Derby Men’s 4th XI 5-3 Anglia Ruskin Men’s 3rd XI: Hosts Edge Eight-goal Thriller
Derby Men’s 4th XI climbed to the top of the table with a thrilling 5-3 victory over Anglia Ruskin Men’s 3rd XI.
A hat-trick from Ross Barnett, a goal for Joe Trevor and an own goal were enough to see the home side remain unbeaten in the league.
Anglia Ruskin, who also hadn’t lost a game, threatened a comeback with goals from Yousuf Hamidy, Djelssy Ali and Kuda Dzikiti, but Derby held on to secure all three points.
The away side took the lead with just two minutes on the clock. A long ball over the top caused confusion for the Derby defence and Dzikiti pounced before playing the ball across to Hamidy, who calmly slotted the ball past Cam Hall.
The 4th XI responded moments later and after some neat build-up play, the ball landed at the feet of Barnett who guided the ball into the bottom corner for his first of the game.
Derby grabbed their second just a few minutes later. A long free-kick caught out the away side’s defence and Trevor finished emphatically beyond Alfa Newman to give the home side the lead.
Bradlee King’s men should have made it three shortly after. Tommy Smith advanced down the left before firing a ball across goal, but Tino Matangadura blazed over from inside the six-yard box.
The home side managed to extend their lead after 17 minutes. Yasser Bellator beat several defenders before playing the ball through to Barnett who fired his effort into the far corner.
Derby found a fourth through a comedic own goal. Matangadura’s miscued effort bounced off Newman before bobbling into an empty net. Anglia Ruskin’s goalkeeper was subsequently replaced by an outfield player.
The visitors nearly pulled a goal back midway through the first half as Hamidy’s effort cannoned back off the near post and away from danger.
The Cambridgeshire side managed to grab a goal towards the end of the first half when Dzikiti pulled the ball back to Ali, who planted his effort into the top corner.
Although, Barnett secured his hat-trick on the stroke of
Shortly into the second half, Anglia Ruskin threatened a comeback when Jack Leighton was brought down in the area. Dzikiti kept his composure and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
The visiting side almost grabbed a fourth through Dzikiti but he fired wide as Derby held out to climb to the top of division 5D.
King was delighted with his team’s performance after going behind early on. He said: “I’m absolutely blown away by every single player on that pitch. I cannot fault one of them players.
“Quite frankly, this is a league winning team.”
Derby now
Words by Sam Ward
Pictures by Luke Davis
