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Photos: Kathy Burke
In a game in which neither side were able to dominate for a substantial period of time, Alcuin’s players ran themselves ragged to triumph over last term’s league champions.
Admittedly, Derwent were missing key players such as Tom Brandreth and Alex d’Albertanson. Xander Brinkworth also sustained an injury during the course of the match but was forced to play on regardless.
Alcuin was on top for the first ten minutes or so, bossing the game in midfield. This period of dominance eventually produced a chance for Alex Brown from a Greg Fearn corner, but he headed it down on the throat of the Derwent ‘keeper.
Derwent then managed to turn the tables and dominated for the next few minutes.
Mike Whittall volleyed just over the bar after some neat interplay between David Kirk and Jake Farrell and soon afterwards headed wide from a Farrell corner.
Alcuin then went on to show some real desire and skill. Will Dodgson came away with the ball in countless challenges. Brown was simply immense up top, holding up play exceptionally well. I just wish Andy Carroll was as good!
They were the better team for the remainder of the half and produced a string of opportunities. Captain Brad Wood headed over from a Fearn corner, Brown produced a sublime turn before striking just past the post and Paul de Soisa blazed a shot over the bar from outside of the box.
Nevertheless, at half-time it was all square.
Alcuin quickly took the lead in the second half, Brown producing an exquisite lifted finish over the helpless Derwent ‘keeper after being the ball was played in by Will Taylor.
Wood had a chance to make it two, heading just past the post from another Fearn corner.
However, Alcuin seemed to tire slightly mid-way through the second period allowing Derwent an opportunity, but Harry Lambert could not make meaningful contact from a Sam Earle free kick.
Yet, with the assistance of Josh Allen and Luca Nazzicone from the bench, Alcuin soon picked up their performance again and had several chances to extend their lead. Nazzicone struck agonisingly wide from the edge of the box before a last ditch Lambert challenge prevented Brown from achieving a brace.
Derwent, however, once again dominated briefly in the latter stages of this half and subjected Alcuin to a barrage of attacks. Yet, their opponents were determined to weather their storm and put their bodies on the line to triumph. Captain Brad Wood, leading by example, produced a diving header to clear the ball from his area. Lambert came closest for Derwent but his header from another Farrell delivery was deflected past the post.
Post-match, Alcuin Captain Brad Wood gushed that he “couldn’t fault” any of his players before expressing his delight that his team had defeated the reigning champions. Joe Boughtflower, in contrast, commented that it was not his side’s “best performance” before adding that although there were “injuries and absences”, this could not be used as “an excuse”. He went on to express his disappointment that he had “lost his last game as Captain in the league”. Alcuin’s victory here will give them a real boost before the College Cup, the most highly anticipated event in the university’s footballing year.