In arguably the greatest upset in College Cup history, James 3rds defeated James 1sts in the quarter-finals, as a dramatic penalty shootout sealed their place in the final four.
Andreas Boedt stepped up to place the winning penalty into the bottom left hand corner, after Matt Bainbridge had blazed his penalty over, as the 3rds won 6-5 on penalties after an insipid match which ended 0-0.
There was little drama in the first 60 minutes, but in the penalty shootout it was the 3rds who held their nerve. James 1sts central defender Josh O’Donoghue’s opening penalty was excellently saved by Andy Lake, before James 3rds slotted home their first four penalties. The 1sts didn’t make any mistake with their following four either, leaving Sam Blumson with the opportunity to knock out the 1sts.
His scuffed penalty though was easily saved by Luke Bradley to take the shootout into sudden death, where both James Davies and Will Manners calmly dispatched their spot kicks. Bainbridge though was unable to convert James’ seventh penalty, as he blasted over and out of the confines of the JLD, leaving Boedt the opportunity to seal a memorable victory. The left winger then duly obliged, beating Bradley and knocking the 1sts out of the cup.
In truth James 1sts were far from their best, as they appeared to severely underestimate their counterparts, producing a woeful display devoid of the quality they had demonstrated in the group stages. Their best opportunity was squandered late in the second half by Davies, but the 3rds defended well throughout, limiting the 1sts’ chances and creating promising moments of their own.
The opening stages were cagey to say the best, as neither team were able to assert their dominance on the game. 3rds captain Ameer Alhasan placed a freekick wide, whilst Tom Clarke was kept quiet by some excellent man-marking from Jordan Steel.
Indeed the contest was 17 minutes in, when the first attempt on target was recorded, as Will Goodwin looped a header into the arms of Bradley. James then counter-attacked quickly, creating their best chance of the half, as Freddie Ferrao’s shot from the left was comfortably gathered by Lake. Clarke then fizzed an effort wide, but the 1sts rarely threatened the 3rds’ goal in a lacklustre first half of football.
The standard improved slightly after the break, and it was the 3rds who were presented the first chance of the half. The energetic Goodwin picked out the lively Kris Siva with a pinpoint pass, but the attacking midfielder was unable to hit the target as his effort rifled wide of the post.
At the other end a Josh Spurling shot was deflected over the bar by the outstretched boot of Andrew Jopson, but the 1sts struggled to assert their dominance, as they continued to be thwarted by a resolute 3rds side. On 40 minutes the 3rds had the ball in the back of the net as Siva tapped home a flicked Boedt header, but the goal was correctly disallowed for offside.
James’ best chance came in the 46th minute, as substitute Sam Taylor deftly flicked the ball into the path of Davies, setting the forward through on goal, but his left footed shot from 12 yards fizzed wide of the near post, much to his anguish. Minutes later it was Taylor through on goal as he latched onto a Harry Woodman clearance, but he could only slice his finish hopelessly wide.
With eight minutes remaining a glorious chance presented itself to the 3rds, as a corner broke to Siva, but from 12 yards he could only slice his shot wide. The 1sts meanwhile continued to push for a winner, and a Tom Clarke shot was deflected off Steel’s boot, wrong footing Lake but trundling narrowly wide of the post.
The minutes ticked by, and when a last gasp Ferrao header was gathered by Lake, referee Dan Horsfall signaled for full time and the lottery of penalties. And as they say the rest is history, as the 3rds held their nerve to progress through to a semi-final clash against either Derwent 1sts or Goodricke 1sts next week, courtesy of a 6-5 victories on penalties.
After the game a delighted James 3rds captain Ameer Alhasan told Vision: “I’m lost for words, we really didn’t expect that. I’m delighted with how we played and can’t believe that we’ve managed to beat the 1sts.”
In contrast 1sts captain Josh Spurling was despondent after his side slipped out of the cup, commenting: “We were woeful today, a long way from our best in the first 60 minutes, and then penalties is a lottery.”
Vision MOTM: Jordan Steel
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