College Cup Play-off: Vanbrugh 4ths (p)1-1 Derwent 4ths

By Freddie Nathan
The one-off play-off match between Vanburgh 4ths and Derwent 4ths to decide the final team to play in this years College Cup went to penalties on the astroturf after it finished 1-1 after normal time, on a fiendishly quick surface.

Vanburgh had more attacking menace in the first half but in truth, it was not the most exciting game to watch. Andy Dakin shot just over from a long way out and Mike Sutcliffe made a crunching tackle on a Derwent player who was through on goal. However, midway through the first half the deadlock was broken, Kimi Tang-Wright dancing through a couple of tackles before slotting it coolly away with his left foot. It stayed 1-0 until half time. 

Derwent came out looking much stronger, passing with greater fluency and urgency, knowing what was at stake. Midway through, Derwent’s new-found dominance paid dividends as Sam Hodsons crisp strike from the edge of the box nestling into the bottom corner after Vanburgh failed to clear their lines, prompting wild celebrations from the sizeable Derwent contingent on the sideline. Derwent should have made it 2-1, a ball into the box being squandered from 6 yards out by a Derwent substitute. Vanburgh really only threatened with a Tang-Wright shot with stung the palms of Andy Jeffries. 

It finished 1-1, which prompted a penalty shootout. The first penalty, taken by Derwent midfielder Ali Carroll was saved fantastically by keeper Paul Taylor, giving Vanburgh the instant advantage. Then came a spate of conversions from both sides, Tang-Wright, Hodson, Dakin, Matheson and Cooper all hitting the back of the net. Then Rippon fired way, way over for Derwent, handing James Salt the chance to win it for Vanburgh, duly obliging to spark wild celebrations. 

Vanburgh 4ths are now in the College Cup for 2011, but are in a group with the likes of Vanburgh 1sts and other college 2nds so in truth, it will be a tough ask to accumulate any points.