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Photos: Vivan Jayant
Alcuin 1sts managed to secure their place in the quarter finals with a goalless draw against Wentworth 2nds, in a game which was by no means pleasing on the eye. Wentworth worked hard throughout, and in the end could have won the game, but a point was enough to seal their progression through to the plate competition, and set up a probable encounter with their 1st team.
Sometimes you get 0-0 draws which are full of action and intrigue, but this scrappy affair was not one of them. Instead a combative and tense affair was played out, with moments of true quality being few and far between.
Alcuin started the brighter of the two sides, with Wentworth ‘keeper John Cook being called into action to easily deny Will Taylor and Paul Desoisa. At the other end Andrea Marcheggiano made a mazy run, which ended in a curling shot being comfortably gathered by David Marshall.
Alcuin were slightly edging a rather insipid first half, as Taylor was picked out by Desoisa, only to be denied at the near post by Cook. Lachlan Murray meanwhile was making some purposeful runs down the right for Wentworth, who were defending solidly. The first half ended as it started, goalless.
The second half continued in similar fashion, with not a great deal happening. The game was played in the middle of the park, with only glimpses of real quality. Josh Allen almost found himself in on goal, only to be challenged by the excellent Selahattin Kosunalp.
Wentworth though began to carve out the best opportunities. First, Murray was played through, but he flayed his shot wide. Then Marcheggiano slotted the ball to full back Matt Beacham, but he rifled his effort off target.
The closest Alcuin came was a Graham Kimber freekick, but it whistled over the bar, when it appeared as if it would sneak in. Chris Boyd then whipped a threatening ball into the box, but somehow it evaded both Desoisa and Alex Brown.
Marcheggiano almost nicked it for Wentworth in the end though, his header from a corner hacked off the line by substitute Charles Pickering. The game finished without either keeper really being tested, and the scoreline remained goalless. For the spectators it was by no means a stunner, but a vital point for both sides.
Wentworth’s manager commented: “I thought we were possibly the better side today. We’ve done fantastically to get 7 points in this challenging group.”
Alcuin captain Brad Wood told Vision: “We’ve done enough to get through, but we were below par. We are keeping it tight but aren’t scoring enough goals.”
Vision MOTM: Selahattin Kosunalp