Don Amott LG Arena
Mickleover Sports FC
Station Road
Mickleover
Derby
DE3 0FB
Attendance: 226
What another belter of a match it was on Sunday. If ever
anyone doubts the competitive nature of the Women’s game they will surely
change their minds having witnessed this. Derby came out of the traps with
gusto. Weaving and winding their way towards the Forest goalmouth time and time
again. Forest too, though slower to build up, gradually gained their stride and
lashed at Derby as if to show utter contempt. What could be seen was that as
each side pushed forward they both allowed gaps at the back for the other to
break into. For me the defences of both parties were guilty at times of insufficient
cover at the back to act as the catch net for escaping trail blazers searching
for the glory of bulging each other’s onion bag. The fact that neither scored
before the 28th minute was in truth a good point for debate,
especially with Bell going close on a couple of occasions.
It was shocking to find us 0-2 down by the 47th
minute in the manner we did. What I mean by that is that both goals yet again
could so easily have been avoided by better and more confident ball
distribution both defenders and keeper. Too often this season we see panicked
distribution at times when the player concerned is not relatively under
pressure. You watch any of the games and you see that our passing appears more
accurate when we pass quick-ball in diamond formations at various points across
the field of play. That’s because we are ratting well and closely covering for
each other rather than what sometimes happens where one player, say Molly
Johnson, goes off on a slalom run and nobody goes with her for a quick lay-off
and return. The more players that operate as a tight unit when on the move
(like you see for example with Leeds United men), the better the chances
created will be, and the more success will be gained from that. You watch Leeds
and you see three midfielders bombing forward almost in a line, such that it
creates panic among the opposition forcing them to focus on what’s immediately
in front of them rather than anything beyond. In effect, the opposition are
stifled because if they do there is a big risk that they will allow the
oncoming attack to penetrate further. So the problem as I see it is tightening
up and working in packs. To do that we have to be far better off the ball by
getting the shirt wet in packs and giving the opposition no time to think. We
have to force the opponent to run at our chosen tempo: not theirs. We have the
players to do that. Look at Amy Sims, Derby’s new Left Back sensation, who is
fast becoming a star with her dynamic overlapping runs, vision and awareness
and close ball control. Same with Molly Johnson at Right Back. As those left
and right backs bomb on we need the centre back’s to keep their line at the
back and slightly widen away from each other to cover the space left by the
charging full back. As for set piece defending. Yes it could be better but as a
whole I think we do the job required, save that we still need to focus on man
marking a little better on throw-in’s.
So having covered our flaws at the back, it must be said
that our grit and determination is there for all to see. Yes we sometimes lose
focus and shape but our willpower is valiantly administered, of that there is
no doubt. We would win the championship every year if it were decided on blood
and guts alone. Even when we went two down the players steadfastly refused to
drop their heads despite Daisy suggesting otherwise in the commentary box on RamsTV.
The fans were in superior voice in the stands, creating that special A52 derby
atmosphere, although for a small period when Forest scored their second, you
have to say that if anyone dipped their heads slightly it was the fans, whose
sudden silence was deafening, and I believe it was that which daisy alluded to.
Upon Amy Sims smart thinking power bolt of a goal to make it
1-2, to which the players and fans alike immediately went barmy enough to put
the armed forces on stand-by, confidence suddenly grew, such that thirst for a
second was akin to Dracula tasting his first blood for a month. The Kop started
to taunt Forest with chants of “3-2.... we’re gonna win 3-2” and “Robin Hood’s
from Derbyshire” relentlessly as well as doing the ‘bounce’. Derby suddenly
played with a zest about them and forced Forest into retreat for much of the
time. They started to do that quick-ball play that I alluded to earlier which
vastly improved their play accordingly. Yes Forest still went on long ball
breaks with the odd one man run of their own, but Derby became more end-to-end,
building up enough impetus to level it 2-2. A free-kick thunder bolt flew over
the bar from Molly Johnson forcing the local sparrows to consider moving to a
new tree. Then some minutes later that 2nd goal came again from a
free-kick by Johnno. What a goal it was too. This time from the central zone of
the pitch Molly placed the ball carefully and even had time to chuckle with
someone as she lined-it up. A short run-up and THUMP >>>>>>
POW as it rocketed into the top of the net from 30 yards still climbing. The
last I heard was that the sparrows had chosen to migrate early this year as
they’d had enough. The celebrations lifted the roof off the main stand and the
fans again went berserk. Derby were now well on top. Bell was earlier denied a
stonewall penalty in my view but was honest in not going down, as she clearly prefers,
quite rightly, to court the limelight of scoring through honesty.
With crowd in full voice and the Assistant Manager ‘Bart’
fisting the air in the direction of the Kop end led by chants of ‘Nigel Nigel give
us a wave’ to which he popped his head out of the Announcer’s Box’ and
acknowledged like only our Nigel can, we all knew that we could win this with
an almost carbon copy of that magnificent comeback in the Cup against Bradford
City the other week. So it proved. After a 3rd free-kick by Molly
Johnson that went way over earlier, there was a great piece of play that saw Leanne
de Silva get her first of the season with a magnificent pin perfect lob from
some 35 yards out to turn the deficit into a 3-2 lead. I could hardly contain
my excitement in witnessing such a deserved comeback. A truly momentous fight back
indeed. Then just as you thought we were about to achieve that 3-2 win that the
crowd had so cruelly taunted the Forest players with for over half of the
second 45, they get a penalty. People went silent and many just couldn’t look.
