Derwent came through a tough test against fierce rivals Halifax, winning 4-2, exacting some semblance of revenge after last year’s College Cup final defeat. In a thrilling encounter from which both sides could have come away with the victory, it was Derwent who deservedly walked away with the 3 points. Despite tiring significantly towards the end of the game and subsequently having to soak up a period of Halifax pressure, Derwent played the more attacking football and this showed in the scoreline.
Derwent could have taken the lead within the first few minutes, with Josh Bew poking wide from a testing Mark Askham cross. The early Derwent pressure continued, with Jack Low forcing a save from Jamie Coleman. It appeared as if Halifax had managed to withstand this early pressure with the game settling down, but Derwent managed to go ahead through Rob Nicholson. Fantastic on the left wing throughout, Nicholson finished cleverly after some nice build up play on the edge of the box.
After a few long-range efforts from Halifax, Derwent doubled their lead through left back Paul Reynolds, finishing high into the net after a scramble in the box. Derwent were dominating meaningful possession and had a few half chances to extend their lead, with Bew guilty of not testing the keeper from promising positions.
Halifax soon opened their account through a calm finish from captain Garo Heath after holding off a challenge in the box. Halifax were rejuvenated by the goal and enjoyed a period of possession in the Derwent half, with some slick build up around the box leading to a chance for Wearing who missed a headed chance to peg Derwent further back.
Instead, it was Derwent who restored their two-goal advantage through captain Gwinnett, lifting the ball over the keeper after a ball across goal from Alex Ingham. Derwent could have really turned the screw minutes later, however Bew was denied a goalscoring chance after he was judged to be offside.
With the half time score standing at 3-1, the next goal was to be crucial and it was Halifax who grabbed it. Skipper Heath was played through by striker Wearing and skipped past a challenge before slotting the ball in at the near post. Derwent were starting to look ragged and it took a few important challenges from their back line to prevent a Halifax equaliser. The game was becoming more open, with both sides looking for the goal that looked like it might decide the game.
After an earlier injury, Rob Nicholson was again the danger man for Derwent, shooting wide from the edge of the box and being denied a second by Jamie Coleman in the Halifax goal. Derwent also had a penalty claim turned down after Bew was brought down by Oli Bull. At the other end, Garo Heath threatened again, only to be denied his hat trick by a last-ditch sliding challenge from Michael Whittall. Halifax almost equalised after a free kick was flicked on towards the top corner, however they were denied by a save from Peter Bunce.
Going into the last 10 minutes of the game the 3 points were still there for the taking, with another Halifax goal looking most likely. Against the run of play it was instead Derwent who put the game beyond their opponents, with Bew bundling in after a bursting run and cross from Gwinnett to bring the final score to 4-2.
A gripping game full of quality, this was a great advent for college football. Halifax will feel aggrieved that they were unable to grab that decisive equaliser, yet Derwent’s attacking play and solid defence meant this victory was not undeserved. Derwent skipper Ryan Gwinnett spoke to Vision after the match, saying he was proud of his players for “digging deep” against “their hardest test”, yet admitted “match fitness is something we need to work on”.
Man of the match: Mark Askham (Derwent).
Derwent 1sts:
Bunce; Askham, Shelbourn, Bell, Reynolds; Whittall, Ntephe, Gwinnett (c), Nicholson, Low; Bew.
Subs: Ingham
Halifax 1sts:
Coleman; Goldthorpe, Bull, Keen, Birtles; Bowden, Collins, Testor, Dunning, Heath (c); Wearing.
Subs: Knifton-Smith, Girzades