College Plate Quarter-Final: Alcuin 1sts 2-2 Halifax 3rds (Halifax win 4-2 on penalties)

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Photos: Jack Western

Alcuin 1sts were knocked out of the plate this afternoon by Halifax 3rds, as they were defeated 4-2 in a penalty shootout which was forced by a last gasp equaliser by Alcuin captain Chris Boyd made it 2-2 in normal time.

With only seconds left on the clock the centre half launched a 35 yard freekick forward, which sailed over everyone and into the top corner of the Halifax net. The last gasp equaliser though was to no avail, as Halifax bounced back from the disappointment to cruise through on penalties, with Phil Kershaw coolly slotting home the winning spot kick.

Both Harry Billimore and Chris Houlgate fired their penalties wide for Alcuin, whilst Ed Henry, Chris Harrison and Jonny Stansfield all slotted home their first three penalties for Halifax. Despite successful attempts from Ben Bugeja and Josh Allen as well as a save from Neil Lawrence, Kershaw held his nerve to send Halifax through to a semi-final clash against Derwent 2nds on Tuesday.

The defeat capped off a wretched campaign for Alcuin, and the first ten minutes highlighted the deficiencies of the team. A defensive mix up allowed Ryan Doherty blast home the opener for Halifax only two minutes in, and in the eighth minute Halifax were two goals to the good courtesy of an Ed Henry shot which squirmed past the pitiful attempts of the hapless Lawrence at the near post.

After the dreadful start Alcuin improved, as a beautiful touch by Bugeja directed the ball into the path of George Brough who squandered the chance, horribly scuffing his shot. Brough though looked lively and in the 13^th minute he pulled a goal back for Alcuin, courtesy of another goalkeeping error, this time by Harry Ziegler. The Alcuin forward latched onto a long ball down the right, drove forward and unleashed a shot which seemingly went straight through the arms of Ziegler to make it 2-1.

All three goals had resulted from errors, and in truth the game was a low quality affair, with Alcuin slightly edging the contest as they played some nice football, with Will Dodgson and Luca Nazzicone displaying clever touches. Creativity though was lacking and the only other chance of the half fell to Doherty, who flicked a header from a James McNeill corner over the bar.

The poor standard of the first half though didn’t compare to the complete lack of quality after the interval, as both teams slugged it out in a hard fought encounter. There was no lack of effort or commitment as Halifax defended resolutely to limit an Alcuin side who were missing Tom Chadwick, Andy Fernando and long term absentee Graham Kimber, but neither side really impressed in terms of high class football.

The only half chances were a Billimore header which flew over the bar from a Bugeja corner, and an attempted backheel by Tom Simpson which trickled into the arms of Ziegler. Craig Dixon and Ed Henry battled well in the centre of midfield for Halifax, whilst Harrison whipped in a dangerous freekick which Lawrence flapped at, but overall they failed to threaten to add a third goal.

The game appeared to be petering out, when in the last minute Alcuin grabbed their equaliser. Even keeper Lawrence had ventured forward, but Boyd’s floated delivery sailed over everyone, beat Ziegler and sailed into the net to take the game into penalties. The goal was Boyd’s first ever in three years playing for Alcuin, and strangely happened to be his very last kick of his Alcuin career, as his side then crashed out on penalties.

After the game Boyd told Vision: “It was disappointing. I think in the end of the day it was too sloppy goals, a goalkeeping error for the second and a defensive mistake for the first. Maybe if they hadn’t have happened we would have won that game, but in the end of the day fair play to Halifax and I wish them all the best in the rest of the tournament.”

Halifax Captain James McNeill was relieved that is team prevailed after the late drama, and commented: “Just very happy we’re through. If we play the same again next week we’ve definitely got a chance of pushing onto the finals, and hopefully we’ll do the same again.”

Vision MOTM: Ed Henry