College Cup Round-up: Matchweek 4
Photo: Arran Bowen-la Grange
Vanbrugh Firsts 2 Langwith Seconds 0
Vanbrugh bounced back from their unexpected defeat against Goodricke seconds last week with this unconvincing and sometimes nervous performance against Langwith. Spectacular strikes from Dan Hewitt and Mark Gouland split the teams, but the match teetered at 1-0 for an uncomfortably long time before Vanbrugh could seal the points.
Unsurprisingly, the Greens enjoyed all the early possession, settling any pre-match nerves by pinging the ball around the defence and feeding any attacks through Matt Witherwick in central midfield. However, they often got bogged down as Langwith showed themselves willing to pursue lost causes, despite the soaring temperatures.
With twenty minutes played, it required something out of the ordinary to ignite this game and Dan Hewitt, marauding forward from right-back, provided the spark; rocketing the ball home from 25-yards with goalkeeper Ben Jones unsighted. Mark Gouland, who regularly dropped deep to collect the ball, should have doubled the advantage but his close-range finish was hoofed from the goalline. On the stroke of half-time, his header grazed the post after an accurate corner, but the second goal was proving elusive.
Witherwick was withdrawn at half-time, switching the emphasis even further to the wings, where Jonny MacWilliams and Man of the Match Liam Regan were consistent in their deliveries. Gouland deserved a goal and, having seen one effort tipped over by Taylor, finally settled proceedings five minutes from the end. Collecting the ball on the left, the university firsts’ player shimmied inside, twisted around a couple of defenders, switched onto his favoured left foot and arced a beautiful shot over Taylor. ADAM SHERGOLD
Derwent Firsts 2 Halifax Thirds 0
Despite the 2-0 scoreline, Halifax Thirds can be extremely proud of an excellent performance against one of the tournament’s top sides, here.
Halifax matched their opponents in the early stages but, after fifteen minutes, Chris Barnett’s clever lob found the target to put Derwent ahead. Only a few minutes after Alex Cooper sent a perfectly weighted ball to Anton Murphy who nudged it on to Ed Lacaille. The midfielder kept his composure and dribbled round the keeper to grab an easy second goal for Derwent. It looked like it might get embarrassing for Halifax as Derwent began to play some excellent passing football, lead by brilliant work on the left wing by Cooper.
However in the second half Halifax were excellent, keeping Derwent out with industrious defending and frustrating them in midfield. Had they created more chances, and their late rebounded goal not been ruled offside, then they might have threatened an unthinkable upset. However Derwent held on, with help from the outstanding Man of the Match: centre-back Jack Amiry. LEIGH CLARKE
Derwent Thirds 0 – 3 Langwith Firsts
Langwith capitalised on a wasteful Derwent display in the sweltering heat to finally get some points on the board. Early on Derwent wasted a handful of opportunities to take the lead and eventually paid the price when Langwith scored two quick goals in the second half to kill the game. Another Man of the Match worthy performance by Jez ‘Modric’ Hann made the difference; he was instrumental in the middle of the park and was one of the few players on the pitch with composure on the ball. The scorers for Langwith were Liam Condron, Bruce Starkey and substitute Tommy Chrimes.
The score was 0-0 at half time with chances missed at both ends; Derwent missng the clearer cut chances. Barnaby Francis delightfully lobbed onto the crossbar before Ben Jones saved well when pacey James Mathews was put through 1-on-1. James Beggs was again put through on early in the second half but he dithered on the ball and his shot was subsequently blocked. On the ropes, Langwith then started turning the screw. Derwent keeper Bruce was forced save from 5 yards and minutes later Tom Parker hit the crossbar before the rebound was cleared off the line. The very next move saw Andy McCormack brought down after a quick swivel, centre back Liam Condron placed the ball past the rooted keeper. Bruce Starkey doubled the lead moments later with a headed finish from Tom Lynch’s cross. Sub Tommy Chrimes topped the games off with a dinked finish over the keeper after he latched on to a bouncing ball between the defence and keeper. NABEEL MOOSA
Goodricke Firsts 2 Alcuin Seconds 0
In a game marked by a controversial headbutt, a solid performance from Goodricke Firsts saw them overcome an Alcuin Seconds side that still harbours hopes of scraping a quarter-final birth. Simon Reiss’ stunning own goal as he tried to prevent a Dom O’Shea effort sneaking in, and Tom Wilson’s first of the tournament gave Goodricke – one of the pre-tournament favourites – a deserved victory.
Alcuin struggled to threaten James Mortimer’s goal throughout and this reporter can’t remember Goodricke keeper being called into action at any stage until Matt Bowyer’s tame effort midway through the second half. Such a quiet afternoon between the sticks owed much to the dominance of Man of the Match Chris Grayland at the back for Goodricke, and his marshalling of the effervescent Udy Onwiduke was one of the better defensive performances seen in the College Cup thus far. Alongside him, Ronan Joyce can only be criticised for missing a first half sitter; other than that, his partnership with Grayland is a promising sign for the later stages. Matt Bowyer’s attempted headbutt on the impressive Adam Leadbeater deserved a red, but was missed by the otherwise exemplary man with the whistle, Chris Schultz. Bowyer, on the other hand, will justly argue that Leadbeater’s tackle deserved a yellow; but there was some talk of retrospective punishment for the Alcuin stalwart after the game. DAN HYDE
Alcuin Firsts 4 Wentworth Seconds 0
Shaken by the news of Jake Delaney’s suspected cruciate ligament problem, Alcuin drafted in tanned graduate ex-Uni starlet Ollie Webb at centre half. Alcuin, inspired by Man of the Match Ed Murrills’ hattrick, were professional in seeing off a Wentworth side that laboured hard with scant reward. Alcuin initially struggled to break the deadlock, as Wentworth dared to venture forward, in particular via big throw-ins from their bewhiskered centre half, Dan Horsfall. But despite their extra years of academic training, Wentworth dug their own grave by making the schoolboy error of not snuffing out a short corner. Hyde slid the ball to Murrills who pounded it over Datta on the post. Wentworth still occasionally threatened as Rhodes brought a leaping save out of Ambrozejczyk after turning Saha-like from a knockdown.
