James and Vanbrugh share the spoils in tale of Number Tens
Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle
JAMES COLLEGE 2
VANBRUGH COLLEGE 2
Sunday 22nd November
It was a tale of two number 10s today as James Offord and Isaac Parkinson bagged a brace each as Vanbrugh and James shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. It was a thoroughly competitive game, with both sides keen to pick up three points but overall a draw was probably the fairest outcome. It was a result that pleased Vanbrugh more, with the James side being noticeably unhappy to not come out on top.
The first-half was end-to-end and either side could have run away with the game, as it was several players spurned great early chances. Vanbrugh enjoyed some early chances but Parkinson fluffed his lines when through on goal and only a great save from Toby Owen denied Ali Prince, as his effort was tipped on to the bar. It was then James’ turn to spill forward and Simon Mole’s attempt just cleared the bar. A contentious decision awarded James a free-kick right on the edge of the area, but Mike Johnson’s shot cannoned straight into the wall – a wall that seemed no more than five yards away.
Both sides were looking bright and lively but it was James who were enjoying slightly the better of the contest. On their regular forays forward, however, they were controlled admirably by the Vanbrugh backline, particularly Dan Radford and Liam Regan who both enjoyed superb performances. It was James who got the ball in the back of the net first; Offord sweeping home from close range but the goal was – again controversially – ruled offside. It was a thankless task for the Ref today, his every decision criticised by the apparently victimised side and he wasn’t aided by the fact his whistle didn’t work.
James Offord beats Paul Taylor for one of his two goals for James on Sunday. Photograph by Peter Iveson.
The game then burst into life. A lovely piece of pass and move football from Vanbrugh set up Parkinson who finished neatly to make it 1-0. James, who had previously been in the ascendancy, seemed to be rocked by their conceding of the opener and Vanbrugh had barely stopped celebrating before Parkinson was allowed the freedom of the James area to double his, and his side’s, tally. The game had gone from being fairly level to being Vanbrugh’s to lose in a matter of moments and it was clear James had a mountain to climb if they wanted to get anything out of the game.
Their avenue back into the game came via a large slice of luck. A pass back wasn’t effectively dealt with by joint-captain and goalkeeper Paul Taylor and his attempted clearance trickled to Offord who made no mistake from 18 yards out. It was the game’s third goal in ten minutes and it was now anybody’s guess which way the game was going to go.
It was a case of anything you can do, I can do better as James followed Vanbrugh’s example in scoring two goals closely back-to-back. An intelligent run across the back four by Offord was picked out and the striker needed no second invitation in bagging his second of the game. The sides therefore went in equal at the break having shared the play but were both perhaps frustrated by their finishing which left a lot to be desired on more than a few occasions.
The 2-2 scoreline did little for either side as they try to ignite their respective seasons. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
The second-half began with the game nicely poised. James, with their University footballers will have backed their chances to pull away but Vanbrugh will have had ideas of their own, as they had proved in the first-half they were more than capable of matching the opposition. As it was it was James who dominated for much of the second period. Some great keeping from Taylor kept out James on a number of occasions, particularly tipping Matt Vermeulen’s shot round the post and keeping out another Offord header.
The pattern of the second-half was set, James streaming forward in an attempt to find the third and Vanbrugh soaking up the pressure then hitting on the break. A corner from the right eluded Taylor in the James goal in Seaman-esque manner but fortunately for Vanbrugh it cannoned back off the bar. At the other end a fantastic last minute challenge by Alex Sharp denied Parkinson the opportunity to secure his hat-trick and Owen was forced into another good save to keep the scores level.
The second-half petered out and at the final whistle it remained 2-2. Both sides could have won but it is James who will feel more frustrated, boasting more University players and against a depleted Vanbrugh outfit they may have expected to get more then just a point.
Vanbrugh joint skipper Dan Hewitt said “We’ve lost 2 of our 3 games so far but we knew we could win games” and added that perhaps his side “should have won” as well as adding that some of James’ more illustrious individuals will feel “embarrassed” at not having secured the three points. Vanbrugh will feel rightly proud of their performance, especially coming off the back of a hammering against Halifax last weekend, and can look at the performance of defenders Radford and Regan for inspiration. James will hope for better luck next week as they come up against title challengers Goodricke.
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