the goal get the equaliser on 33 minutes, Brad fires a strong shot home beating the Wolves keeper on his near post. Within a minute of the re-start Derby increase the lead, the Wolves keeper not coming for the loose ball give Brad the opportunity to pounce and slot the ball wide of the keeper for his and Derby’s 2nd. Half time Derby lead 2-1.
Within 2 minutes of the start of the second half, Derby play the ball out of defence down the left side with great exchanges of passes between Josh Lee and Brad Ellis, Brad shoots and slots the ball past the Wolves keeper for his Hat trick and a 3-1 Derby lead. On 15 minutes Brad picks up a loose ball missed by 2 Wolves defenders and shoots it into the goal for his and Derby’s 4th goal. A goal for Derby on 30 minutes from Josh Lee who strikes the ball into the top right hand corner for a 5-1 Derby lead. Final score Derby 5 Wolves 1.
An Emphatic win for Derby who played their best football of the season so far.
Brad Ellis was strong up front and his 4 goals give him man of the Match. But the whole team put in great individual performances.
South Notts Schools v Derby Schools : Saturday 31st October
South Notts Schools 5 v Derby Schools 6
Derby travelled to S.Notts looking to bounce back from the Sheffield defeat and started the game strong and within 2 minutes take the lead, a long ball over the top from Callum Marshall sets Cameron free and a nice lob over the keeper into the empty net. After 12 minutes a speculative up and under from Billy sees the ball bounce free in the box and Brad leaps onto it to head it home for a 2-0 lead. After 20 minutes Derby go 3-0 up, a Notts goal kick is headed back by Derby midfielder George, Brad Ellis hits the ball on the half volley straight into the top right corner. On 25 minutes a rare S.Notts attack sees the get a goal back with a high shot over the Derby keepers head and into the roof of the net. This goal spurs on Notts who get a 2nd goal on 25 minutes, a poor weak headed clearance from Derby falls to a Notts player who strikes the ball well into the top left corner. 3-2 to Derby. Straight from the re-start Derby attack and Cameron strikes a high shot from just outside the box over the keeper and into the net for his Hat trick. One minute to half time, a Notts goal kick is collected by Captain Billy Barns in the centre of the pitch, Billy plays a great through ball for Cameron to collect, he rounds the keeper and slots the ball home for a 5-2 lead. The final play of the first half Derby concede a penalty, which is slotted away by Notts for a 5-3 lead to Derby at half time.
The 2nd half was all S.Notts pressure with Derby only having a few break away chances, Cameron coming close on 2 occasions. Brad Ellis also having a chance with his shot just over the bar, but on 25 minutes another Brad Ellis chance sees him get his hat trick with a well taken goal. Derby lead 6-3. The last 10 minutes was all S. Notts attacking and putting lots of pressure on the Derby Goal. S. Notts grab 2 Goals and bring the score to 6-5. A spectacular reaction save from the Derby keeper Ben and dogged determined defending keeps the score at 6-5 and Derby see out the final few minutes and escape with a win. A promising strong start from Derby, but poor concentration allowed S.Notts back into the game. This was a game that Derby should have won very easily.
Derby Schools v Sheffield Schools : Saturday 24th October
Derby Schools 1 v Sheffield Schools 6
Derby hosted Sheffield for a friendly fixture and the early pressure came from the visitors. After 15 minutes Sheffield opened the scoring from a cross and a shot from 6 yards into the corner of the net. Within 5 minutes Sheffield break down the right side and a strong shot from just outside the box goes through the keeper’s hands and into the top right corner. 2-0 to Sheffield. Sheffield continued to control the game and on 25 minutes score their 3rd goal. Derby have a rare chance on goal, a good strike from Cameron, parried away by the Sheffield keeper onto his own player and back into his hands. The final play of the first half goes to Derby with a great through ball from George hand who sets up Ellis, his shot is blocked and Archie collects the re-bound and shoots just wide of the post. Half time 3-0 to Sheffield.
Derby start the second half much better and grab an opportunity on 15 minutes, Ellis playing the ball through to Cameron who takes the ball round the keeper but is very wide and from a wide and narrow angle he gets his shot away and the ball goes into the opposite corner for a well taken goal. On 25 minutes Sheffield increase lead, the initial shot is parried away by the Derby keeper but Sheffield followed the shot up and tucked an easy chance away. Derby’s heads now starting to drop Sheffield cease the initiative and a one on one with the Derby keeper sees the 5th Sheffield goal go in. The final play of the match sees a Sheffield corner crossed in and a free header gives them their 6th Goal. Final score Derby 1 Sheffield 6.
George Hand was voted Derby man of the match for his battling in Midfield, he never stopped all match, chasing back to help in defence and threading great balls through for his strikers.
