A brisk morning welcomed Oundle for today’s game, which was the first of the reverse fixtures for Oundle this season, with a strong Derby side coming to visit pavilion drive. Derby have become somewhat of a bogey team recently for Oundle with the last 3 games all being Derby wins, the games producing 11 goals in total, but only 2 being for Oundle.
Despite the notable absences of Maverick P.Wilson (Phil) called away for international duty, missing his first game of the season, and Tristan Ashby who must think he’s captain again missing his 2nd game of the season. Oundle had a good selection of players to pick from, with James Jarvis making his first appearance of the season and the returns of current top scorer George Martin, and Jimmy ‘Bobby’ Moore.
The game started with an Oundle pushback and Oundle immediately signalled their intent putting pressure on Derby and hemming them in. This resulted in the first short corner of the game, this was sent to George for a straight strike. The strike appeared to take a deflection which forced the Derby keeper to make a very good reaction save.
The next chance fell to Derby when they were able to break on the counter with Oundle having pushed men forward looking for the breakthrough. The result of Derbys counter was a 2 on 1 with Jimmy Moore. The Derby forward played the ball to his team mate at the top of the D past the outstretched stick of Moore.. Youngy was out quickly to smother the ball, taking out the Derby forward in the process with his boot catching the Derby player in the head.
This opportunity appeared to buoy Derby and they started applying ever greater pressure to Oundle, especially down the wings. Oundle held firm, defending well but not able to get out and it was only a matter of time before Derby won their first short corner of the game. The resulting flick was saved by Youngy, with the ball sailing over the Derby injectors head.
As the half wore on, it was clear that there wasn’t much to separate the two sides, neither team being able to find that final ball. It was only right at the end of the half that a hopeful ball was smashed into the Oundle D, finding a Derby stick for the deflection, this first shot was saved by the reactions of Youngy in goal only for the rebound to be tapped in by the Derby player who had slipped his man at the back post, past the diving form of Youngy.
Oundle went into halftime unlucky to be behind. But feeling they could get something out of the game.
Oundle lined up for the 2nd half, looking to take the game to Derby, but it was Derby who started the half more positively, putting the pressure on Oundle. Oundle held firm, but like the early Derby pressure in the first half it was only a matter of time before Derby got their rewards with a couple of short corners, one of these was well worked to a player at the ‘10’ position at the top of the D, fired across the goal, a block from Oundle turned out to be favourable for Derby taking the ball to the otherside of the diving Youngy, the postman unable to get there, leaving Derby with a tap in despite Youngy recovering and getting a stick on the shot.
Going 2-0 spurred Oundle on though, and it was the turn of Derby to be pinned back into their own half. Oundle being strange and making use of both wings, the left and right. This resulted in a number of good chances, George unlucky not to connect with a ball across the face of the Derby goal. Goal a game Dalley searching for his goal this game with a shot from close range which was well saved. A couple of goal mouth scrambles just wouldn’t sit, Derbys goal living a charmed life.
Towards the end of the game both sides started getting heated, the first occurrence being when James Jarvis was being held by the Derby defender in the D which resulted in handbags. Derby received the first yellow card of the game for persistently kicking the ball away. George showed his frustration going through the back of a Derby player and receiving a harsh yellow soon after.
In the dying seconds of the game, Ellis, after giving away the foul, had no chance to get out of the way before the free hit was taken, with the Derby player cleverly running into Ellis, who had his hands up to show he was not involved, this was not good enough for the umpire who blew for the short corner. Ellis tried to argue his point to the umpire, it was at this point a Derby player got involved, Ellis, thrilled he could finally pick on someone his own size, argued with the Derby player as well. Resulting in a yellow card for the Oundle player. The resulting short was well charged down by strong and stable Peter Allett.
It was a 7th defeat of the season for Oundle who find themselves occupying the final relegation spot and 2 points from safety. Results around Oundle however did go their way with both Loughborough Town and Nottingham unable to widen the gap. Oundle go again next week with a tough away fixture to promotion chasing Nottingham Trent Uni 3s. HWTL.
