A stunning second-half performance from the much hyped Halifax 3rds team blew Langwith’s 2nd string away in the opening match of the second week of 2011’s College Cup. Breathtaking attacking play and goals from Dave Lewis (x2), Jake Mundy and Andy Wallace saw Halifax’s second impressive performance of the tournament reap them three points.
The Halifax 3rds side had been talked up before the tournament as potential plate qualifiers, whilst Langwith would have expected to qualify as a 2nds side, but based on their first half performances, neither of the
two teams looked to pose any real threat. The first half an hour was a drab affair, with the only spark being Jake Mundy’s near post header onto the bar from a corner mid-way through the half, with the only other
excitement being inaccurate headers from other set pieces and Halifax’s attacking threat being blunted by the excellent Tom Lynch at centre-back.
Langwith barely posed a threat on the opposition goal at all, as Halifax ‘keeper Josh Fisher stood as a spectator in the goalmouth. In truth, the first half was one that will soon be forgotten from this year’s
tournament, although the second-half Halifax performance was a joy to behold.
‘Fax showed early intent down the right wing with a couple of decent mazy runs from Sean Cole, who, much like the issues his namesake Joe used to have issues with, struggled to put a decent final ball into the box.
However, after the dead ball opportunities in the first-half, Halifax finally took the lead 35 minutes in. A long free-kick found its way to Dave Lewis who sent a half-volley across the keeper and into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The goal seemed to relieve Halifax of the pressure they have been under having been talked up as one of the best third’s sides around, and the shackles were well and truly off as Mundy doubled their lead just 10
minutes later. A knock through left Mundy to chase towards goal and with the ball about to run out for a goal kick, Mundy pulled off a flick to keep it in play, before going round his marker with ease and slotting low
past Langwith ‘keeper Olly Williamson to produce one of the best goals of this year’s tournament so far.
Mundy, Lewis and Cole all looked threatened as Halifax continued to push for a third goal, which they claimed with five minutes remaining. Whilst Cole may have been offside in the build up, let it take nothing away from
the wonderfully simple cross and header gleefully buried by Lewis, guided into the net despite the desperate actions of a Langwith defender on the line to keep it out, ultimately resulting in him putting the ball into his
own net. Lewis will however rightly claim the goal, and with the last kick of the game, Andy Wallace added a fourth with a right-footed finish from Cole’s cross, which improved as the game went on.
Ultimately it was a superb performance from Halifax 2nds, particularly after such a drab first half where they created very little. Their captain, Dan Aindow, was understandably pleased, despite what he described
as a “scrappy” and “slow start”. On the second half, he commented, “we were brilliant. The better team won”. He reserved special praise for brace scorer Dave Lewis, waxing lyrical of how he “won every ball, every header and managed to get himself 2 goals.” Halifax’s strength in depth once again shone through and a place in the plate, at least, beckons.