Derby Schools v Mansfield Schools : Saturday 10th October
Derby Schools 0 v Mansfield Schools 1
Derby’s first Divisional game was a hard fought battle against a well drilled Mansfield side. Mansfield had the better of the possession and played some very nice passing football. Derby had several chances to score throughout the match but just could not get the ball in the back of the net. Mansfield had lots of chances on goal and if not for the Derby keeper Ben Whitehouse who produced some great saves to keep Derby in the Game. Derby eventually succumbed to the Mansfield pressure and a high shot over the keeper gave Mansfield their winner. Goalkeeper Ben Whitehouse got voted Derby man of the match.
Derby Schools v Stoke Schools : Saturday 26th September
Derby Schools 5 v Stoke Schools 1
Derby started well and after 10 minutes Derby take the lead, a nice through ball from new signing Jack to the new striker Cameron, he passes to Brad Ellis who took the ball round the keeper to shoot into the open net, 1-0 Derby. Another chance on 15 minutes Midfielder George threads a ball through to Brad who unselfishly passes to Cameron to strike on goal and force a great save from Stoke Keeper. Stoke equalise after 20 minutes, high shot from outside the box which cleared the keeper and into the roof of the net. Within 2 minutes Stoke on the attack again, one v one with the keeper but the shot is forced wide of the goal. Derby now with some possession, work an attack with Cameron showing nice ball control and passes through to Brad who slots the ball wide of the keeper and into the back of the net for a goal, Derby now 2-1 up. Within minutes of the re-start Derby are attacking again and a strong shot from Cameron forces the Stoke keeper to save and the ball goes out for a corner. From the Corner Cameron gets a head to the ball, a goal mouth scramble sees the ball fall to Brad Ellis to strike a powerful shot into the corner for his hat-trick giving Derby a 3-1 lead. Stoke have 3 good chances to score in the final minutes of the first half, a good save from Derby keeper Ben Whitehouse and solid Derby back four prevent any goals being scored. In the last minute of the 1st half Derby increased the lead with the ball being played out from defence, a through ball to Brad Ellis who took a shot at goal forcing a save, and the deflected ball from the Stoke keeper fell straight to Cameron who slotted the ball into the goal, 4-1 Derby at half time.
With the 2nd half underway an immediate attack from Derby saw a great through ball from Brad to Cameron who positions the ball back onto his right foot, shoots and scores to net his second and give Derby a 5-1 lead. A stoke attack 6 minutes into 2nd half sees a one v one with Derby keeper who saves and great backing up from defender Callum Marshall who clears the loose ball off the goal line to safety. Derby had further chances to score in the 2nd half through the deadly duo of Brad and Cameron, Brad hitting the crossbar and both seeing shots just wide of the post.
The game ends 5-1 to Derby with good performances from both the wide midfield players Conner and debutant Jack providing the width and delivering in the through balls to the strikers. Debutant Cameron had a good game bagging two goals and demonstrating good skill on the ball, but man of the match again goes to the Hat-trick hero Brad Ellis whose pace and strength was too much for the Stoke defence.
A good all round team performance. Well Done.
Derby Schools v Coventry Schools : Saturday 12th September
Derby Schools 2 v Coventry Schools 5
A promising start from Derby saw them with all the possession in the opening 10 minutes, with 2 good chances on Goal From Brad Ellis and Callum Wilson seeing their shots go just over the crossbar. But it was Coventry who opened the scoring with their first real attack after 15 minutes and against the run of play. Derby equalised through a very confidently struck Penalty by Callum Wilson. The Penalty earned by some neat footwork from Ellis …… who deceived the Coventry defender and was brought down inside the box. Immediately after the re-start Coventry regained the lead now 2-1 up. Coventry for the remainder of the first half was on top and their strong No 9 striker had 4 further chances to increase the lead but for some great one on one saves form Goalkeeper Ben Whitehouse and a superb “a la Bobby Moore” tackle from Lucas Sankey. With 5 minutes left in the first Derby again allowed their strong No 9 to be free and one on one with the Derby keeper he slotted it into the back of the net for a 3-1 score to Coventry at half time.
The second half Derby started well and a great through ball saw Brad Ellis run through the Coventry defence to strike the ball wide of the Coventry Keeper and into the back of the net, now at 3-2 Derby were back in the game. Derby kept up the pressure for a good 20 minutes but solid Coventry defence kept them out. A well taken corner from Coventry saw a free header at the back post resulted in a Coventry goal 4-2 to Coventry. This spurred on Coventry and the remainder of the half belonged to Coventry with attack after attack, but great defending from the Derby back four in particular Greg Ordish at Left back who won every challenge in the air or on the ground. With 5 minutes left of the match Coventry sealed their victory with a well struck shot over the keeper.
Brad Ellis played exceptionally well in both halves showing great pace and strength in both attack and defence.
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