Captains Hewitt and Lund go head to head with their reaction to Vanbrugh’s latest defeat

Dan Hewitt (Vanbrugh Captain)

Vanbrugh continued their poor start to the season going down 5-1 to a much superior Halifax who went joint top in this one sided encounter. A hat-trick from Jack Beadle rounded off an impressive performance by the men in white who outclassed a Vanbrugh side struggling to find its feet in this terms league campaign.

Halifax began the stronger of the two sides and were unlucky not to go ahead as skipper Mark Lund’s header was cleared off the line by Liam Regan. The pressure however told shortly after as a superb cross from the in-form Connor Brennan found the unmarked Beadle who headed home the first of his goals. Vanbrugh however showed signs that there is more to come from them this year, keeping the ball well when in possession, with university striker Ali Prince providing a useful outfit for an overrun Vanbrugh midfield. As the game continued it became clear that Vanbrugh were struggling to cope with Halifax’s 3-5-2 formation and an inevitable second followed as Tom Regan tapped home from a Paul Taylor parry. A string of Vanbrugh corners failed to trouble the Halifax goalkeeper, with the Greens only chance coming from a Regan effort that was well blocked.

Vanbrugh, missing a host of first team regulars, were dealt a further blow at half-time as midfielder Mike Waterson came off with an ankle problem, replaced by first year Max Pointer-Hall, who was to later dislocate his knee. The resilience of the much inexperienced Vanbrugh eleven however was not enough to keep a superb Halifax at bay. Great movement from Connor Brennan and Tom Regan was a continuous threat, and after Taylor had saved a stinging shot from Brennan, the resulting corner was bundled in by Lund as Taylor was left stranded. A forth and fifth followed soon after from hat-trick hero Beadle who swanned through an absent backline to add further misery to winless Vanbrugh.

As the game became stretched Halifax switched off and a scrappy goal from Jamie Clarke ruled out a clean sheet for a Halifax defence that was rarely tested in the second period. Far too much time and even more space was granted to the Fax’s midfield who completely dictated the pace of the game, leaving Captain Lund extremely happy with the three points, and captains Hewitt and Taylor of Vanbrugh with even more thinking to be done.

Mark Lund (Halifax Captain)

Last year these two teams were always competitive on grass, Vanbrugh’s physicality and Halifax flair placing the teams 1st and 2nd respectively in Spring term’s final league standings. This season things are different. Halifax’s flair is undiminished, enhanced even, by freshers and fresh tactics. Rumors that all outfield players are quarter Brazilian are unconfirmed. Vanbrugh meanwhile are yet to find their feet under their dual skippers and seem to be struggling to find their footballing ethos this season.

“Give Halifax time to play and you shall be punished”. It may not have been Jesus who said this on a Mount but it is nevertheless beyond contestation. Vanbrugh’s attempt to outplay Halifax in the first half was remarkably unsuccessful, possession stats if available would hint at a Halifax dominance untainted by the opposition. Confidence at the back, five midfielders and an attack alternatively dropping off and running in behind, left Vanbrugh chasing shadows. An early Beadle header from a Conor Brennan cross helped settle Halifax and they never looked back after taking the lead. When Ragan netted a simple tap-in from a spilled Luke Charles shot for his 3rd in as many games, the game seemed to be slipping out of Vanbrugh reach. The clever movement of Ali Prince and his silky through ball created a chance for Liam Regan, but typically alert defending from Lund denied him a clear strike at an otherwise unthreatened Halifax goal. Half time 2-0 and Halifax comfortable.

In the second half a Vanbrugh team who picked up six yellows cards in the previous game may have been expected to physically impose themselves in traditional Vanbrugh style, but Halifax never stopped playing the gorgeous football they are fast becoming associated with. The next goal would inevitably be the crucial one, ending Vanbrugh hopes of a come-back, or offering them the impetus to get something out of game they had scarcely been in. It was Halifax captain Lund who put the game beyond doubt. Vidic-like bravery attacking an inswinging corner powered Fax to the 3 goal cushion they deserved. Beadle quickly scored his second to add extra comfort to the game, although the Halifax maestro was probably in an offside position before getting the ball. Vanbrugh can argue, but the lead was in no way flattering for the irresistable Fax. With Lund’s men playing in the confident and expressive manner his tactics and attitude offers them, arguably the greatest ever team goal in College football capped a fine display for Beadle, with the ellusive hatrick which has haunted uni 1st Conor Brennan’s dreams. Memories of Cambiasso against Serbia in 2006 came flooding back to all awestruck spectators witnessing the magnificent spectacle, as flowing passing football and great link up play with Tom Ragan put Beadle through for his 3rd. Vanbrugh’s consolation when it came was as ugly a goal as their lamentable performance. Dom Petschak, normally consistently solid and unflappable, inexplicably smashed the ball into Vanbrugh’s James Clarke, the ball rebounding emphatically into Halifax’s own net. The resulting injury to Clarke was probably not worth the slight improvement to the scoreline the goal provided. Many other Halifax chances came and went but the scoreline finished Halifax 5-1 Vanbrugh.

Halifax must now be considered one of the ‘Big Four’ on grass this season, as they go top on goal difference from Goodricke and Alcuin, with Derwent close behind. Hewitt and company cannot take many positives from this game, but may find condolence in the knowledge their opposition were truly magnificent. With the current injuries to key players, the season for Vanbrugh is not as bleak as may appear and surely a first victory for them will come sooner rather than later. Halifax go from strength to strength and an unprecedented treble is on the cards for the free-flowing footballers of Lund’s squad.