Penalties help Vanbrugh send depleted Goodricke out of Cup
Photo: George Lowther
Goodricke Firsts 1 Vanbrugh Firsts 1
(Vanbrugh win 3-1 on penalties)
Goalkeeper Paul Taylor went from villain to hero today as Vanbrugh beat Goodricke on penalties to progress to the semi-finals. Heavily at fault for Goodricke’s first-half goal, he made two outstanding saves in the shoot-out to put his team through to the next round.
Goodricke, for many the tournament favourites, entered this game with a 100% record in the group stages but without key players Dom O’Shea, Chris Grayland, Tom Wilson, Luke Molyneux and goalkeeper James Mortimer. Vanbrugh, themselves missing University Firsts captain Matt Witherwick due to injury, are beginning to peak at the right time – having beat two of the tournament’s strongest sides in one week. Their nightmare loss against Goodricke Seconds now seems like a distant memory.
The first half started quickly, play being notably more urgent than in the group stages. Vanbrugh, kitted out in full West Brom attire, had less of the possession but, through the excellent defensive work of Chris Schultz, prevented Goodricke from creating any clear chances. At the end of a largely uneventful half, it was a freak moment that broke the deadlock. Ben Smith’s audacious shot was spilled into the net by Taylor to give Goodricke the lead.
Vanbrugh came out in the second half with a bang, and after only a few minutes Mark Gouland had equalised with a powerful header. From then on, both sides tried to find a breakthrough but excellent defending kept the scores level. Josh “Tank” Barker, who caused nightmares for Vanbrugh’s midfield in the aforementioned game against Goodricke Seconds, controlled a slick and hard-working midfield but Goodricke were unable to create chances. One had to wonder if it would have been different with O’Shea on the pitch.
With penalties looming, Dave Coupland missed Goodricke’s best chance of the half as he nearly connected with a cross as it moved along the face of goal. He loudly protested for a penalty – claming he had been brought down – and can consider himself unlucky that the decision was not given by vociferous referee Dan Horsfall. Vanbrugh had a corner in the final stages, but were unable to find the winner as the referee blew for full time.
Goodricke started the shoot-out poorly, with both Coupland and Joyce’s efforts being impressively saved by Taylor. In contrast Gouland and MacWilliams both found the target for Vanbrugh, and they had one foot in the semi-final. Goodricke had a glimmer of hope when Danny York managed to beat the keeper but, as Rob Shanley sent his shot yards wide, their interest in the College Cup ended.
Lineups
Goodricke: Paul Hickling(6 out of 10); Adam Lewis(7), Dan York(7), Ronan Joyce(7), Nick Dehir(6.5); David Coupland(6), Richard Remington(7), Adam Leadbeater(7), Josh Barker(7), Rob Stanley(6.5); Ben Smith(7).
Vanbrugh: Paul Taylor(8), Dan Hewitt(6.5), Tom Sheldrick(6.5), Dan Radford(7), Chris Schultz(8.5); Jonny MacWilliams(7), Liam Regan(7) (Matt Scaysbrook(6)), Jack Nicholas(6), Matt Oliver(7); Tristan Buckley(6.5), Mark Gouland(7.5).
Penalties
Goodricke: Coupland (miss), Joyce (miss), York (score), Shanley (miss)
Vanbrugh:Gouland (score), MacWilliams (score), Radford (score)
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Voiciferous?
As a neutral, I just wanted to praise Vanbrugh today as I think they sum up what the College Cup is all about – attractive football with plenty of sunshine and smiles all round. Their captain Tom Sheldrick deserves credit for the job he has done this year, and he is a shining example of the fair play and spirit that epitomises college football.
lol. im guess that above comment is supposed to be taken in jest…
The (voiciferous) ref blew noticably early? What complete utter bollocks. seriously, What the chuff made you bother with that total fabrication of a non-point? I am quite happy for you to assess the ref’s performance if you really deem it necessary, though it isn’t really about the refs (no-one cares about them really, do they?), but suggesting that time was taken off? I don’t understand what made you write that. Plus, you’re wrong.
Not really springfield, just telling it as it is mate. I don’t play college football these days but I’ve seen nearly every game in the cup since I finished my degree in week 4, and I stand by my statement that Vanbrugh are a delight to watch at times.
I agree with your comment as well Dan, don’t see how you were at fault for anything today – you certainly did not blow for time early. I do a bit of refereeing in some of the pit villages in the North-East when im back home and I know you would have got plenty of respect in that environment.
As an outsider, I have noticed how Sheldrick is something of a Mourinho figure, where he is happy for opposition players and spectators to give him flack so it takes the pressure of the Vanbrugh players – working so far. Still, I reckon Derwent or Alcuin to win it if they can handle the pressure and expectancy levels.
Yawn…
Irrelevant…
Don’t yawn Anton! Dusty is talking about the pit villages of the North East…the likes of Bobby and Jack Charlton as well as the great Jackie Milburn will tell you that’s where football was born!
Just to point out that Nouse has retracted the comment suggesting that the referee blew for full time “noticeably early”, after discussions with the parties concerned. I personally apologise for any offence caused.
DH
Tell me about it John, Anton gives it the big one with his college cup predictions and status as the BNOC – he wouldn’t last 5 minutes playing in somewhere like Willington or Crook. Dreamz, more like Billy Elliott if you ask me…..
Pinky and Dusty are completely justified in their sentiments – Anton knows as much about football as he does about his degree.
I wasn’t having a pop at Anton’s football knowledge, in fact what I said was completely irrelevant! Dreamz’s debut article in Nouse was designed to provoke…and people took the bait.
Although his score predictions were extremely wide of the mark, he was right about some things. Vanbrugh vs. Goodricke was a keenly contested game but wasn’t one “to tell your grandchildren about.” Also, although Alcuin 2nds put up a brave fight, Derwent were too much for them.
How do Vanbrugh keep sneaking through??
This isn’t even funny anymore.