The first Corpy Derby of the season certainly didn’t disappoint as Douglas & District and Pulrose served up an extraordinary ten-goal thriller at Nobles Park, with both sides ultimately settling for a point.
With the clubs the only two sides still playing their home football on Corporation pitches, this newly dubbed derby had everything. Ten goals, two sin bins, a hat-trick, questionable defending and a goal-of-the-season contender!
Pulrose started brightly, with Dylan Fick denied by an excellent Will Gavin save before Brian Lowther rattled the post with a fierce drive. D&D also lost Dylan Lees early on after taking a ball to the face, with Kyle Roosenbrook replacing him.
However, against the run of play, D&D struck first after 20 minutes when Joel Kennaugh reacted quickest to turn home a header back across goal following Sean Jones corner.
Responded Well
The visitors responded well, although James Maginn was required to clear another Kennaugh effort off the line before Pulrose turned the contest on its head with two goals in as many minutes.
Nay Halsall converted after Gavin denied Donovan Skillicorn, before Owen Canipa produced a moment of brilliance, unleashing a venomous 25-yard rocket into the top corner. An early contender for goal of the season!
D&D nearly responded when Will McPhee produced an excellent goal-line clearance to deny Kieran Lane, but Fick soon extended Pulrose’s advantage following excellent work from Canipa.
What followed was a bizarre conclusion to the half.
Ben Hall was sent to the sin bin for dissent, and from the resulting restart, McPhee switched off, gifting Kennaugh his second. Rian Jones then joined Hall in the sin bin following further words with referee Willie Cowley, while celebrating his own sides goal!
D&D somehow found themselves just one goal behind at the interval, despite being reduced to nine men for the start of the second half.
Surely Pulrose would make their numerical advantage count? Not quite!
Gavin continued his excellent afternoon, producing two more important saves to deny Fick and Canipa. The D&D stopper was arguably the reason his side remained in contention.
Remarkable Turnaround
With their full complement restored, the hosts produced a remarkable turnaround.
Lane capitalised on some questionable defending to level matters after 57 minutes before Jacob Preston’s speculative effort from distance bounced awkwardly and deceived Travis Bradshaw just two minutes later.
Then came Kennaugh’s hat-trick, powering home a header from Lewis Qualtrough’s deep free kick to give D&D an astonishing 5-3 advantage.
Having started the half with nine men, Wayne Brown’s side had somehow turned a one-goal deficit into a two-goal lead. You couldn’t make it up!
With 15 minutes remaining, D&D appeared to be managing proceedings well, going more direct to relieve the pressure as Pulrose pushed forward.
However, the visitors weren’t finished.
Halsall picked out substitute Calum Holden with a perfectly weighted pass through the D&D defence, and he made no mistake to reduce the deficit with 12 minutes remaining.
Pulrose continued to press, with Halsall volleying wide, before the winger again provided the creativity with three minutes remaining, delivering a deep cross which defender James Maginn controlled before poking home at the back post.
The visitors threw everything forward in added time, but D&D held firm.
Kennaugh’s hat-trick and Gavin’s saves were standout contributions for D&D, while Canipa and Halsall impressed for Pulrose.
However, Brown’s side will be kicking themselves for surrendering a two-goal advantage, while Harry Lowther will question how his side failed to capitalise against nine men.
Both sides showed plenty going forward, but defensively there was much to be desired.
A point apiece, ten goals and plenty of talking points. The Corpy Derby certainly has plenty to live up to next time!
Douglas & District 5-5 Pulrose United.