Alcuin win College Cup
Photo: Peter Iveson
ALCUIN 2 DERWENT 0
Four consecutive final appearances, and now two consecutive College Cup wins; there is little doubt which team has dominated on the JLD in the last few years. Alcuin retained their College Cup trophy this morning, comfortably seeing off their old rivals Derwent in a scrappy but entertaining final.
Goals from Ali Laird and Jake Delaney were the difference as Alcuin once again showed their ability to give opposition defenders nightmares at the set piece. Yet, as in their semi-final against Halifax, they were to dominate in all areas of the pitch, defending excellently and constantly looking dangerous on the counter.
After the match, winning captain Miles McDermott congratulated his side for two years of college football dominance: “We have been unbeaten all year, not just through this tournament. We haven’t lost in nearly 17 months, it’s a fantastic effort from everyone and we just keep going from strength to strength.”
Few would argue that Alcuin are the deserving winners of this competition. Having won all seven of their games, they have improved steadily from a disciplined opening performance against today’s opponents Derwent. In that fixture Derwent were unable to deal with the aerial threat of Jake Delaney and the losing finalists will be especially frustrated that they did not learn from those previous errors today. After fifteen minutes Delaney knocked on a McDermott corner for his team-mate Laird to finish, before himself connecting with a Jack Crane long throw in the second half.
Jake Delaney’s presence in the air was the difference for Alcuin, setting up their first and heading in their second. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
Derwent appeared to start confidently, with Matt Hallam and Chris Barnett being at the centre of some excellent passing movements in the opening stages. Yet the first big chance fell to Alcuin’s Joe Cooper. When Steve Walwyn failed to deal with a high ball, the speedy striker fought his way into space but sent his effort over the bar.
Yet Alcuin’s first goal was to change the game completely and, for a brief period, Derwent looked as if they might be overrun. Seconds after the goal, Cooper had a chance to put the game beyond his opponents but his shot was well saved by Moore. Simon Reiss then also connected with a corner, sending his effort just wide.
At the opposite end of the pitch, Reiss was also enjoying a good day in defence as he continued to foil Derwent’s Ben Smith. As Alcuin enjoyed an impressive end to the half, Derwent began to look as if the interval could not come soon enough. Dom Henney was booked for a desperate tackle on Dan Cox, and Ali Laird came close to grabbing a second, sending his effort just wide after a goalmouth scramble.
Ali Laird heads home for Alcuin’s first. Photograph by Justyn Hardcastle.
Matt Hallam, Derwent captain, said after the match that the team’s slow start had cost them the game: “We didn’t come out in the first half. We switched off at set pieces and that’s where they are most dangerous.”
Alcuin have been known in the past years for their attractive football, but Hallam was correct in highlighting the direct aspect of their play as the difference today. After a feisty start to the second half, in which Chris Barnett was penalised for an excessive tackle on Jack Crane, Delaney’s presence was to again panic Derwent. After shooting just wide from a corner, the midfield giant picked up a Crane throw and headed in from the edge of the D. His team-mate Cooper claimed he had got a touch, but there was no doubt that the goal belonged entirely to Delaney.
Crane could have added to Alcuin’s total shortly afterwards, a cheeky dipping shot being somehow kept out by Moore’s fingertips. Yet Derwent’s heads were not to drop and they pressed well in the game’s final stages. Chris Barnett and Matt Hallam both had chances, but were prevented in each occasion by classy saves from Michael Wynd.
Dan Cox had an oportunity to add a goal from open play as he worked round a flat-footed Paul Ward-Jones, but was unable to find the target and sent his attempt wide. It was not to matter, within minutes the final whistle had been blown and Alcuin rushed to the centre circle for another champagne celebration. College Cup champions for the second year running, and few would dispute that they were this tournament’s outstanding performers. For Derwent, the competition ended as it had begun – another disappointing defeat against the old nemesis.
