Alcuin maintain their unbeaten win after a tense win against James

By Josh Mangham

A fortuitous late goal by Alcuin striker Udy Onwudike won this college match, as Alcuin continued their good run of form to set up an exciting encounter with fellow pacesetters Derwent next weekend. Presented with an open goal, the burly forward calmly slotted home to seal the match with five minutes to go.

In a game fiercely fought either side could have gone home with a much deserved three points. James can feel disappointed with a result that did not reflect their performance. Alcuin started the stronger of the two sides, and in the tenth minute opened the scoring from a free kick. Showing great touch to control the flighted ball into the box, Alcuin player Joe Cooper swivelled and calmly slotted home.

After the initial goal the game settled down, with Alcuin bossing proceedings and looking the more likely of the two sides to score the second goal. James struggled to hold onto the ball in midfield, whilst Alcuin striker Paris Williams provided a constant threat up front with his pace and dribbling, narrowly missing the target on more than one occasion after rampaging runs through the heart of the James defence.

A crunching challenge led to a burst ball fifteen minutes before halftime, halting play for a few minutes as a replacement was searched for. With one substitute and no spare footballs between the sides, the match possessed the inimitable atmosphere only college football on a Sunday morning provides.

The short break seemed to jerk James into life, and they began to wrest control of the game from Alcuin. Right back John Carroll stormed forward regularly, coming close with a shot from the edge of the area and providing a constant source of support to his winger. Carroll also provided the only yellow card of the game, provoking the no-nonsense referee’s ire when complaining about a throw-in just before halftime.

James continued to push in the second half, with Carroll continuing to foray forward whilst also managing to make an important double block in his box. Centre-back James Loftus was another impressive player for James, and it was no surprise when he got the second goal in the 65th minute. Running on to a free kick, the defender managed to rise the highest and loop an angled header over the stranded Alcuin goalkeeper.

Back in the game and imbued with a newfound sense of belief, James soon took the lead with a low drive from the edge of the area by winger Aquilino DeGirolamo. There were twenty minutes left on the clock though, and in Parris Williams and their classy no.9 winger, Alcuin possessed two players always capable of scoring.

With Williams starting to run at the James defence again, Alcuin suddenly looked dangerous, and in the 80th minute they scored to make the game 2-2. With James unable to clear a long throw into the box, the ball fell to Alcuin midfielder Christy Cormac three yards out. Leaving James goalkeeper Tim Green with no chance, Cormac lashed the ball home to tie the game and set up an exciting final ten minutes.

With neither side willing to give way, it seemed like it would take something special, or unlikely, to win the match.

When a misplaced through ball was left by James’ defenders for their goalkeeper to pick up, a breakthrough was not on the cards. Green, however, had been injured five minutes earlier in a clash with Alcuin striker Onwudike, and, with no available substitutes, had no option but to play on. The injury came back to haunt the James goalkeeper: obviously struggling, he failed to hold onto the innocuous pass, letting it slip out of his hands and into the path of the surprised and grateful Onwudike to score the winner and celebrate wildly.

In the few remaining minutes James bore down on Alcuin’s goal in search of a deserved equaliser, but Alcuin held strong to reach the final whistle and record their second win in three games.

For James, the search for the elusive first win of the season continues.

MOTM: John Carroll
-Although Parris Williams was very dangerous, and James Loftus scored the opening goal and defended brilliantly, the man of the match for today was John Carroll. Solid defensively and adventurous in attack, his performance set the tempo for James.