Wentworth edge into the quarters as Goodricke demolish Derwent seconds
Photo: Maggie Aslet
Labelled as the ‘Group of Death’ before the tournament, Group A has proved to be the most competitive in the College Cup, with three sides eyeing the second qualification spot going into the final round of fixtures. A win for Wentworth firsts over Alcuin seconds meant they put one foot in the quarter finals, before Goodricke firsts cemented their position at the top of the group with a 4-0 victory over Derwent seconds, consigning their opponents to the College Plate in the process.
WENTWORTH FIRSTS 2 ALCUIN SECONDS 1
Alcuin knew that they needed a high-scoring victory in this game to have any chance of making the next round but, despite taking the lead, were sent crashing out of the competition by two late goals from Lachie Murray.
At the start of the second half Alcuin’s Thomas Gibby sweetly finished an excellent move in the box to put his side ahead. Wentworth knew that they had less than 30 minutes to save their College Cup campaign and Murray, playing as a striker alongside Dom Green, stepped up. His first was struck past the keeper from close range after picking a pass from the impressive Samik Datta, and his second was a neatly headed effort from a corner.
Wentworth manager Dan Horsfall said afterwards that his side “deserved to win” but praised his opponents: “That was Alcuin’s best performance. That Alcuin team would have beaten others.”
Although Wentworth’s display showed excellent resilience, Alcuin were also undone by their own need to add to their total. Captain Damian Pickard said that he was “happy” with the overall performance: “We had to go for a big win so took a gamble, and this time it didn’t work.”
Wentworth had the better chances in the first half, with Dom Green firing a shot over the bar within the first five minutes. Both sides played excellent football, producing intricate passing movements and constant chances. The quality of play was epitomised when Samik Datta ran most of the length of the pitch, beating three defenders and winning his side a corner at the end. At the end of the half the most surprising thing was that neither team had scored.
Despite Wentworth looking the more dangerous of the sides in the first thirty, it was Alcuin who were to take the lead at the beginning of the second. The game slowed down in pace and Alcuin looked relatively comfortable, defending well and keeping possession in midfield. Wentworth’s Heiner Janus was lucky to escape a booking after taking down Thomas Gibby, referee Matt Hallam deciding that there was little intent. Alcuin goalkeeper David Ambrozejczyk was less fortunate, however, picking up a yellow for dissent.
Wentworth, sensing their College Cup was soon to be over, made the changes, bringing on Matt Glover and Jung Choi. It worked well and, against the run of play, they were soon level. The heads of the Derwent seconds players on the sidelines preparing for their match seemed to drop even lower than Alcuin’s.
The seconds players had chances to re-take the lead, Matthew Lang getting in the way of team-mate Basim Al-Ahmadi’s shot and Brown nearly beating the defence, but Murray struck again to give Wentworth the lead in the last minute.
Wentworth knew they had got away with one of their least impressive performances so far this tournament, Alcuin knew that they had produced their best and still lost. Alcuin will now enter the College Plate competition, and based on yesterday’s display, will consider themselves as amongst the favourites.
Wentworth firsts line-up: Matt Taylor, Luke Fleet (c), Seb Schmerold, Andy Suggit, Matt Beacham (Jung Choi), Seamus Kent (Matt Glover), Simon Davidson, Heiner Janus, Samik Datta, Lachie Murray, Dom Green
Nouse Fantasy Football Man of the Match: Lachie Murray
Alcuin seconds line-up: David Ambrozejczyk, Jonathan Lane (Stefan Brambilla Hall), Gavin Hesketh, Simon Reiss, Bradley Wood, Damian Pickard (c) Paul Desoisa (Matthew Lang), Matt Stopforth, Thomas Gibby, Alex Brown, Basim Al-Ahmadi.
Nouse Fantasy Football Man of the Match: Thomas Gibby
Alcuin seconds can perhaps consider themselves slightly unfortunate to have lost yesterday, putting in arguably their best performance of the tournament. Photograph by Maggie Aslet.
GOODRICKE FIRSTS 4 DERWENT SECONDS 0
Having seen Wentworth snatch victory from Alcuin seconds just moments before, Derwent seconds now knew that only a win against group leaders Goodricke firsts would keep them in the tournament. Yet the late Wentworth victory appeared to affect them and if they expected the already qualified Goodricke to go easy on them then they were mistaken. Goodricke swept them aside, winning 4-0 with one of the best performances of the competition so far.
