James 1sts started their college campaign in positive fashion, overcoming Alcuin firsts 3-1 in the biggest game of the tournament so far.
The men in black, who won last term’s college league, were desperate to atone for the disappointments of last year when they failed to even qualify for the cup, and they were far superior here against an Alcuin side who struggled to create many real, clear cut chances.
It was a tight opening to the affair, with both sides feeling each other out and the ball being stuck in midfield, but everything changed after James took an early lead courtesy of James Davies.
The midfielder latched upon a loose ball and caught his volley sweetly from the edge of the area, sending the ball high into the net past David Marshall in the Alcuin goal.
James’ goal looked to have settled the men in black and they began to take control of the game, stringing some passes together along the floor, whilst Alcuin were struggling to get any kind of move going and were resorting to longer struck balls towards striker Alex Brown which Lynch and St. George were comfortable in dealing with.
However, against the run of play, Alcuin levelled the scores with their first good move of the match. Kanonis found some space after being fed through on the left and he slipped the ball to Brown on the edge of the area. The Alcuin striker turned sharply and struck a powerful snapshot past Bradley to make it 1–1.
A stunning save from Marshall stopped Alcuin from relinquishing their lead almost immediately. James forward, Tom Clarke, broke through on goal and got his shot away only for the ‘keeper to save superbly low to his left, tipping the ball around the post.
James kept up the pressure as Burling sent an ambitious long range half volley. A few minutes later, a jinking run from James Davies allowed him to feed Clarke in a decent position, but the ‘keeper was once again level to his effort.
Marshall comfortably stopped another long range effort from the same player a minute later and it appeared Clarke had found his nemesis in the form of the Alcuin goalkeeper.
James had dominated after conceding the goal and ended the half completely in the ascendancy despite it being 1–1.
They were able to continue their supremacy into the second period regaining the lead early on. Clarke broke free down the right hand side and put a low ball in from the byline and the onrushing Ferrao tapped in simply to make it 2–1.
The black swans kept pushing and Clarke was once again denied by Marshall from what would have been a superb goal. Some excellent work from the James striker on the edge of the box allowed him to weave his way into a shooting position, but his effort was parried away. Ferrao hit the rebound but the ‘keeper again made the save.
James were looking very dangerous around the edge of the area, with the forward players working well and creating opportunities but their next chance came from range, as Richard Baxter struck a powerful drive which was acrobatically tipped over. St. George headed the resulting corner over the bar.
James were starting to lose their earlier bite yet remained in control. Another Clarke strike was kept out and Davies nodded the rebound over under pressure. James goalkeeper Bradley was momentarily worried when Alcuin’s Brown stroked an effort from the outside of the area rolled harmlessly wide of the post.
Alcuin ‘keeper Marshall was forced to make yet another top class save from Clarke as he fired in an effort from outside the area before James managed to secure a much deserved third.
A trip from Marshall on Davies gave James a penalty and Clarke made no mistake with his spot-kick, finally finding the net as he rolled the ball into the bottom right, sending the ‘keeper the wrong way in the process.
The game finished with the 3–1 scoreline intact, and James captain Richard Baxter, said that he was “delighted with attitude in the second half. We really came out and controlled the game, looked dangerous going forward and tight at the back as well. It went exactly how I wanted it to.”