Match Photographer: James Williamson
Match Highlights Courtesy of In-Play Sports
Match Report by Alex Storey

A brace from Aaron Edwards helped Baslow FC on their way to winning the Derbyshire FA Junior Cup North Final on Monday night (16th April) against Bamford FC under the lights at Shirebrook.

Baslow were in front in the first five minutes after a horror moment for Bamford’s goalkeeper Oliver Spence before doubling their lead before the half hour mark through Edwards.

Lewis Talbot added a third in the first half before setting up Edwards for his second mid-way through the second half before it was rounded off in the dying minutes with an own goal. 

It was Baslow who made a bright start when, in the third minute, right midfielder Edwards broke into the penalty area but was denied after a brilliant covering challenge from defender Nic Stones.

A minute later Baslow were in front however after defender Alex Whitehead played a back-pass to keeper Spence but his attempted clearance was sliced behind him and into the back of the net to break the deadlock.

Ten minutes later it was almost two when a long ball from goalkeeper Tom Stannard was met by Phil Morton but he volleyed over the top from 16 yards.

It took 22 minutes for Bamford to have their first half chance when their number ten, Chrissy McCorry, who was their bright spark in the first half, flashed one wide of the far post from the edge of the area. 

On 24 minutes there were huge appeals for a Baslow penalty when Tom Elliot went down under a Bamford challenge but it was waved away and a corner was given. 
Bamford’s best chance of the first period came on 26 minutes when a fantastic cross from Stones was met by striker Simon Dickenson but the frontman couldn’t adjust himself and failed to get the shot away. 

Just a couple of minutes later Bamford were two behind following a neat move orchestrated by forward Phil Morton on the left, who squeezed the ball to Edwards who applied the finish beyond Spence at a tight angle. 

In the 39th minute it was three when Phil Mallon supplied a long throw into the danger area and Talbot pounced and stabbed the ball underneath Spence to all but put the game to bed. 

Half Time: Baslow FC 3 Bamford FC 0

Bamford began the second period well and went close on 49 minutes when Dickenson saw a powerful shot from six yards blocked on the line before being hacked away to safety.

Spence then made a good save on 54 minutes when he got down low to hold a volley from Baslow’s Tom Brooke through a crowd of bodies.

But the fourth did come 14 minutes later after great play from Talbot who had the time and space to pick out Edwards who composed himself and lifted the ball past Spence for his second of the game.

Bamford kept fighting though and had another opening on 70 minutes after a lovely floated ball from Alex Whitehead was met by substitute Joe Cottrill who powered an effort across goal but it wasn’t converted.

It just wouldn’t fall for Bamford when they hit the bar in the 80th minute before conceding a fifth two minutes later through an unfortunate own goal from central defender Tony Sidwell who turned it in from two yards after a flick on from Ben Norman.

It was a much improved second half from Bamford and you couldn’t fault their effort, but Baslow sailed home to victory. 

Full Time: Baslow FC 5 Bamford FC 0