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Photos: Oliver Todd
James 1sts continued their impressive start to this year’s College Cup with a devastating performance, destroying Wentworth 2nds by eight goals to nil.
Perhaps even that score didn’t do the match justice with James producing a performance packed with confidence, finesse and efficiency as the scars from last year’s disappointing tournament slowly begin to heal.
The game began fairly evenly with Wentworth posing the first threat on goal with a long effort from Rhodes on the half volley that failed to hit the target.
However, this would be about the extent of the Wentworth attacking threat for much of the game as James settled into the match with Baxter and Spurling driving their team on from the centre of the midfield dictating the play.
James’s first goal was soon to follow with Clarke receiving the ball to the right hand side of the area with the striker, reluctant to shoot on his right, working the ball on to his left foot and finding the far corner with a fine curling effort on the eight minute mark.
And so the James onslaught began. Soon after Davies hit the post from a free-kick on the right with Mellor following up with a speculative effort from outside the area.
Wentworth could do nothing about James second after great work down the left combining in a great cross delivered by Ferrao from which Clarke cushioned the ball down to Spurling who hit the ball in his stride and finding the Wentworth net via the right hand post.
Cook had barely picked the ball out of the net before he was doing the same again as Baxter rose highest from a corner to head James 3-0 up with less than twenty minutes played.
James finished the half strongly with Davies getting James fourth goal with a header from close range at the back post after a great cross from Clarke.
Wentworth did pose some threat and nearly got one back just before halftime after Aboulaye got behind the James defence but failed to find Murray as he attempted to square the ball when in on goal as Bainbridge got across to clear.
After half time, James pressed on, not content with their first half goal haul and were soon five up as Baxter got his second of the game as Oscar Lynch headed the ball towards goal from a corner which was well saved by the ‘keeper but in doing so directed the ball straight to Baxter to tap in for his second of the game.
The goals continued with Clarke scoring direct from a corner to get his second and Offord coming off the bench to add a seventh after a great cross from Ferrao was headed in by the James number ten.
Clarke finally claimed his hat-trick five minutes from the end with a fine finish on the edge of the area to complete the rout.
The James captain said he couldn’t praise his team highly enough particularly highlighting the “first class finishing” of his team. The Wentworth captain Howden, in a rather tongue-in-cheek response accused James of playing “anti-football” and a fairer result would have been a “3-0 Wentworth victory”.
James 1sts continue to dominate Group 2 and look all set to qualify for the quarter finals. As for Wentworth 2nds, they still have the potential to make progress in the Cup, but must quickly get over today’s result.
James 1sts: Bradley; Bainbridge, Lynch, Sahi, Mellor; Spurling (Haresnape), Baxter (c), Davies; Ferrao, Brownlow (Offord), Clarke
Wentworth 2nds: Cook, Sciglieno, Kosunalp, Eslick, Beach; Sutton, Rhodes, Abdoulaye, Cukurora, Townson; Murray