The ball was placed carefully and the run-up was timed well. The boot struck
the ball swiftly with some zip it must be said, then HA! .... Sarah Morgan who
earlier been the villain of the peace SAVVVVES with the best low right sided
one had save you ever did see! The Players and whole place went into a complete
frenzy of jubilation as Morgan found herself completely mobbed with hero
status. Derby whilst living on the edge,
yet again came up trumps to thwart Forest’s 2-0 lead for a comeback of
comebacks against formidable derby day opposition. Forest were flattened as
Derby took the bragging rights for another season.
Post Match Controversy
As if it wasn’t enough for the pressures of an A52 derby to be played on the pitch, there were also shenanigans kicking off
away from the pitch too. Late on Sunday evening at 11:04 I received an unusual PM on
Facebook from an ex-DCLFC 1st team Coach (in relation to Derby's 3rd goal scored by Leanne de Silva that Forest were in dispute with, as to whether the ball crossed the line or not), asking if it was me having
a go at Graham Abercrombie the Forest Manager, on Twitter. Needless to say it wasn’t
but this prompted me to have a nose and see what all the fuss was about. The
following is full transcript of the trolling that Mr Abercrombie encountered. See
what you make of it:
Graham Abercrombie
To lose 2-3 @ForestLadies is a difficult result to take after leading 2-0. Although I'm wondering what we have to do to eliminate 'mystery' goals being given, we'll take it on the chin and get ourselves back to the training ground this week and keep working.
footballfan
Derby the better team by far today. More organised. The variables covered #leadership
Graham Abercrombie
Thanks for your feedback. I'm sure opinions vary but no one suggested that either team was better than the other! I'm not certain that anyone would put a substantial amount of money that the winning goal was actually anywhere near the goal line never mind over it though!
footballfan
Come on now Graham. Accept the defeat graciously. Your yesterdays man in this league now. As big Sam says (another long ball merchant), you got outtacticed. Entertaining game tho for the neutral
Graham Abercrombie
Hahahaha this is the funniest!!! I totally accept defeat.....there's no one more gracious in defeat than me. 'Yesterday's man'. I think you'd be very surprised how forward thinking I am.....Maybe I'm Tomorrow's man! Now go and find some twitter followers!
footballfan
I don't need followers to define me like you seem to do Graham...your social media ramblings are wearing thin...a little like your second half tic tacs today! As for yesterdays or tomorrows man one thing is for sure... Your long ball ethos is most definitely outdated
Graham Abercrombie
I'm truly hurt.....heartbroken in fact. How could you think such things? You've figured me out...I'm stuck in the distant year of 2016 after winning Premier League and can't get out! Maybe I just need to watch you coach! Now, I've been given you your few tweets of fame. Adios.
footballfan
Ha ha ha calm down mr Fragile. A fantastic manager in your own head/ twitter page #leadership. Thanks for the air time. Truly humbled by your great cloughie tribute act. Good luck for the season. Going to be interesting how u been found out mr tactics.
Reassuring Intervention
Upon discovering the little spat following the ex-DCLFC 1st Team Coach's inquisitive message I then (and only then) decide to offer a little support of my own to Mr Abercrombie. The full transcription was as follows:
DCLFCNews
Hi Graham... I object to footballfan talking to you like that. I have responded with my thoughts on the goal and I differ to you but name calling is childish. I had someone pm me last night asking me if football fan is me. NO it is not and never will it be.
Graham Abercrombie
Thank you for that.....my first experience of being trolled But I know who it is so I'm content with the knowledge that they are totally worthless and spineless....very much like they are in real life.
DCLFCNews
You are a name. That's what counts. You court controversy because you have opinion. That makes 2 of us. If you had a season of nothing but Derby Forest/Forest Derby matches, the score would be level at the end of the season. That's how close it is. Well 12-10 to Derby maybe LOL
Graham Abercrombie
There's nothing wrong with having opinions...unless you want people to like you! I'll not be changing in the near future but some people do actually miss the point that I'm fighting the bigger cause for women's football despite wearing garibaldi red or navy & white in the past!
DCLFCNews
Absolutely. You are one of the Managers at the pioneering end of time Graham. At Derby we now see live RamsTV commentated coverage with analysis. This concept per-se will spread. Fan sites are now appearing as with mine. The game has gone main stream thanks to folk just like you.
Epilogue
What I find rather depressing is that people who call themselves football fans choose to troll a respected Manager no matter who he or she is. Some call it banter. I call it childish. Taunting from the terrace is one thing but hiding behind a keyboard on social media is quite another. The way to defeat a team is to correctly show what you are all about on that hallowed turf. Once the match is over it's gone. Take a leaf out of Rugby Union and shake hands, meet after the game for a few comments and a drink and leave the rest to history. Onwards and upwards!
