Last year’s College Cup champions Halifax got their season off to a winning start with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Vanbrugh. Two first half goals from Connor Meckin and ‘Fax skipper Connor McCoy respectively and a late third from Dan Jones secured the three points.
On the rain-drenched college pitches, the game understandably started scrappily with some tough tackling from both sides. The impressive Ollie Gwynne, on his debut for the Whites, showed some neat touches in midfield, as did Vanbrugh’s Harry O’Brien whose quick feet and direct running caused some early problems for the ‘Fax backline.
It was Halifax who had the first real chance of the game. McCoy’s long-range effort was spilled by stand-in Vanbrugh ‘keeper Max Brewer straight to Meckin whose subsequent shot on the stretch somehow looped onto the bar. O’Brien and Elliot Rous-Ross then tested returning ‘Fax ‘keeper Jonny Sim with a couple of low drives as the game’s first goal drew nearer.
It went the way of Halifax. Good hold-up play from another debutant Garo Heath saw him square the ball to Jones whose low side-footed shot was well saved by Brewer, but this time Meckin made no mistake on the rebound as he slid in to give his side the lead.
Soon after it was two-nil as McCoy, having nearly reached Tadcaster with a shot a few moments before, drilled the ball from 25 yards out, past Brewer’s despairing dive to double Halifax’s lead going into half-time.
The second half was played out much the same as the first with Halifax well on top. Veteran defender Alex Tringham thought he had scored a third for the Whites when he headed in from McCoy’s free-kick only to see it controversially ruled out for offside. Jones then nearly got in on the action as Heath squared cross the goal but his outstretched boot was inches away from making contact.
Vanbrugh were still making chances however and a lovely touch from O’Brien set himself up for a half-volley which stung the palms of Jonny Sim. The game was ended as a contest soon after though. A pinpoint through-ball from McCoy freed Meckin down the left and his cross found Jones at the back post who made no mistake, side-footing in on the volley from close range.
It could and really should have been more for Halifax as they wasted a number of excellent chances before the final whistle with Meckin, Jones and sub George Waring all going close only to be denied by a mixture of last-ditch tackles and suspect finishing.
All in all however, it was a comfortable opening victory for Halifax who will be looking to carry this form into the coming fixtures, and although Vanbrugh were understandably disappointed, there will be a lot more to come from them as the season progresses.
Sim, Bowden, Rillstone (Marsh), Tringham, Howarth, Dunning, Gwynne, Jones, McCoy, Meckin, Heath (Waring)
Brewer, Coy, Wignall, Graham, Grout, Picknell, Sanderson, O’Brien, Rous-Ross, Lund, Woodall, Craine, Marler
MOM: Ollie Gwynne