College Football: Alcuin 1-3 Goodricke

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Photos: Oliver Todd

A depleted Goodricke side were able to defeat Alcuin thanks to a Joe Mann brace and a strike from Christian Hammer. Alcuin should have at least got a point from the game but squandered countless opportunities in the second half. After the initial scraps for possession, it was Goodricke who had the better chances early on.

John Sharpe was the principal threat, firing in dangerous crosses one of which almost resulted in an own goal but for the awareness of Alcuin keeper Damien Richard. He was inches away from scoring a few minutes later striking the crossbar from the edge of the box.

Alcuin also had some opportunities in the opening twenty minutes both of which fell to Basim Al-Ahmadi. He firstly put the ball wide from a cross by Smith before not quite being able to reach the ball to strike at goal after Leonidas Kanonis played him in.

The deadlock was broken around half way through the period. A Matt Thomas throw-in was received by Matt Sutherland who passed the ball on to Sharpe. His fierce effort was batted away by Richard but the ball went straight into the path of Joe Mann who fired the ball into the top left corner.

Alcuin almost responded immediately when a Will Taylor free-kick was spilled by Goodricke ‘keeper Neill into the path of Alex Brown who put the ball just wide of the post.

Goodricke then had two chances to extend their lead. Matt Sutherland almost turned in a Sharpe cross before Sharpe himself volleyed wide after the ball broke to the edge of the box from a Bullock corner.

Alcuin then had another opportunity to draw level. Kanonis played a beautiful through ball with the outside of his foot to Taylor but he took the ball too far away from goal after rounding the ‘keeper and the chance was gone.

Despite having a few chances in the first period, Alcuin had been run ragged largely by Sharpe and should have been more than one goal behind on the balance of play. They needed to up their game if they were going to get anything from the match.

Goodricke, however, made it 2-0 early on in the second half: A Matt Thomas free-kick went all the way to Sutherland who was lurking at the back post. His attempted overhead kick ended up as a cross to Hammer who fired the ball home at the far post.

After this goal, Alcuin responded with a barrage of attacks. To begin with, Scholz and Allen both scuffed efforts on goal after dominant play by Kanonis in midfield.

Then, Scholz turned Fagan this way and that before his shot was deflected onto the post. Taylor then blazed over from the edge of the box before playing in Kanonis whose powerful strike was kept out by Neill.

Goodricke’s only chance in this period was an attempt by Sharpe at a spectacular overhead finish from a Mann cross. This went just wide.

Alcuin then had three more opportunities. Scholz volleyed just wide, Kanonis struck the ball just over the bar after being set up by Taylor before Scholz again fired wide.

Goodricke then responded with an onslaught of their own: Firstly, Hammer fired over the top before Sutherland played a through ball to Sharpe. His effort was brilliantly saved by the fingertips of Richard.

Then there was a goal mouth scramble from the resultant corner. Richard reacted more quickly than Sutherland and beat the ball away after an ineffective defensive header spooned the ball up into the air. However, the ball fell straight to Mann whose shot was turned over the top sharply by Richard.

Goodricke then made it 3-0. Sharpe played the ball over the top to Mann who lifted the ball into the top left corner over a helpless Richard.

From here, there was no way back for Alcuin but they did manage to score a consolation goal. A long ball from Boyd was taken down by Allen whose cheeky interplay with Scholz resulted in the latter passing the ball through the legs of Neill.

Goodricke Captain Matt Thomas commented post match that, “after mixed results”, it was “nice to finish the season with a win against stern opposition”. However, he thought Alcuin “should have put more of their chances away”. Brad Wood, the Alcuin Captain, believed Goodricke had “dominated the first half” and that his side “did not turn up”. Yet, he thought they “played much better” and got themselves back into the game in the second period.

In truth, the result did not really reflect the balance of opportunities in the match but Alcuin let themselves down with their finishing.

Vision MOTMs: Joe Mann and John Sharpe. Leonidas Kanonis’ dominant midfield performance in the second half was also worthy of high praise.

Team	Pld	Pts	GD
Derwent	7	18	+18
Vanbrugh	7	14	+13
James	7	14	+3
Halifax	7	10	+1
Goodricke	7	8	-3
Alcuin	7	5	-7
Langwith	7	5	-16
Wentworth	7	3	-8