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Photos: Julia Piotrowicz
Alcuin 1sts kept alive their hopes of College Cup knockout qualification with a narrow victory over Wentworth 3rds. The game was decided with just 18 minutes remaining by a controversial winner from Alcuin top scorer Tom Chadwick.
Wentworth will feel aggrieved, having had a goal disallowed, the better of the chances, and of course the circumstances of the goal that resigned them to defeat.
It is a scenario that few would of expected – Alcuin had their feathers ruffled by the side sitting at the bottom of Group C and were very lucky to pick up all three points that kept them in the hunt for a top two finish.
The opening to the game was a cagey affair before being sparked into life on the quarter of the hour mark. Wentworth won their first corner of the game and the ball in was only partially cleared by an Alcuin defender, resulting in a scramble for the ball on the edge of the area. The ball fell to Dan Horsfall, back to goal, who uncharacteristically backheeled the ball past ‘keeper Neil Lawrence and into the net. The goal was disallowed though by stand-in referee Adam Lewis who adjudged Horsall to be offside when the ball was played to him – and despite vocal protests, the goal was ruled out.
In a game of few chances, Horsfall was also making his presence known at the other end. Tom Chadwick was struggling to get into the game, having had a couple of potshots at goal from distance, when he was muscled off the ball and to the ground by the Lecturer in Comparative Social Policy as he tried to break through on goal. Wentworth then almost had the ball in the net again as the half came to a close, Dan Franks’ cross from deep swerved all over the place with nobody in the box and almost drifted in over Lawrence’s head, only to drop wide at the last.
The postgrads had had the better of the opening exchanges and could probably have been ahead. They started the second half in a similar vein – Josh Mangham presenting an excellent outlet down the right-hand side and offering much needed energy to Wentworth’s counter-attacking play. On the first occasion of the half though, his low cross after escaping his marker only found the feet of Harry Billimore who cleared easily.
Alcuin then had their best chance of the game so far – Chadwick finally found space and sent a right-footed effort towards the top corner of the Wentworth goal. His shot though was well parried, and then caught, by Aakash Nasarpuri, who had been much derided for his performance in Wenty’s 3-0 loss to Vanbrugh 3rds last week. That was followed by the moment that changed the game, as Alcuin finally broke the deadlock.
The referee appeared to signal for a Wentworth throw on the right-hand touchline, but then allowed Alcuin to take the set-piece instead. The ball found its way to Chadwick who cut inside two defenders and arrowed a shot low under the despairing arm of Nasarpuri. Wentworth protested, but it was to no avail, and the postgraduates were sent back into their own half with their tails between their legs.
Wentworth still looked the better side though, and could have drawn level moments later. Mutlu Cukurova’s stunning left-wing cross found Mangham in the Alcuin penalty area, but he blasted into the side netting from a tight angle.
With 10 minutes remaining, Alcuin then almost undeservedly doubled their lead. Chadwick again was at the heart of their attacking threat, driving a half-volley towards goal, only to be thwarted by an excellent save from Nasarpuri who, seeing the shot late, dived to his right to deny the striker.
But Wentworth weren’t to be quietened down – and really should have grabbed a deserved leveller with four minutes left. Mangham broke down the right-hand side again, and this time his cross was inch-perfect, finding the feat of Eamonn O’Connor, but the midfielder blasted over when it would have been easier to score.
There was still time for Chadwick to almost grab another, with his deflected shot being deflected twice before heading towards the top-left hand corner, where it was headed off the line.
Wentworth 3rds will be gutted – having deserved at least a point in a game shrouded in refereeing controversy. They will move onto their final game in the group, against Goodricke 1sts, with their heads held high, and after this performance, they will be hopeful of a favourable result.
A bit harsh on Aakash, who most certainly had not been derided for his performance in the 4-2 defeat by Vanbrugh (not 3-0). He had no chance with the goals that day (as with the goal today) and then, just as today, made some excellent saves. I’d go as far as to suggest that Aakash has been our best player in the tournament, conceding one goal from open play against a fantastic Halifax 2nds and one goal against Alcuin firsts. What more do you want? He came and punched or caught everything today and made one outstanding save!!
Other than that – good report I think!
Off the fence though, was the Wenty goal offside??
That is really unfair on Aakash, nothing he could have done for any of the goals we have conceded, has really been outstanding and kept Wentworth in many of these games. On a side note Eamonn didn’t miss that shot late on in the game, that was somebody else.
@Dan,
the comments regarding Akash were mainly regarding him missing the ball for Vanbrugh’s third goal that day. I personally see him as a pretty decent shot stopper, particularly a 3s level and thought he was excellent when called upon on Tuesday.
Personally believed the Wentworth goal to be offside but it was an incredibly difficult decision for the referee to make, without any linesmen, and as a last minute stand-in. I’d agree with the decision but my view of it was only as good/bad as that of the referee. Tough job.
Thanks for your comment.
Cheers Oli, like I said, I thought it was a good report overall, just wanted to stick up for Aakash, who has been great for us.
Sorry, don’t know what prompted the over-familliar Oli there. *Oliver*