College football: Goodricke 5-5 Wentworth

Wentworth staged a heroic second half comeback with a hat-trick from Wayne Paes to punish Goodricke in an extraordinary game.

Being 4-1 up at half time, it looked for all the world the job was done for Goodricke after producing an excellent attacking display including a double from Jon Sharpe.

Both sides then traded goals early in the second half to make it 5-2, before Wentworth scored three goals in the last 25 minutes to achieve what must be one of the greatest college football recoveries.

At the final whistle it was a scene of contrasting emotions as Wentworth celebrated as if they had won the league itself, while Goodricke were left wondering where it all went wrong.

Both sets of players initially found it difficult to adapt to the blustery conditions, as the first ten minutes were a scrappy affair of misplaced passes.

The first chance fell to Goodricke’s winger Sam Lewis as he ran onto a through ball, but the onrushing Jon Cook blocked the ball behind. The resulting outswinging corner from James Gutteridge was headed on by Sam Cottingham on the penalty spot to the back post and prodded in by Lewis.

Goodricke almost doubled their advantage three minutes later when Jon Sharpe, collecting a Thomas throw-in, volleyed powerfully from 25 yards but it crashed off the left upright and bounced to safety for Wentworth.

But the second goal soon came. Rob Young lifted the ball over a stranded Wentworth defence for Jon Sharpe to chase down and thump the ball high into the net.

Wentworth were going forward with more urgency by this stage, Andrea Marcheggiano squandering a glorious chance by overhitting his pass to striking partner Dom Green, with the Goodricke defence all at sea.

More bad fortune then hit Wentworth as Matt Lakins, under great pressure from Sharpe, headed past his own goalkeeper from a dangerous Joe Mann cross.

Goodricke then made it 4-0 after just half an hour of play when a long punt downfield was headed back by Mann to Sharpe who instinctively swept a volley into the bottom corner.

But Wentworth dominated possession for the last 15 minutes of the half and created numerous chances to get themselves on the scoresheet. Marcheggiano looked the most likely source as he received a pass from Matt Bowyer but his weak shot just outside the six yard box was saved by Foster.

Then a Marcheggiano corner was headed over from 8 yards by Green, who also hit the post moments later after finding himself with acres of space in the penalty area.

Marcheggiano shot wide of Foster’s far post and saw his counterpart block another effort with his legs before Wentworth finally got a goal back just before the interval. Goodricke only half-cleared a corner to the edge of the box and Wayne Peas blasted home the bouncing ball via Foster’s left hand.

Wentworth continued where they left off at the start of the second half. From a similar distance, Paes scored again with a deflected drive which flew unexpectedly to the ‘keeper’s left to inspire his teammates and halve the deficit at 4-2.

Goodricke quickly restored a three-goal advantage through big centre-back Matt Whelan, inexcusably unmarked in the penalty area, heading past Jon Cook from a Mann corner.

But Wentworth simply didn’t give up. A good ball from Bowyer on the right caused confusion in the Goodricke area and Dan Bawdon eventually scrambled the ball over the line after a melee in the six yard box to make it 5-3.

Then, with just 14 minutes left, Marcheggiano caressed a beautiful through ball to Green who had created himself a pocket of space between the defenders. He then slotted the ball with ease past the despairing dive of Foster to set up a grandstand finish.

With just five minutes left, Paes scored the memorable equaliser to make it 5-5. The chance came after he robbed defender Whelan of the ball and then kept his head to stroke the ball past Foster, sending the Wentworth fans into ecstasy on the touchline.

The action was not still not finished, however, as Goodricke poured forward in anger looking to restore their lead at the death. Their chance fell to Sharpe, who smashed a stunning looping volley from 30 yards, but the gods were on Wentworth’s side as the ball bounced off crossbar and behind for a goal kick.

At the end of what was an exceptional encounter, Wentworth’s Rich Rhodes lavished praise on his teammates: ‘It was a game of two halves. We were sullen and disappointed at half time but the goal gave us hope. It was a great performance from everybody in the second half, especially Wayne [Paes]. I though he was fantastic for us.’

Meanwhile, Goodricke’s Matt Thomas said: ‘The result is absolutely ridiculous from our point of view. It is easily the worst game of football I’ve seen us play. We were complacent and switched off at the vital moments.’

MOTM: Wayne Paes.