In an insipid encounter on the JLD yesterday afternoon, Alcuin 1sts completed the group stages with a scrappy 1-0 win over Langwith 2nds to finish third in Group C, courtesy of a controversial Greg Fearn freekick.
Last week Alcuin were fortunate to beat Wentworth 3rds 1-0, as a number of refereeing decision went in their favour, and fortune remained on their side yesterday as Fearn’s freekick which rattled down off the bar was adjudged to have crossed the line, despite the vehement protests of the Langwith players.
The win takes Alcuin through to the plate stages of the competition, where they will be missing star man Tomasz Chadwick who will be unavailable. Langwith meanwhile, who finished fifth in the group and therefore qualified for the vase, only created one real chance in the contest, but it was a golden one at that, as Ritchie Hemmingway scuffed wide from two yards after a misjudgement from Neil Lawrence.
With the continued absence of Graham Kimber through injury, and with Chadwick on the bench, Alcuin looked devoid of quality and cutting edge for much of the contest, as they struggled to break down a side who have looked lacklustre to date this year. Ben Bujega looked sprightly in the early stages, and was twice denied by Oliver Williamson, the second with a deft flicked header from an Andy Fernando freekick. At the other end the closest Langwith came in the early stages was one James McDonald shot, which was miscued wide.
On 12 minutes Bujega did beat Williamson, but this time he was denied by the bar, as his effort was deflected onto the woodwork after a sweet move involving Fernando and James Homer. Langwith though were defending resolutely marshalled by Sam Morley and Mark Starling at the back, and at the other end Morley almost hit the target with a flicked header from a Louis Pegg delivery, whilst McDonald was later denied at the back post.
Alcuin were enjoying the majority of possession and territory without really creating any clear chances, but on 23 minutes they opened the scoring, as Fearn’s whipped delivery from 35 yards evaded everyone and cannoned down and supposedly in off the bar, much to the disgust of the Langwith defence.
The second half saw little more of note, as both teams slugged it out in the heat, in a contest which reflected its lack of importance. A 40 yard surge by Chris Boyd ended in a shot which skewed horribly wide, whilst his defensive partner Harry Billimore impressed at the back. The standout player though was Morley, who made a series of strong challenges and crucial blocks to frustrate Alcuin.
In the 42nd minute Langwith should have equalised, as Lawrence completely misjudged Pegg’s freekick, and the ball broke to Hemmingway two yards out, but with the goal gaping he diverted wide, much to his anguish.
For Alcuin the greatest threat was posed by Andy Fernando, whose mazy runs down the right flank caused constant problems for Langwith left back Errol Waters. Chadwick had a couple of late chances, but in what was one of the most uninspiring games of the College Cup to date there were no further goals, as Alcuin secured a 1-0 win.
After the game Alcuin skipper Chris Boyd told Vision: “We knew after the Halifax game we were in the plate, and wanted to prepare for that. We came out today and really bossed the game.”
Langwith Captain Sam Morley was proud of his team’s performance, but disappointed with the goal, remarking: “I’m really proud of the lads, we played the best football we’ve played all tournament today, and we all put in a quality shift. I’m absolutely gutted and really annoyed by the goal, I’ve had four or five of the lads guarantee me it’s not over the line, and I don’t see how the ref can give it from where he was.”
Vision MOTM: Sam Morley