College Plate: Derwent 2nds (p)1-1 Wentworth 2nds

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Photos: Oliver Todd

As the second team of the winners of the college league, and a college whose third team recently thrashed Wentworth 3rds 5-1, Derwent 2nds were expected to dominate Wentworth 2nds. However, a resolute performance from the latter, with the help of first team cross-overs including Lachlan Murray, Matt Beacham and Samik Datta, along with Alex Smith, who dropped down to the 2nds after the group stages, was enough to take the game all the way to penalties.

The only early signs of the first half bursting into life where when the long throw-ins of Wentworth right-back Rich Rhodes caused havoc in the Derwent area, but it was the blues that took the lead. Prolific striker John Garness unsettled the defence with a cross-field run, and when he was crowded out, an opportunity was presented to Jim Norton, who smashed in a low drive via the left upright.

Both teams were locked in a cagey midfield tussle, but Derwent started to enjoy some more meaningful possession as Garness dropped deeper to collect the ball. A succession of throw-ins from Matt Jenkins had the purples under pressure, but a lack of time and space prevented Derwent’s one-touch-football from being effective, and Wentworth were eventually able to clear their lines.

Moments before the end of the first half, Wentworth coach Mark Eslick replaced the struggling Jeff Hudson with Andy Pratt. The substitution paid immediate dividends, as Pratt scored a header with his first touch, within a minute of his introduction.

The second half saw a deflated Derwent bring on 1sts cross-over David Kirk in attempt to breathe some life into the performance. They pressed up against Wentworth for a while, but failed to make their chances count in an over-crowded box, and were almost caught off guard when the ball broke to the lightning-fast Samik Datta. Datta played the ball out to Beacham as Murray aimed to make a run through on goal, only to be tripped by Francis Barnaby, who received a yellow card for his off-the-ball foul.

The match finished 1-1, and as torrential rain cascaded down on the JLD, the sides prepared for penalties.

Dan Horsfall stepped up first for Wentworth, with a run-up that started closer to the half-way line than the goal. Perhaps he ran out of steam before he got to the ball; Krishna Yellappa was sent the wrong way, but the penalty was dragged harmlessly wide of the goal.

Garness went down the middle and scored for Derwent, then Beacham did the same for Wentworth. Matthews sent Jon Cook the wrong way to put Derwent back ahead, Andy Suggitt then placed one neatly into the corner to bring it back to 2-2, before Derwent led again through Andy Jeffreys.

The Derwent contingent piped up in celebration when Murray’s penalty ricocheted out of the goalmouth, before realising that the ball had hit a wheel just behind the goal-line. Derwent then went 4-3 up through de Silva, and Wentworth again equalised through Datta, having taken one more penalty.

Barnaby stepped up to score the match-winning penalty, sending Jon Cook the wrong way, and the Derwent support into raptures.

Derwent 2nds captain Ric Morris said: “we did everything but score in the second half. It was an entertaining end to the match”.

His side now look forward to a semi-final against either Derwent 3rds or Halifax 3rds.