Alcuin 2nds 0 – 2 Derwent 2nds
A strong and well balanced Derwent 2nds scored either side of half time to beat a lacklustre and unimpressive Alcuin 2nds 2-0.
Goals from cross-over player Ed Lacille and Barnaby Francis were enough to put Alcuin under real pressure in their attempt to reach the College Cup knock-out rounds.
The match began as a tightly contested affair as both Alcuin and Derwent looked to forge an early lead. Alcuin had the first chance as forward Alex Brown was played through on goal but he couldn’t quite control the ball and tumbled down inside the box amid shouts for a penalty. Referee Nick Dheir refused to cave into Alcuin’s demands and waved play on.
Derwent moved quickly to try and gain a foothold in the game; a heavy challenge from Damien Pickard, the tenacious Alcuin captain, brought down Lacille and allowed Matt O’Connor the chance to edge ahead with a free kick. In the end O’Connor’s shot went straight into the wall and deflected out for a corner which Derwent failed to capitalise on.
The men in blue once again had the chance to take the lead as they slowly but surely gained control over the match. This time a lapse of concentration in the Alcuin box allowed Francis to have a shot which ‘keeper David Ambrozejczyk could only parry around the post.
Derwent continued to dominate the game; Steve Miller and John Pinkstone both showed a spirit and grit that Alcuin simply lacked as they bossed the middle of the park, pulling strings and closing down the opposition. Unsurprisingly it was no time before Derwent we able to break the deadlock as Francis passed the ball across the box for an unmarked Lacille to knock home. It was a simple finish made all the more easy by poor defensive work.
The second half showed no improvement for Alcuin as they continued to play dull and scrappy football. A heavy footedness and a seeming lack of commitment saw them lose the majority of the challenges to a Derwent side who battled for every ball as they sought to win an extra goal and provide themselves with some breathing room. This dedication was rewarded when shortly after the restart Francis produced a stunning lob to double his team’s tally.
Derwent continued to dominate proceedings and began to search for a third. The introduction of James Beggs added energy and provided a good outlet for the team though the ambitious third goal proved somewhat elusive and left Derwent to settle for a solid, hard-fought 2-0 win. Alcuin may be somewhat disappointed by the result especially as it came on the back of such an out of character performance.
Wentworth 1sts 4 – 0 James 3rds
A stunning display by the Wentworth 1sts saw off a powerless and incapable James 3rds team.
A first half hat-trick by the inimitable Dom Green set the tone for the match as Wentworth routed a poor quality James side 4-0.
For the first 20 minutes of the match this reporter will reluctantly admit that he had the score pegged as a 0-0 bore draw. Despite the blistering sunshine the game began as a rather tepid event. Neither team asserted any control or provided any moment worth a mention in a match report.
The crowd had all but given up hope when the lightening pace of Wentworth’s Samik Datta allowed the diminutive winger to speed through the James defence and play in Dom Green. Green’s simple finish was more than enough to beat James goalkeeper Toby Owen and bring a little life into the old Wentworth side.
James 3rds, upon going a goal down, overcommitted to an Andy Yates corner which allowed Wentworth to play on the break. The famously swift Datta once again at the centre of the movement as he sprinted down the wing to split the James defence with a beautifully timed pass to the open Green who found himself some space before rather clinically sliding the ball past the hapless ‘keeper.
Wentworth seemed unstoppable as they applied constant pressure to the James defence and limited the 3rds side nothing more than to ambitious shots from well outside the area. James soldiered on though and came close as midfielder Jack Fisher unleashed a threatening 35yard screamer which managed to beat Wentworth ‘keeper Matt Taylor only to rattle frustratingly off the corner of the woodwork.
Wentworth extended their lead once again, almost immediately after Fisher’s chance, and yet again the goal came from Datta who proved his worth to the team with an excellent cross straight to Green. Green calmly claimed his hat-trick and allowed Wentworth to march into half time three goals to the good.
Wentworth continued to attack in the second half, Datta almost capping his magnificent performance with a goal though his shot was hit straight at the ‘keeper.
Russ Kitson came close to ending all of James’ hopes as he lofted a particularly delightful lob over ‘keeper Owen and onto the underside of the bar. Green was on hand to convert the goal though his effort was adjudged to have been offside and the goal was disallowed.
Ultimately it was the introduction of Wentworth’s Jung Choi which proved too much for the James 3rds. The flamboyant winger found himself in plenty of space as he slotted home his team’s fourth goal to put the game far beyond doubt.
The final whistle couldn’t come fast enough for the James 3rds as they looked to retreat from the pitch in order to ponder over the drubbing they had just received. Wentworth trooped off the pitch to a round of applause; a fitting reward for a fine performance: the final score 4-0.