James miss out on Cup qualification despite victory over Vanbrugh fourths

May 30, 2011 | ONLINE ONLY

JAMES FIRSTS 5-2 VANBRUGH FOURTHS

Images: Justyn Hardcastle

James firsts missed out on qualification for the Quarter-Finals of the College Cup by virtue of goal difference after a their three-goal margin of victory was bettered by Halifax seconds this afternoon.

Simon Mole’s side managed to survive a scare from a Vanbrugh side that had scored only one goal in their previous four matches in this epic encounter on the JLD with two late goals from Josh Brownlow helping them on their way.

Action started as most of the spectators who braved the drizzle would have expected. James Offord could have put the favourites in front were it not for his effort at the near post going just wide. He had another half-chance when a fumble from Vanbrugh goalkeeper Freddy Nathan meant the ball was almost gifted to him, but Nathan recovered just in time.

The ball finally left the Vanbrugh area and the underdogs made a decent move forward to place action by the James box. James defender Matt Bainbridge mistimed his clearance attempt from an innocuous throw in and the ball bounced beyond the grasp of Sam Clitheroe to be nudged in by Vanbrugh’s Ben Huckle for a shock lead.

James looked startled by the shock but recovered quickly. Tom Clarke supplied the ball from the left and Bainbridge made amends by heading in the ball at the near post. 1-1.

Vanbrugh could have been expected to capitulate after conceding but, amazingly, they took the game to James. Through some great work by Andy Dakin and Will Cooper the fourths managed to win their share of 50/50 balls and the back line did a good job of containing James’ advances and even propelling the ball forward. James Roulston forced a close range save from Clitheroe that could have given Vanbrugh the lead.

Mark Mcleod looked to use his experience to steady the ship for James but, despite firing off two well-struck attempts, could not quite find a way to get a goal. With James pressing the Vanbrugh defenders started to look a little ragged and Richard Baxter took full advantage with a looping left-foot effort that Nathan was unable to stop. Normalcy was fully restored when Mcleod – having spotted Nathan well off his line – scored with a ridiculous effort from the halfway line to make it 3-1 at the half-time whistle.

A more composed James took to the pitch for final thirty minutes. The majority of play was based around the Vanbrugh box but still they stood strong. Henry Watts was imperative to his team’s effort, denying Tom Clarke on more than one occasion and also stopping Offord from being through on goal following a nice ball from Baxter.

When the ball was cleared from the Vanbrugh area they caused James all sorts of problems on the break. Will Cooper sent a couple of searching balls that were nearly met and Kimmy Tang-Wright danced his way past Kreienbaum to keep hope of a David versus Goliath story alive.

Andy Dakin nearly made the dream a reality when his spectacular strike from all of forty yards smashed the crossbar. He had another go seconds later – amid cries of “shoot” from the sizeable crowd – but his near-perfect strike was again denied by the woodwork. With the game so easily looking like it could go in Vanbrugh’s favour Chris Mason got in on the action but could not find the back of the net.

James substitute Josh Brownlow managed to give James some comfort when he cooly slotted in his attempt to make it 4-1 to the boys in black and white, but hope was restored for Vanbrugh when Will Cooper made it 4-2 courtesy of a penetrating strike from outside the box.

James were clearly frustrated and, after Simon Mole’s yellow card at the start of the second half, Johnny Hyde was awarded a caution also. They managed to regroup, however, and seal the final goal of the game when Brownlow, after meeting Baxter’s header back into the box, put it past Nathan to end it at 5-2 to James.

Non-playing Vanbrugh captain James Bugg was beaming after game, despite the loss. Having observed from the sidelines he claimed “we could have won that game. I’m disappointed I couldn’t play but it was a great performance”.

James skipper Simon Mole left the game clearly frustrated. Aware that his team needed a barrage of goals, and probably expecting a barrage of goals against a Vanbrugh side who have conceded twenty three, he was resigned to the fact that their performance was not enough to see qualification to the Cup.

Vanbrugh fourths: Freddy Nathan, Oliver Hill, Angus Wilson, Henry Watts, Daniel Sheperd, Ben Huckle, Chris Mason, Kimmy Tang-Wright, Will Cooper, Andy Dakin, James Roulston.

Man of the Match: Will Cooper

James firsts: Sam Clitheroe, Nick St. George, Simon Kreienbaum (George Clarke), Matt Bainbridge, Sam Mellor (Josh Brownlow), Mark Mcleod, Simon Mole (Johnny Hyde), Richard Baxter, Angus O’Brien, Tom Clarke, James Offord

Man of the Match: Richard Baxter

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