Alcuin firsts line-up: Michael Wynd, Bradley Wood, Simon Reiss, Paul Reiss, Jake Delaney (Matt Stopforth), Miles McDermott, Jack Crane, Christy Cormac, Ali Laird, Dan Cox, Joe Cooper
Nouse Fantasy Football Man of the Match: Simon Reiss
Derwent firsts line-up: Roy Moore, Paul Ward-Jones, Dom Henney, Steve Walwyn, Alex Cooper, John Pinkstone (Ben Creswell),Joe Boughtflower, Chris Barnett, Matt Hallam, Matt O’Connor, Ben Smith (Nav Jabarkhyl)
Nouse Fantasy Football Man of the Match: Chris Barnett
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Few can deny Alcuin’s class and dominance throughout this tournament. They were the only team that had a plan B with both the ability to split open defences with Cox, Cooper and co, or go more direct using the deadly set pieces and throws of both McDermott and Crane respectively. They are true champions and fully deserved there win, that’s for sure.
A corner and a long throw. Brilliant.
I thought that both sides worked hard and some of the passing was really good to watch, it is just a shame that no such passage of play led to a goal.
Think it is unfair for Arsene to suggest that Alcuin won simply due to the long ball; alcuin had far more shots on goal (Jack Crane and Dan Cox both coming very close from open play) than Derwent who despite playing very well (esp Chris Barnett), missed a clinical centre forward.
Love him or hate him (that is the question), they missed Dreamz. Or at least Ed Lacaille.
I reckon Ali Laird and Joe Boughtflower have been absolutely fantastic throughout the tournament
Those Derwent boys simply dont know how to beat Alcuin…
Maybe next year lads.
Has anyone got a copy of this game on DVD? It’s just that I’ve ran out of porn
“A corner and a long throw. Brilliant.”
As opposed to no goals at all. Sound argument.
To those complaining about set pieces, take a look at the third photograph on this page. Ali Laird — all of 5’8″ at the most — is completely unmarked and allowed a free header on goal (from which he scored). Not only that, but he’s got so much space that he doesn’t even have to jump to attack the ball. If Alcuin are so notoriously reliant upon set pieces then perhaps Derwent would have done well to practice defending set pieces. As that photograph demonstrates, they were lacking.
A quick word for the most overrated and poorest team of the competition … Halifax!
3 College Term titles
2 College Cup Winners
1 College Cup Runners up
Unparalleled 14 game winning streak across two tournaments
17 months without tasting defeat.
Take a bow; Christy Cormac, Dan Cox, Jack Crane, Alistair Laird, Michael Wynd, Matt Stopforth, Udy Onwudike, Miles McDermott, Paul Reiss, Jake Delaney, Joe Copper.
Alcuin football class of 2010.
The REAL Golden Generation.
Overrated yes, but not the poorest. They played nice stuff and were better than Goodricke, Langwith, and Wentworth. I reckon they’d've beaten Derwent
alcuin are very fortunate to have played a halifax side missing 2 of the top ten footballers in the uni, there is no doubt it would have been a different game with mckellow and brennan. so its a shame they haven’t beaten the best to get there and still shout like they have.
anon, a midfielder and a forward aren’t going to stop you shipping 5 goals.
Well deserved Alcuin – performed really well
i heard that david villa and the spain team heard the result of this year’s college cup and cried,
thats alrite though at least they weren’t violently sick like lionel messi!
Anyone got £899 for a plane ticket?
Great college cup! Great goals. Shocking defending! Not too many upsets apart from halifax 2s getting a deserved win over langwith 1s. Alcuin the deserved winners. They were the inter milan of the tournament yet halifax failed to live up to a barcelona. Vanbrugh looking tasty for next year, goodricke will struggle without grayland in both boxes much like James will miss Mark Johnson, arguably the best player on astroturf at the university. YSTV coverage started promisingly then went missing for a couple of weeks (dan hewitt being a good host). All in all great tournament!
all joking aside, does anyone know where paris williams is?
Leaked footage of an Alcuin training session….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1VVCj26JvI
Ali Laird makes a fool out of Jack Crane as Alcuin warm up for the final:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0Xzhnu9DVc
College Cup winners, College Football League winners, and now, College Sport winners