Photos: Amy Beecher
Derwent 1sts secured their place at the top of group 3 with a 2-0 win over their closest rivals, Halifax 3rds, despite the underdogs putting up an excellent fight and making the game a very even contest.
The opening to the game was a tight affair which was to set the tone for the rest of the match. Both teams played some quality, flowing football when given the chance whilst the defences were solid enough to keep
opposition chances at a premium.
Derwent’s Dan Atherton had a weak strike from the edge of the area comfortably saved by Josh Fisher in the Halifax goal, and at the other end, Cole whipped a dangerous ball into the Derwent area, which resulted in
Dave Lewis having an effort which was blocked by the crowd of defensive bodies, but these two half-chances were the closest either team came to breaking the deadlock before Derwent took the lead not long before half-time.
Warning signs of the danger of Derwent’s first string were sent to the Halifax 3rds as they barely managed to clear a Matt Hallam corner out of the box with several Derwent players lurking and ready to pounce, but a
minute later Derwent did have the lead. Matt Hallam found Xander Brinkworth on the right hand side, and he unleashed an unstoppable left-footed strike which flew past the helpless Halifax ‘keeper and into the net from all of 25 yards. A cleaner strike you are unlikely to see in the rest of this year’s tournament.
The excellent Jacob Tapper tried to double Derwent’s lead, attempting to juggle his way through the middle of the Halifax defence, but he was stopped in his tracks and the sides went into the break with Derwent
holding a slender 1-0 advantage.
Halifax pressed hard for the duration of the second half, going in search of an equaliser that their efforts certainly merited. Andy Wallace hit a free-kick over the bar after Derwent’s Matt Worsfold was adjudged to have brought down Cole before they had what was undoubtedly their best chance to level
the match.
Wallace whipped in a corner from the right and it fell to substitute Hamish Denham at the far post. He made a connection but the ball somehow bounced over the bar from no more than 2 yards and the chance went
begging.
Halifax’s efforts to find an equaliser meant that there was space for Derwent to exploit and the other end, and they had several chances to put the game to bed. Atherton saw his left-footed half volley crash against the
crossbar from 20 yards out and substitute David Kirk put his shot wide after being put through down the left before Derwent did eventually kill off the game.
Halifax were on top at this point, and if anything it was them who deserved to score, but Derwent’s Dan Atherton had looked dangerous all day. He clinically finished past Josh Fisher to put his side 2-0 and at the
same time seal their position as winners of group 3.
‘We’ve done the job, won again and we’ve topped the group’, said Derwent captain Joe Boughtflower after the final whistle. He praised the efforts of their opponents, adding ‘they were good. I’m really happy we got through’.
Vision’s MOTM: Jacob Tapper