Halifax seconds secure second spot with thrashing of Wentworth seconds

May 30, 2011 | ONLINE ONLY
Jonathan Frost

HALIFAX SECONDS 5-1 WENTWORTH SECONDS

Images: Justyn Hardcastle

In a match set to decide whether the Halifax seconds made the plate or the Quarter-Finals, it seemed likely they would be unable to make up the goal difference required against the Wentworth seconds side, but in a thrilling effort, the Halifax side succeeded in bettering James firsts’ score by one goal to secure a Quarter-Final berth.

The game had it all; penalties, injuries, and some fantastic strikes. Two goals from Luke Charles, and one each from Sam Dempster, Mark Lund and Ben Rea kept the Halifax side on course for College Cup glory.

Halifax opened as they intended to continue, moving with pace and aggression up the field. In moments, Alex Reid successfully took the ball swiftly up the right wing, and cut inside between the Wentworth defence, but failed to pull the trigger. However, the eager seconds side would not have long to wait, as they were awarded a corner and crowded the box. Luke Charles crossed it in superbly from the left, and in the tussle it was Sam Dempster who opened the scoring, deflecting the ball past the outstretched arms of the Wentworth keeper, Jon Cook.

The Halifax side looked dominant, but the knowledge that they needed to score three more and concede none made their play erratic at times. As such, they were called offside on a number of occasions, and their frenetic rate of play often resulted in loss of possession. Play was not all one way though, with Samik Datta looking dangerous up front for the post-grad side, forcing the Halifax seconds defence to remain alert and keep pulling back.

At times, the Halifax enthusiasm worked brilliantly, as they ran rings around their Wentworth opponents. After one such drive, the Halifax forwards were once again storming the box and the Wentworth defence were penalised for a handball in the area. The decision was a clear one; had the Wentworth defender not raised his arm, Halifax may well have had their second goal. Mark Lund stepped up to take the penalty, and with little hesitation, coolly hammered it into the top of the net to make it 2-0.

Suddenly, two more goals seemed feasible for Halifax, and the team could taste it. However, their exuberance was short-lived. Halifax became more aggressive, and Wentworth’s Lachie Murray exploited this, as he broke away and left the defence standing in midfield. He went one-on-one with keeper Dean Hanson, and just managed to flick it past him as the two came together at speed. As the ball skidded into the goal, Murray came away limping badly, with little celebration.

Luke Charles was the one to up the pace for the desperate Halifax seconds, finding himself in space way out near the halfway line. Breaking the mould, he swung for the ball, connected beautifully, and sent it soaring towards a shocked Jon Cook. In one of the best goals of the College Cup thus far, Charles’ impressive strike curled into the top left, slamming into the net leaving the defence speechless and the Halifax crowds in ecstasy.

Spurred on by their new success, Halifax went all out, with notable attempts from Hamish Denham, Alex Reid, and another from Charles all narrowly missing out on goals before the whistle went at half-time with the score at 3-1 to Halifax.

The Halifax war machine thundered on into the second half, in search of the other two goals that would see them through. The Wentworth defence made an admirable show of it with Dan Horsfall organising the defence against the onslaught, but their clearances became messy after time. A throw in taken by Halifax’s Hamish Denham saw the ball launched straight into the box, where Tom Patrickson flicked it for Luke Charles to claim his second by heading it in from the back post.

The final Halifax goal came in the dying seconds, from substitute Ben Rea, who came on for Alex Reid. The Halifax playmaker Mark Lund connected with Anton Ellis, who managed to play Rea through to face the Wentworth keeper, and the ball went straight along the ground to Jon Cook’s left, and into the net. The celebrations were well deserved, and as full-time came moments later, the Halifax side were clearly delighted with their efforts.

Rea’s fifth goal had secured a four-goal sway in Halifax’s favour and lifted their goal difference to +12, one more than their rivals James.

The Halifax skipper Harry Pearson was overjoyed: “We got the job done. It was the final day, and what a day it was.” Wentworth’s Lachie Murray noted that “they were always a tough team, and we’ve lost a couple of times before.”

Halifax seconds: Dean Hanson, Alex Bone, Harry Pearson (Charlie Griffiths), Mark Lund, Tom Patrickson, Sam Dempster (Anton Ellis), Luke Charles, Elliot Ragan, Hamish Denham, Alex Simon, Alex Reid (Ben Rea).

Man of the Match: Luke Charles

Wentworth seconds: Jon Cook, Chris Lyons, Nick Townson (Tom Scott), Lachie Murray (Samir Dahirou), Mike Symes, Dan Horsfall (Mead Obaid Alshamsi), Samik Datta, Matt Beachem, Richard Rhodes, Alex Jones, Andy Pratt.

Man of the Match: Alex Jones

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