Derwent fightback denies Alcuin in College Football thriller
Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle
DERWENT COLLEGE 3
ALCUIN COLLEGE 3
Sunday 22nd November
A spirited second-half performance, inspired by Man of the Match Chris Barnett, gave Derwent a share of the points against Alcuin, in a 3-3 draw that more than lived up to its pre-match billing.
It took Alcuin under a minute to break the deadlock in what was the first attack of the match. Good work from Parris Williams on the left allowed him to elude the Derwent backline and his cross found Joe Cooper six yards out who finished to give Alcuin the lead. Cooper’s day would end prematurely minutes later, pulling up injured after chasing down a through ball.
Alcuin pressure pinned Derwent back, limiting them to long range efforts – a cross-cum-shot from Nav Jabarkhyl being Derwent’s first real opening. With the shellshock of conceding such an early goal drifting away, Derwent finally carved out a real chance, Barnett swinging in a cross towards James Grey who probably should have done better from eight yards out.
Derwent would rue this missed opportunity, with Alcuin doubling the advantage on the half hour. Ali Laird was given time to cross from the left, finding Miles McDermott in space to head the ball into the path of Williams, who made no mistake from close range and gave Alcuin a 2-0 lead into half-time.
Frenetic goalmouth action as Derwent push forward in search of points to sustain their title challenge against Alcuin. Photograph by Peter Iveson.
It was nearly a case of déjà vu for Derwent in the second-half; Alcuin almost capitalising again within the one minute of the restart – a misjudged back header almost allowed substitute Udy Onwudike to round Moore in the Derwent goal and kill the game off.
The resulting corner signalled a significant turning point in the match. With Derwent clearing the ball to the feet of Chris Barnett, the imposing midfielder found himself with space to turn and run. Immediately cutting to the left and passing the half-way line, he shrugging off the first and second chasing Alcuin players. Barnett then cut back towards the area and, after slipping by the third and fourth defenders, he magnificently powered a finish into the bottom right corner to score a wonder goal and drag Derwent firmly back into the game.
The next goal was always going to be important and it was Alcuin who took advantage of a lapse in the opposing defence, despite the Derwent midfield dominating play. A long throw was allowed the travel into the six yard area and, with Derwent unable to clear, it fell to Captain McDermott, who powered home and wheeled away in celebration to the delight of his team.
Derwent’s Anton Murphy tussles with Alcuin Captain Miles McDermott during Sunday’s 3-3 draw. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
With twenty minutes left in the game, Derwent now needed to capitalise on the dominance they had shown prior to McDermott’s goal. Derwent Captain Dom Henney urged his team to raise the volume and tempo and the skipper’s words seemingly became entrenched in the mind of his players immediately. A probing cross from the left found Anton Murphy in space at the far post and he excellently turned the ball back towards the area to find Grey, who volleyed home – game on once more.
Barnett was proving to be too much for the Alcuin midfield and he was again the focus as Derwent completed the comeback. Stinging the gloves of Michael Wynd with a rifle shot earlier in the half, Barnett was again given space to aim from twenty yards out, this time shaking the bar with a crashing right foot strike which was scooped up by Anton Murphy to tap home, the forward celebrating in his usual animated manner.
Parris Williams set up Alcuin’s first goal and scored their second against Derwent. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
Derwent could have grabbed all three points at the death, with a goal disallowed when Jabarkhyl was adjudged to be in an offside position, but Derwent can have no complaints after salvaging a point when the game looked all but over.
After the match McDermott stated that the “draw was a fair result – once they got the goal we were always on the back foot” – sentiments probably shared by Derwent, with both teams now needing to pick up points in the remaining games to have any chance of catching leaders Halifax, who dispatched Wentworth 3-1 in the corresponding game today.
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