And so it’s all over for another year. Halifax 1sts have been crowned College Cup champions 2013. They beat Derwent 1sts in a thrilling match this afternoon, twice coming from behind to complete a 3-2 victory.
It was a brilliant match to end what has been an exciting competition. Cup finals are often cagey, but this one was not at all, getting off to a fast start and keeping up the tempo for most of the match.
I think it would be fair to say that Derwent played better on the day. They dominated for most of the first half, taking a 1-0 lead into the break, and the second goal was probably the best team goal of the competition.
It saw them passing the ball around the defence, before Tom Brandreth burst forward, playing in Joe Easter whose brilliant lay-off put Dan Atherton through on goal. Atherton, having scored the opener, slotted into the net and reeled away in celebration.
In comparison, Halifax’s goals were more scrappy. Ash Daly scored the first equaliser from a curling free-kick, cleverly placed, which missed everybody and slid inside the back post. The second was a penalty converted by Matt Darling, and the third courtesy of Connor Meckin, who latched onto a mix up between Brandreth and Derwent keeper Frank Woodcock to place into the empty net.
And perhaps that was the telling thing. Derwent had more pressure, and scored the higher quality goals, but they were not as ruthless. Halifax had fewer chances, but took three. The penalty was unfortunate for Derwent, given for a shirt-tug in the box – while it was probably the correct decision, teams usually feel hard done by when they concede a spot kick in such crcumstances.
The winner was clever opportunism from the substitute Meckin, who still had work to do as he scored from a narrow angle despite the goal being empty. Neither Brandreth nor Woodcock dealt with a high ball and in the end Brandreth could only head past his own keeper, allowing Meckin in to score.
And though Derwent tried to level, they couldn’t manage it. They were understandably distraught at the end, while Halifax were jubilant. But Derwent have a younger team which will come back stronger next year. For ‘Fax, a number of players will not be returning, and they made the most of winning their second Cup in three years, overcoming last season’s penalty heartache in the final.
In the day’s earlier encounters, Wentworth 1sts kept the Plate with the postgrads, taking a 4-2 over Halifax 3rds to succeed their own 2nds as the champions of that competition. They took a very early 3-0 lead before ‘Fax fought back to make it 3-2, but despite some late pressure, it was Wentworth who scored the decisive goal.
In the Vase, Goodricke 2nds defeated Langwith 2nds 3-1, despite a one goal deficit at half time. Goodricke weren’t at their best in the opening period, but demonstrated their greater quality with three second half goals.
Game of the day
Without a doubt the final. It was of the highest quality throughout, and reflected the fact that these were the two strongest teams from the competition so far. The game was an enjoyable watch, mainly thanks to the high tempo which it had from the start. Derwent started the quickest, but Halifax came back strongly, particularly in the second half.
Atherton opened the scoring after Matt Seed’s defensive error, before Daly’s free kick evaded everybody and found the net after half time. Atherton scored again with one of the most enjoyable goals of the tournament, before Darling’s penalty and Meckin’s cool finish gave ‘Fax the win.
Performance of the day
Goodricke 2nds may have seen off Langwith 1sts in the Vase semi-final, but they had to come from behind to win against Langwith 2nds after Sam Woodall’s clever finish gave the men in yellow a first half lead.
But despite a less than impressive start, they fought back through Jack Fuller, Joe Mann and Kostas Avramidis to run out 3-1 victors. Langwith fought hard but Goodricke showed themselves to be the better team, returning from a lacklustre opening period to get the win.
Player of the day
A number of very good performances, but after a relatively quiet competition, Dan Atherton had a terrific day which, sadly for him, was not quite enough to see his Derwent side lift the Cup.
He twice scored past Jonny Sim in the Halifax goal – more than every other team that has played Halifax in the Cup combined – making no mistake both times when played in by his team-mates. He also looked his liveliest on the wing, causing problems throughout for the Halifax full-backs.
Team of the day
Jonny Sim;
Alex Hurd, Sam Morley, Dave Belshaw, Matt Darling;
Alec Reick, Mirhire Overo-Tarimo;
Dan Atherton, Joe Easter, Vaseileios Kourvelos;
Sam Woodall.
The Cat’s College Cup Awards 2013
Best team – Halifax 1sts: Crowned champions today, and the only team to not only avoid defeat, but in fact win every game. Strong in every position, with a number of experienced players clearly giving their all in what is likely to be their final ever College Cup.
Best individual goal – Chris Osborne, Goodricke 2nds (vs Langwith 1sts): Quite simply one of the best goals I have ever seen. A looping cross from Joe Mann found Osborne twenty yards out, where he rifled a perfectly timed volley into the top corner of the goal. The technique was reminiscent of Robin van Persie.
Best team goal – Derwent 1sts (second goal vs Halifax 1sts): Dan Atherton’s goal in the final was one of the most beautiful footballing moves you can ever wish to see. Derwent passed the ball around effortlessly before Tom Brandreth’s break forward, and when he passed to Joe Easter, the midfielder laid it off to Atherton who coolly finished past Sim.
Best match – Halifax 1sts vs Derwent 1sts: The final was everything that we could have wished for. It had goals, controversy, big tackles, flowing play, and was played at the highest tempo of any match in the Cup. Many thought it wold be a cagey affair, but it was far from it.
Best performance – James 3rds (vs James 1sts): James 3rds’ quarter-final victory on penalties was a tremendous effort against their college brethren. They set up perfectly, matched their loftier opponents all over the pitch, and deserved the draw they got. They then held their nerve on penalties to reach the semi-finals.
Most controversial moment – The phantom goal (Derwent 1sts vs Vanbrugh 1sts): Derwent’s Tom Brandreth headed towards goal, and Max Brewer slid in to block it. Shout went up to the referee to award a penalty and send Brewer off. Instead, the goal was awarded, despite never having crossed the line. Brewer was spared, and scored the equaliser as Vanbrugh came back to win 2-1.
Most bizarre moment – Johnny Grout’s injury (Vanbrugh 1sts vs James 2nds): Vanbrugh captain Grout saw his side take a 2-0 lead over James, before bizarrely colliding with the referee in the second half of the match. Seemingly an inconspicuous incident, Grout subbed himself off, and missed the rest of the competition with a related shoulder injury.
Best goal-scorer – Tom Clarke (James 1sts): Thirteen goals in the group stages says it all. Clarke was ravenous against the weaker teams, scoring hat-tricks in his first three matches including five against Goodricke 3rds. Willing to shoot from anywhere, he was in irresistible form in the group stages before his team’s surprise exit.
Best defender – Alex Tringham (Halifax 1sts): Tringham slotted in seamlessly whether playing centre back or full back (or on at least one occasion, in midfield). There was nobody more solid at the back in the competition, nor anybody more lethal from free kicks and mid to long range shots.
Best player – Matt Mawdesley (Halifax 1sts): Standing out for his greater quality in every game, Mawdesley consistently dictated the play, while also chipping in with goals. Even on a bad day, Mawdesley managed to demonstrate moments of brilliance and, at his best, he controlled the match from the centre of midfield.
College Cup Best XI:
Jonny Sim;
Matt Darling, Alex Tringham, Dave Belshaw, Ollie Harrison;
Matt Mawdesley, Chris Osborne;
Joe Mann, Tom Day, James Davies;
Tom Clarke.