Alcuin doubled their lead before half time after a sublimely weighted ball from the excellent Jack Crane into the path of Williams, who sped away and finished. Captain Dan Cox nearly bagged a Maradonaesque wondergoal after dribbling past about 7 players only to fire his shot straight at the keeper. Alcuin’s third came in a moment of controversy as the referee gave but one of many immaculate decisions, by awarding a free kick just outside the box on the marauding Hyde. The Wentworth players claimed a dive, but the decision stood. The referee measured the exact ten yards, giving Murrills the opportunity to spank in his second. Murrills completed the rout and his hattrick ten minutes before the end. But the big question still lingers: can Alcuin still harbour hopes of College Cup glory with the influential Delaney in rehab? JOHN HALSTEAD
James Firsts 5 – Goodricke Thirds 0
As has become de rigeur in the College Cup, in this game the lower ranked team put 10 men behind the ball and sought to frustrate a star-studded James Firsts line up. The first goal came in incompetent circumstances. After one of many bits of good play down the right from Vermeulen, Goodricke seemed to have dealt with the James attack, but the defender turned round to display more faith in his goalkeeper’s kicking ability than was warranted, as Brennan clumsily fumbled the ball with his knees and thighs and Offord strode in to bundle the ball into the net.
From then on, Offord could, nay should, have bagged a hattrick as he missed two more one-on-ones as the keeper atoned with the kind of eccentric goalkeeping not seen since Rene Higuita first stunned the English-speaking world with his hair and latterly his scorpion kick. The second came after more sleek penetration from the exotic-sounding Vermeulen. The keeper saved Vermeulen’s effort and Johnson slotted in the rebound.
In what followed, James hit three contenders for the Nouse goal of the tournament competition. Si Mole stroked in a ripe peach of a half-volley into the far corner. Like a buck-toothed teenager, Man of the Match Mark Johnson bagged his brace with 18 minutes left with another stunner that flew past the helpless Brennan. He completed two thirds of the ‘perfect hattrick’ (Left foot, right foot, right foot) in equally sensational fashion by cutting in from the left and spanking the ball into the roof of the net. With their impressive midfield axis, James could be on McLeod 9 by the end of the Cup. JOHN HALSTEAD
Wentworth firsts 5 – 0 Vanbrugh thirds
Wentworth firsts brushed aside Vanbrugh thirds with ease with a resounding 5-0 victory. A hat-trick by Man of the Match Dave White and two from striker Russ Kitson gave Wentworth a very convincing victory. Striker White gave Wentworth a 2-0 lead at half time with a brace, both bungled in following some very poorly defended corners. Vanbrugh started the second half a lot better; however, Wentworth survived the pressure in the second half only to add another three to their tally. Kitson opened the scoring in the second half, running on to a neat ball played through from midfield and then opening his body up nicely to slot it past the ’keeper. He then added another, and White completed his hat-trick with a silky turn and shot just outside the box.
Vanbrugh deserved at least a goal for their pressure early in the second half, with Wentworth riding their luck for a number of corners and striker Sascha Bonomally going close on a number of occasions. A mention also needs to go to Rich Rhodes, who had some great attempts early in the first half for Wentworth and was unlucky not to be on the score sheet. ANDREW BROWN
Halifax firsts 1 – 1 Derwent Seconds
Halifax were lucky to nick a draw thanks to substitute Luke Charles’ goal that cancelled out Ed Lacaille’s opener. After a scrappy start with both teams really balling for it in the centre, Derwent edged ahead early in the first half, as Lacaille found himself free on the wing and shot across Halifax stand-in goalkeeper Seamus Kent, who tipped it but was unable to send it wide. What followed then was a match largely made scrappy by Halifax’s long-ball tactics, with midfielders Conner Brennan and Alex Richards they could to light up the midfield. However, a strong work rate in the centre by Derwent led by hard-working captain John Pinkstone meant that Halifax struggled to build any convincing chances.
Halifax’s equaliser came following a long ball punt up field that was headed away and fell to substitute Luke Charles, who, although reaching far forward and appearing to be off-balance, manages a bullet of a shot straight into the back of the net. What followed this late equaliser was a continuation of the scrappy match where both sides struggled to create chances. Derwent defended stoutly throughout with Man of the Match Matt Waller standout in coping with thus-far prolific striker Dom Green. ANDREW BROWN
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I am really sorry, but Andy Smart wasn’t even on the pitch at the time of that goal! Russ (not Rhys) Kitson got the Wenty goal attributed to Andy Smart and arguably one of Dave’s as well!
The bewhiskered one is quite correct-I think the other write up was more accurate. I’m sure Andy Smart will be really pleased with his goal from the bench though!
This article has now been amended (slightly), given the comments above. Apologies for the errors. Hopefully that won’t happen again.
DH
“stunning own goal”??? the ball was already going in, i actually cleared it when it was already over the line. I wouldn’t be that bothered but it leaves my fantasy league points at a meagre 3 and in addition i have the real goalscorer (o’shea) in my team
http://www.theyorker.co.uk/news/sport/3157
the yorker seems to back up my account.
“stunning own goal”??? or do you mean the dom o’shea goal where the ball was already over the line at the time i managed to reach the ball. wouldn’t be bothered but its decimated my fantasy league points tally.
my bad… thought the first one hadn’t worked.