Four games, four comfortable wins and not even one goal conceded; Goodricke might feel they now deserve to be considered the favourites for this competition. Even without midfield lynchpin Adam Leadbeater and with top-scorer Ben Smith starting on the bench, they demolished their opponents yesterday with a display based on solid defending and midfield flair.
Afterwards Dave Coupland said after the match that his side are the current form team based on their group-stage performances: “I think we’re as good as any team in this competition. We were absolutely quality today.” He singled out Eddie Silson’s performance – the striker played brilliantly throughout, providing a constant threat in front of goal and being at the centre of most of their creative play – but special mention should also go to Dan York, playing in an attacking midfield position, and Sam Lewis who were both excellent.
The the game started relatively slowly, with neither side creating many chances. The first notable incident occurred when Goodricke’s Grayland tackled Ed Lacaille aggressively, sending him flying off the pitch but, after that, the first real chance chance came when Derwent’s Matt O’Connor sent an ambitious shot towards the hands of Ed Foster.
Yet the fixture exploded into life when Goodricke took the lead; Dan York headed in a Sam Lewis cross to all but end Derwent’s competition. As the rain began to crash down, Derwent’s heads began to drop and Goodricke eased into a comfortable rhythm. Before the interval they had doubled their lead, Silson sending the ball past the keeper from the edge of the D.
After the match, Derwent seconds captain Matt Worsfold said: “I’m very disappointed, we didn’t work too well as a team and let them have it a bit too easily. We didn’t deserve to lose 4-0.”
Unfortunately for Derwent, in the second half they came up against a Goodricke team that, despite some good performances so far this term, seemed to gel completely for the first time this competition. Silson started the half exceptionally – the only thing better than his early curling free-kick was Roy Moore’s save to block it – and he had soon set up Ben Smith for Goodricke’s third.
Grayland had a chance to make it four with a header but the ball was stopped on the line by Joe Boughtflower. He didn’t have to wait long for another opportunity, however, and shortly after he connected with the ball in the D, this time heading it cleanly past the keeper. Coupland could have added a fifth with the goal the tournament but, after an artistic flick in the D, sent his effort wide.
It is very likely that Goodricke will come up against pre-tournament favourites Halifax in the next round, a match that will likely be the game of the quarters. They will feel that their performances in the first round show that they are more than able to deal with this challenge, and maybe even go all the way to the final.
Eddie Silson was instrumental in his side’s victory yesterday, scoring one goal, assisting another and being the centre of their attacking creativity throughout. Photograph by Maggie Aslet.
Goodricke firsts line-up: Ed Foster, Matt Whelan (Niall Walsh), Chris Grayland, Sam Astbury, Danny Munro, Josh Barker, Nick Dheir (Ben Smith), Sam Lewis, Dan York, Dave Coupland (c), Eddie Silson
Nouse Fantasy Football Man of the Match: Eddie Silson
Derwent seconds line-up: Roy Moore, Matt Worsfold, Joe Boughtflower, Josh Baines, Andy Jeffreys, James Matthews, Barnaby Francis (James Beggs), Steve Miller, John Pinkstone (Freddy Harris), Matt O’Connor, Ed Lacaille
Nouse Fantasy Football Man of the Match: James Matthews
Loading ...
At no point did I get in the way of a shot taken by Basim Al-Ahmadi. x
Alcuin-Wentworth was in my opinion the game of the tournament so far. A real back and forth game and towards the end both sides threw everyting they had into it. The second goal of the game was the crucial one and Wentworth managed to get it and advance. Well done to both teams.
when you say the only thing better ed’s freekick was roy moore’s save you do the save an injustice… best save of the tournament?????
No Mr Lang, you did not. You did however shield a ball out of play for some twenty yards even though everyone at the JLD was screaming at you with the information that it had last touched an Alcuin player.
Wentworth corner
I wish I was as infallible as you Dan. I am of course assuming that you are the person who plays in goal for Wentworth? x
Comment edited by a moderator
Ha, what didn’t make it past the moderator I wonder?
x
No swearwords honestly! Over cautious censorship in my opinion. x
@Matthew Lang
The subject was not anonymous, therefore legal and welfare concerns apply.
Glad someone’s got my back
Fair does.