[visiongallery set=72157633521054402]
Photos: Oona Venermo
Vanbrugh 3rds sank to the very depths of group C following a second successive defeat in their college cup campaign. The Vanbrugh outfit were out classed in a 3-0 drubbing by a Goodricke 1st XI that now sit top of the pile in group C.
Despite the best efforts in the first period of an in form Kallum Taylor, the vocal keeper between the sticks could do little to smother a torrent of Goodricke offensive play and goals were an inevitable product from a side that boast a selection of players gifted with superb attacking prowess.
Goodricke were unable to assert themselves immediately in the opening stages of the first half as much of their play was disrupted by an aggressive and upfront Vanbrugh. However, Goodricke soon adapted and employed the pace of captain Joe Mann on the left wing to exploit Vanbrugh’s defensive line.
Mann himself produced Goodricke’s first chance as the wide man drifted out on the left to receive a Dan Gorringe free kick. Mann’s resulting shot awakened Taylor, who dived across goal to palm away a shot directed towards his far post.
Goodricke were now coming into their own and a string of beautiful one touch football in the midfield fell to Dalton Harris who should have capitalised when one on one with Taylor, but the keeper was quick to lessen the angle and Harris’s resulting shot was fired straight at the keeper. Harris was gifted the rebound, but sliced his shot over the crossbar when the Vanbrugh keeper was surely beaten.
Goodricke again put together some attractive midfield play which found Harris out wide who’s left footed cross met the head of Gorringe, directing his headed effort towards goal, but Taylor pulled off a stunning reaction save to reach his top corner and deny the midfield man.
It came as no surprise when Goodricke broke the deadlock in tantalising style. A sweet through ball from Gorringe found Chris Osborne in acres of space. In form man Osborne was able to finish comfortably in the bottom corner, adding a third goal to his tally of the campaign in only two games.
Goodricke added another when Harris again drifted out wide to play in a low cross that left Taylor stranded at his near post. Jon Gillbanks was left unmarked at the back and had an easy task when he hammered the ball into the roof of the net from close range.
Goodricke left the pitch having been dominant in midfield throughout the majority of the first period, boasting a deserved 2-0 lead. Vanbrugh appeared to be seemingly dazed by Goodricke’s pace and movement off the ball. A series of penetrative passes from the Goodricke midfield had left daunting cracks throughout Vanbrugh’s defence.
The second half commenced much as the first had ended with a chance falling to Dalton Harris, only to be frustrated when his low shot could not evade the Vanbrugh goalkeeper.
Goodricke confirmed what was a routine victory when Stu Dunk hit home from a corner. A combination of goalkeeping and defensive errors left an unmarked Dunk to guide home Gorringe’s corner. Taylor positioned himself poorly at his near post, gifting Dunk an inviting open net.
Following the match, team captain Mann was pleased with strong performances in midfield and defence. Mann Admired Vanbrugh’s fight which did not give Goodricke an easy ride in the commencing stages of the first half, but believed Vanbrugh were eventually outplayed by a better footballing side.
Opposition captain Robert Konstandelos described Vanbrugh as giving a Goodricke hard game, but were caught out by good quality finishes. Konstandelos believes his team can push on from here and gain some crucial points when they come up against the 2nd and 3rd teams within group C.