Men's Third Eleven Vs Nuneaton

Dewent Thirds notched up a superb away win agianst one of the stronger sides in the league. Many factors conspired to keep the team from actual making the game - torrential rain, blocked roads, flat tyres,traffic and Harry having to drive through Coventry. Eventually we all got there and after observing a minutes silence for Remembrance Day, the game got underway.

Fred Drabble approached the game with a surprising level of competitiive spirit, 'this lot are going in the bin bag!', he declared before the match. This was met with nods of agreement as each of the Derwent players put their minds to diposing of the Nunmeaton opposition as per Mr Drabble's instructions. It was then that he pointed out that he was referring to his track suit which needed to actually go into a binbag in case of rain. Hey ho - at heast it set the tone for the match.

After our customary 5 minutes to get into the game and allowing Nuneaton a couple attacks, the well oiled Derwent Third Team machine sprang into life. A quick break out put Josh Simmons away on the left. He passed inside to Pooley Senior who defltly put Tom Leech. Like a salmon armed with some type of hockey weapon, he skipped nay froliked around the Nuneaton keeper before slotting home from an acute angle.

This seemed rile Nuneaton who felt that possession should in some way equal goals and they dutifully went about the task putting two in - one from a short corner - in fairly quick succession.

Tony Goulding moved into midfieild once Chris Rodgers turned up. 'We're still in this' he observed as it became obvious that our pace in attack was too much for Nuneaton. Again we sprang forward like a coiled jaguar on crystal meth. The larger of the two Pooley's broke through into the oppostion D however the ungainly approach work led to a feeble attempt at goal that immediately drew a nomination for Dick of the Day from Tom Leech. Fortunately, the younger of the two Pooleys was on hand to lob the ball home - 2 all and half time.

The second half saw a more confident Derwent take grip of the game and we absorbed most of Nuneaton's possession. Ben Morton and Harry Brereton soaked up the pressure and Chris Rogers and Alex Talbot linked to make a formidable threat on the right. The danger always remained up front and with 15 minutes to go Tony Goulding found Pooley in the D and the ball was slotted past a keeper.

Tom Leech moved back in to the top of the defence as Nuneaton, now very rattled, tried to push forward. They targeted Ben Merrick on the left but were unable to make head way. Again Derwent broke and Josh Simmons was unlucky not to put Derwent 4 up in the last 10 minutes. Derwent saw the final minutes out safely to record to type of away victory that makes travelling those distances worth the effort.