Melbourne Dynamo 4-0 Newhall Utd

It was semi-final time for the lads, as Staffordshire Step 8 outfit Newhall United were the visitors to Cockshut Lane. A place in the Derbyshire Divisional Cup South final awaited the winner.

16 year-old Keeper, Will Dean, continued to deputise between the sticks. Gosling, Muir and Withers replaced Peverley, Nkrumah and Bickerton from the previous weeks win at Mickleover RBL. Archie Moore, who missed the win at RBL, returned to make the bench.

A really slow start to the game from the home side seemed to galvanised the lower ranked opposition and, in fairness to them, they were unlucky not to lead if it was not for a fine save from Dean. The 100 plus crowd must have thought who was the Step 7 side, as Dynamo huffed and puffed without any really quality, and struggled to get their wingers in the game.

As the half went on, the away side grew more and more in the game and were first to every ball. Dynamo needed a spark, and they got that on 40 minutes, as a throw-in down the right was flicked on into the middle of the goal and Goodband turned and hit and left-foot shot in off the left-hand post to give Dynamo the lead. It was the wingers 20th goal of the season. The relief from the home faithful was clear for all to see and this was further in evidence on the stroke of half-time, as good work by Muir released Goodband who got into the area and was hacked down by the opposition number 6. Griffiths stepped up and slotted the resulting spot kick for a 2-0 half-time lead.

The second-half was a much better display from the lads and was certainly done with more control of the game, but 2-0 was a dangerous scoreline and the next goal was vital. Peverley, Moore and Nkrumah replaced Gosling, Griffiths and Muir. The third goal came and it was the game clincher; Peverley collected the ball in the Newhall half and drove forward to unleash a low shot into the bottom corner of the Newhall goal.

The final 2 changes were made on 75 minutes, as Walmsley and Bickerton replaced Brown and Withers. The icing on the cake came on 87 minutes as the lively Bickerton danced his way through the away defence and gave the keeper the eyes to finish well for his third goal of the season.

All-in-all a below par performance, but cup football is about getting through, which the lads did with a clean sheet to boot. We’ll have to play better to lift the trophy and beat Derby Singh Brothers whenever that game may be…

Up next, the league leaders and big spenders South Normanton Athletic at home this week.