Alcuin 1sts 3 Vanbrugh 2nds 1
Vanbrugh almost caused an almighty upset in Friday’s first game but ultimately came up short against a talented Alcuin side.
Talented though they undoubtedly are, Alcuin were also profligate, and were nearly left kicking themselves after somehow allowing Vanbrugh back into the game.
They started with all the authority expected of reigning champions and tournament favourites, forcing Vanbrugh’s goalkeeper into a couple of impressive reaction saves in the first five minutes. After ten minutes the pressure told, with Alcuin striker Joe Cooper scoring on the half-volley from a cross to make it 1-0.
At this point it only seemed a question of how many goals Alcuin would score, with Vanbrugh showing determination and an admirable level of composure on the ball but not creating anything of note. This pattern of play continued when, on twenty minutes, Alcuin right-back Jack Crane hit a speculative cross that evaded everyone, including the Vanbrugh goalkeeper, and smashed in off the post. Although perhaps not intentional, it was a goal to grace any game, even one taking place in the exalted arena of College Cup combat.
Towards the end of the half Vanbrugh started to threaten though, with Max Poynter-Hall unleashing a threatening half-volley and striker Jamie Clark putting himself through on goal, only for a poor first touch to let him down.
Alcuin, spurred into action by the threat of a Vanbrugh revival, started the second half strongly, with captain Miles McDermott smashing a long-range free-kick against the bar. Despite this Vanbrugh managed to get a goal back on forty minutes, with Jamie Clark breaking free to calmly slot the ball past Alcuin’s flailing goalkeeper and make it 2-1. Vanbrugh then almost equalised, with Jamie Clark hooting from distance to bring an astonishing save from the Alcuin keeper.
Just as Alcuin looked likely to equalise though, Joe Cooper eluded the Vanbrugh defence, running onto a flick and finishing smoothly on the turn to make it 3-1 and kill the game off. Cooper was denied his hat-trick by the offside flag in the dying minutes, but by then the game was over as a contest. Alcuin will take heart from the way they ended this game, but will be wary of any more potentially devastating lapses in concentration in future matches. More dangerous opponents are to come.
Wentworth 2nds 3 Vanbrugh 3rds 1
A Dave Worsley hat-trick won the game for Wentworth in a match that was cut short after referee time-keeping errors.
Despite finishing ten minutes early the result of the match was never really in doubt, with Wentworth dominating through a midfield led skilfully by Jung Choi, and a strike partnership of Dave Worsley and Dom Green that the Vanbrugh defence found too hard to handle.
Dave Worsley scored Wentworth’s first ten minutes in, making up for his earlier miss against the post by finishing left-footed from an acute angle after running on to a deft through ball.
Striker Dom Green was also making an impression up front, showing good close control and strength to continually hold off Vanrbugh’s defenders and make chances for himself and others.
Despite Wentworth dominating Vanbrugh managed to equalise after half-time, profiting from poor marking to score at the near post from a corner.
It wasn’t soon before Wentworth regained the lead though, as Worsley exploited hesitant defending to sprint on to a bouncing ball over the defence and slot the ball past Vanbrugh’s goalkeeper.
On a high after his two goals, Worsley then got his hat-trick with the best goal of the game, shimmying past a defender before curling a shot in from outside the box.
An awkward shot from distance that forced Wentworth’s goalkeeper into an awkward save was the last moment of note before the game was called to an abrupt end.