Askham stars for Derwent

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Photos: Emilien Tortel & Philip Mourdijs

Derwent battled back from 2-0 down to claim a memorable 4-2 victory over Alcuin, but it was not enough to win the Spring Term league title.

With an extra man, Alcuin controlled the first half and established a two-goal lead after half an hour with goals from Greg Fearn and Jacob Burge.

Jamie Trant arrived just before half time to make up the Derwent XI, and Mark Askham tapped in to give Derwent hope.

Derwent then proceeded to dominate the second half, as strikes from Alex D’Albertanson, Jamie Trant and a second from Askham gave the team in blue and black all three points.

As Wentworth emerged 4-0 winners over Vanbrugh, the result means Derwent finish in the runners-up spot in the league table, while Alcuin remained second from bottom.
After just two minutes Alcuin took the lead. A long ball forward was flicked neatly by Graham Kimber into the path of Fearn who took a touch and swept an excellent shot from 20 yards in off the post.

Derwent struggled to break out of their own half at times, and Alcuin continued to create chances. Kimber almost added a second when he was played through on goal, but ‘keeper Ruari Franklin spread himself well to deny the midfielder.

Derwent’s only threat represented tame shots from David Kirk and Ryan Gwinnett, but on 20 minutes they spurned an excellent chance, as Nock failed to convert Kirk’s cut-back from six yards.

Alcuin’s superiority was emphasised further as they added a second five minutes later, as Fearn’s inswinging corner was headed in by an unmarked Burge into the centre of the goal as Derwent fell asleep.

However, in what turned out to be a pivotal moment in the match, Derwent scored against the run of play and against the unfavourable conditions.

Left-back Harry Lambert’s shot from distance was only parried out by Dave Marshall straight to the adventurous right-back Harry Askham, who tapped in.

The goal proved crucial. Just ten minutes in to the second period, Derwent were level. Trant’s shot smashed against the post and after the ball rebounded kindly to D’Albertanson. The winger’s first effort was saved by Marshall, but the second bite at the cherry was a fruitful one, as he sent a rifled effort into the bottom corner.

Derwent threw bodies forward in search of a lead which could have won them the title. A neat move involving Kirk and Nock resulted in D’Albertanson again testing Marshall, who tipped the ball over the bar.

Derwent got their noses in front with 15 minutes left as Trant, receiving a throw-in on the edge of the area, shovelled the ball to Askham who calmly slotted home.
Alcuin attempted to wrest the momentum away from Derwent, sending on Armstrong and Brough for Udy and Kimber, but the alterations made little difference as their opponents pressed for a fourth.

Trant was the man to supply the final strike in controversial circumstances, after Alcuin claimed offside but the referee waved away the appeals.
In the dying moments, it looked for all of the world that Askham was about to bag a remarkable hat-trick after receiving Trant’s unselfish pass, but the youngster miscued horribly from four yards and the chance evaporated.

After the match, captain Kirk said: “It was a good game. The first rate Spartan [Askham] popped up with a couple of goals, but he got a nosebleed at the crucial moment.”
His counterpart Chris Boyd told Vision: “In the first half we were on top and we had quite a lot of chances and took two of them. In the second half, they had a similar amount of chances but took more.”