1-1 with Dawsons Warriors
The highly anticipated start of a new era for Derbyshire Community Football Club got underway on Sunday, August 17th as they welcomed Dawson's Warriors to their new home at the Boston Brewery Ground in Clay Cross.
After a slight delay to kick-off, the game got underway with Community in the ascendency from the off. Sean Byrne-Dineen's chipped effort from 25-yards out landed on top of the goal after spotting the keeper off his line.
The Warriors keeper was kept busy and moments later was called upon again, Josh Stubbs' low-struck effort was met by the keepers outstretched arm as he turned it behind for a corner.
The visitors did get a few chances their own way as multiple long passes over the top of the Community defence breached what was otherwise a solid first half for the hosts.
The best of the chances falling to captain, Callum Milner, but Dan Townsend was on hand to keep the scores level heading into the break.
The momentum swung like a pendulum back and forth between the two sides to start the second-half and it was the hosts that got on the board first. A through ball for Tyler Farnsworth left him one-on-one with the keeper. The referee waving away claims of offside as Farnsworth dragged the ball around the keeper and remained composed to put the ball into the empty net and get his second goal for the club.
The Community celebrations had only just settled by the time that Dawson's Warriors had levelled the game back up. Milner retrieved the ball on the edge of the area and from 18-yards out, cut inside and beat Townsend at the near post to make it 1-1.
This goal inspired the visitors who went from strength to strength. Manager, turned striker, Nathan Ward had a chance of his own from 14 yards out but a premier-league worthy save from Townsend kept the visitors at bay.
More fantastic saves were made by Townsend who was certainly out to put his name in the hat for a man-of-the-match performance, Ward's effort turned around the post from what looked almost a certain goal.
With mere seconds left at the end of the game, with Community on the back foot, it was almost inevitable that goal would come for Dawson's Warriors, but heroic defending by debutant, Aaron Funnell ensured this wasn't the case.
A block on the edge of his own 18-yard box from Milner's effort saw the end of the game.A 1-1 draw meant the first penalty shoot-out for Derbyshire Community, and it ended in heartache.
After a valiant effort for 90 minutes, the unpredictability of the most expensive lottery you could ever play saw Community lose 4-3 on penalties.
After the game, it was celebrations all around as the club held a raffle which saw prizes from; money off new flooring through to Lewis Capaldi tickets won by lucky supporters and a fantastic day out was promised and delivered as fans surrounded the pitch to raise money for PASIC.
Derbyshire Community return back to the Boston Brewery Ground on September, 21st 2025 and have a lottery running up until the end of August where you can still get involved with the fundraising efforts.