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In what was a closely fought game Vanbrugh scraped past Goodricke with two second half goals.
With ‘Mr College Cup’ Phil Taylor starting for Vanbrugh 1s, some may have thought that this match was a formality from the off, but Goodricke came out determined and disrupted much of the current champions’ play, barely allowing their star man a chance to shine.
Both goalkeepers were not fully stretched during the first period and perhaps the best chance of the half was put wide of Zane Karbani’s far post.
A Vanbrugh corner taken by Rory Sharkey fell to John Gill, but the midfield man was unable to direct his headed effort towards goal, a flatfooted Goodricke goalkeeper was left thankful.
Throughout the first half a somewhat suspect Vanbrugh defence was repeatedly tested by upfront pressure from Goodricke duo Joe Mann and Rob Young.
The cracks appearing in Vanbrugh’s defence were made evident when goalkeeper James Wilson made a hash at a punch and Chris Wignall forced a nervous clearance into touch before Mann was able to pounce.
Mann, who was excellent in the first half, was unable to test goalkeeper Wilson when a fierce effort whistled wide following a cutting run through the heart of Vanbrugh’s midfield.
Rob Young then swept away any pretence that this would be anything less than a tough fight for Vanbrugh when he saw his low, curled free kick spilled by keeper Wilson and the resultant loose ball cleared by a Vanbrugh boot.
The conclusion of the first half saw Goodricke go in very much on top with everything going the underdogs’ way excluding the score line. Johnny Grout was left with the task of motivating a mediocre and lethargic Vanbrugh outfit.
The second period brought a much more aggressive Vanbrugh side back out onto the pitch when in the early stages of the latter half Gill sent talisman Joe Mann clattering down the sideline.
A much better start for Vanbrugh saw them take the lead through a dubious Max Brewer strike. Set piece specialist Rory Sharkey played a swinging ball into Karbani’s box which was headed down by centre-back O’Dwyer, the ball fell to Brewer who smashed the ball into the roof of Goodricke’s net. Calls of offside rang from the crowd, but the referee pointed to the centre circle and the game was restarted with Goodricke facing a 1-0 deficit.
Heckles of college cup flop must have spurred on Vanbrugh’s utility man as he saw much more of the ball, putting his first effort of the match wide of the Goodricke sticks.
Goodricke still remained in the game and again came close from a set play when Joe Mann swung in a ball which Rob Young met at the far post, only to have his headed shot scrambled dramatically off the line.
Phil Taylor proved to be anything but a college flop when he sealed the victory for Vanbrugh. A long ball was planted into the box from a Sharkey free kick, which John Gill flicked on with his head to find Taylor who headed beyond keeper Karbani from close range.
Although Vanbrugh walked away with the spoils a Goodricke 2nd team made it anything but easy for the defending champs and on a different day may have shared the spoils equally with their opponents.
An unbelievably suspect match report. The events leading to both goals are entirely made up.
This report isn’t great. “Two late goals”? One came pretty much straight from kick off after half time!