Derwent 2nds 3 James 3rds 0
By Josh Mangham
Derwent 2nds scored two late goals this afternoon to condemn James 3rds to a second successive defeat in the College Cup.
The first of today’s matches was in truth a drab affair, with neither side creating much in the way of goalscoring opportunities. Both teams seemed to find it hard to hold on to the ball in the hot sun, with the match resembling a game of ping-pong as the ball flew in every direction but the goal.
Despite James showing initiative early on, battling hard in midfield to win the ball, their play in the final third wasn’t incisive enough to fashion any chances. Derwent were equally blunt, although should have scored twenty minutes in when Ed Lacaille, perhaps with the sun in his eyes, somehow contrived to miss a simple tap-in into an empty goal from five yards.
James 3rds captain Ben Li, shorn of his normal starting pair in central midfield, had chosen to place himself and George Clark, both usually full backs, in their place in midfield and bring striker bring Lewis Wilkie in at right back. Unfortunately for James though this tactical manoeuvre came undone just before half time when Derwent striker Nana Sarpong, exposing an out of position Wilkie, raced onto a through ball to delicately chip over James goalkeeper Toby Owen and give Derwent the lead.
James, opting out of making any substitutions at half-time, started the second half with renewed vigour yet, as in the first half, were still unable to make any chances. Things started to look ominous for the 3rds team when defender Nathan McCusker was forced to clear off the line. Despite James’ best efforts Derwent started to squeeze the life out of the match, and with less than fifteen minutes remaining Ed Lacaille made up for his earlier howler by rising to head in a corner and make it 2-0.
With little time left James brought on a raft of substitutions. It was a case of too little too late however, as despite these changes bringing more verve to James’ play Derwent seemed too comfortable at this point in the match to concede. By the time Derwent scored their third and the game’s final goal the result had an air of inevitability about it, with Derwent player James Matthews finishing from close-range to wrap the game up.
Goodricke 1sts 3 Alcuin 2nds 0
By Stephen Holcroft
Goodricke 1sts continued to prove their College Cup credentials, inflicting a second successive 3-0 victory, this time to Alcuin 2nds. All three goals came in a ruthless first half rout, as the team in green cemented their place at top of Group A.
Alcuin 2nds found themselves on the back-foot for much of the hour, and when Chris Greyland, in the opening minutes, found himself unmarked in the box, only to head wide, the signs were looking ominous. Inevitably, Goodricke were soon to find themselves ahead, and after some neat play in the midfield, Sam Lewis collected on the edge of the box, then placed beyond David Ambrozejczyk.
Alcuin certainly didn’t let the opening goal impose a negative affect on team morale. Theoretically, it invited the 2nds with an opportunity to pressure their opponents. Basim Al-Ahmadi was the catalyst of his team’s attacking instincts, and proved a threat even to a proven Goodricke back-line.
Conversely, if the first goal wasn’t ”the killer” as far as Alcuin’s chances were concerned, the second most definitely was. Unsurprisingly, Ben Smith was the pinnacle behind much of Goodricke’s play, and, fifteen minutes later, made it 2-0, striking beyond a helpless Ambrozejczyk. Moments later, Smith doubled his tally to 2 for the afternoon, and Goodricke’s 3rd, and as the whistle sounded for half time, the game was already over.
The Reds maintained their spirit about them after the interval, exerting some decent forward play, but struggling to test spectator-like, Ed Foster in the Goodricke goal. Meanwhile, at the other end, were it not for a little more composure in Smith’s play, the first hat-trick of the tournament was assured. Hardly did it matter; Goodricke 1sts surge in the College Cup is very much, a healthy one, whilst Alcuin 2nds, despite a committed performance, will be left to ponder.