Derby Men’s 4th XI 1-2 Brooksby Melton College: Hosts Dumped out in the Second Round despite Fightback

Words by Adam Barker

Pictures by Sam Ward

Derby Men’s 4th XI were unable to overturn a two goal first half deficit losing 2-1 at home to Brooksby Melton College in the second round of the cup.

First-half goals from Leke Shopanke and Cam Jones gave Brooksby Melton College a two-goal lead at half time.

Ammar Abass scored a penalty just after the restart as Derby’s performance improved in the second half, but the hosts were unable to find an equaliser.

Neither side dominated possession during the opening proceedings and it was Derby who created the first significant chance of the game. Left-back Aiden Meagher flashed a low ball across the face of goal but Tino Mtangadura was unable to convert as the ball slid off the wet surface.

Brooksby Melton began to control the tempo of the match and took the lead in the 20th minute of the match. Derby were slow to react to a free kick taken short on midway and Shopanke punished them for it. Shopanke neatly finished past Dan Lawcor from close range to make it 1-0.

The away side had the ball in the net for a second time moments later. Treuso Nzoni’s delivery from a free kick on the edge of the box was headed in by Max Foster, but was ruled out for offside.

They had another goal disallowed for offside later in the half, but finally doubled their lead just before half time through Jones. Rheiss Mclean dribbled through the Derby defence and cut back to Jones who slotted into the bottom right corner to extend the visitors lead going into the break.

The hosts improved in the second half and were awarded a penalty in the 50th minute. Abass stepped up and emphatically converted off the underside of the crossbar to pull his side back into the match.

Derby continued to put pressure on the Brooksby Melton defence but were unable to equalise and failed to progress to the third round of the cup.

Coach, Abidemi Lamina, was not impressed with Derby’s first half display but believed that the second half performance was an improvement. He said: “To be honest I thought the first half was abysmal from us, but in the second half there were a lot of positives to take.

“I think if we had more time I reckon we could have got that second goal. I’m happy with how the game ended rather than how it started.”