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Photos: Oliver Todd
James came from behind to win 4-3 against Wentworth in an enthralling encounter on Sunday. Goals from James Offord, Freddie Ferrao and George Clarke ensured that James continued their unbeaten start to the season.
James started the game confidently, with Offord testing Wentworth keeper Jon Cook early on and Oscar Lynch heading over from point blank range. With the lively Samik Datta and Andrea Marcheggiano Wentworth were always dangerous though, and almost made James pay for their early profligacy, with only a last-minute recovery tackle from right-back George Clarke stopping striker Marcheggiano from scoring with the goal gaping ten minutes in.
Wentworth were finally broken down 20 minutes into the match, with James winger Freddie Ferrao slotting home from a tight angle to make it 1-0. James couldn’t capitalise on their early lead however, and Wentworth equalised ten minutes later through Marcheggiano, who raced on to a long ball and calmly beat keeper Rylan Gooch. The striker looked offside but the goal stood.
The postgraduate college then went ahead just moments into the second half, with Marcheggiano capitalising on a mistake from defender Lynch to run through on goal and rifle the ball past Gooch to make it 2-1. Ten minutes later it was James’ turn to equalise, with George Clarke almost breaking the net with a piledriver from thirty yards that left Cook with no chance. It was a wonderful goal, and when Ferrao hit the post moments later it seemed James were in the driving seat. Yet Wentworth were nothing if not resilient, and went ahead again on 70 minutes when Duncan Burns played a smart one-two before firing the ball past Gooch from the edge of the area.
At 3-2 Wentworth were then awarded a penalty for a handball in the area by James’ Ben Cooke. The ball seemed to strike Cooke’s hand without the winger being aware in the slightest, and this decision was the latest in a number of highly dubious calls by the referee. Marcheggiano was denied his hat-trick however by a brilliant save from Gooch, who dived to his right to beat away the striker’s penalty.
The save spurred James on, and with the side driving forward two late Offord goals – the first a volley and the second a tap-in, both after good work by winger Cooke – sealed the game.
VISION MOTM: Andrea Marcheggiano.