Derby Men’s 4th XI 2-4 Warwick Men’s 2nd XI: Visitors come from behind to deny hosts
Words by Jack Johnson.
Derby Men’s 4th XI blew a half-time lead to lose 4-2 against Warwick Men’s 2nd XI after Nicholas Dicleman scored a hat-trick for the visitors.
Andy Forbes opened the scoring for the home side, running through and slotting the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper. But their opponents made a comeback with Dicleman scoring ten minutes into the second half and only a few minutes later, they took the lead through Ollie Terrell.
Dicleman then added two more to his tally in quick succession with Forbes netting his second of the game that was merely a consolation for Derby late on.
Derby were pressing early on in the game with Forbes having a header saved by goalkeeper Shoma. However, as the game went on Warwick settled into the game with Danny Lines causing havoc down the right-hand side and the Derby defence continued to struggle with his pace.
But it was the hosts who managed to get their noses in front. Forbes broke free from the defence and tucked home his first of the game. Joe Trevor had a great chance to make it two after he found himself one on one with the goalkeeper, but he couldn’t convert his golden chance.
The second half was filled with a lot more action. Damilola Oluokun had his free kick fly just over the bar a few minutes before Warwick levelled. Dicleman found the ball at his feet after Oluokun had outpaced the Derby defence and slid the ball through to the striker, leaving him to dribble past two defenders and find the back of the net.
Almost straight after levelling, the visitors took the lead. Terrell drilled home a shot from the edge of the box and wheeled away in celebration.
Warwick then went two to the good with Dicleman getting his second of the game. After a goalkeeping error, the number nine was gifted the easiest of his three goals. The flow of chances did not stop there and they further increased their lead with the visitors’ frontman claiming the match ball.
There was almost a moment of magic from Ross Barnett from the resulting kick off. The substitute had an audacious effort at goal straight from the kick-off but as it landed in the back of the net, the referee pulled it back and disallowed the goal, causing the fans and players on the sideline to erupt.
Derby did keep pushing despite being 4-1 down and they got another through Forbes who rounded the goalkeeper and scored with two minutes on the clock.
That consolation goal signalled the end and Warwick ran away winners after a great second-half performance. The hosts pushed for goals but the quality of the away side shone through in the end. Derby next face a trip away to Bedfordshire Men’s 2nd XI on the 13th November.
