College Cup: Goodricke 2nds 2-0 Halifax 3rds

Two first-half strikes from Thomas and Captain Alex Hurd proved enough to ensure Goodricke’s advancement to the Cup’s latter stages.

It was Halifax, however, who made the brighter start, a header from Ben Smith being saved by Tom Neill early on.

Yet soon, the tables had turned and, after a few forays into opposition territory, Goodricke were 1-0 up; Mizan Ally laying off Thomas whose effort was deflected into the bottom left corner.

Halifax then had two long-distance efforts at the Goodricke goal but neither Kieran Gennoy nor Captain John Wallace could hit the target.

Goodricke then had two opportunities to extend their advantage. First, a Joe Mann cross was headed over the top by Hurd before Sam Astbury cannoned another header into the bar from an Ally corner.

A few minutes later, Goodricke finally made this pressure count, Mann passing the ball to Hurd at the edge of the box who opened up his body before slotting the ball neatly into the bottom right corner.

Halifax then had a half-chance to equalise just before half-time, but Ben Smith, who was being rapidly closed down, could only find the side-netting after he was played in by Gennoy.

In the first few minutes of the second period, Goodricke had a half-chance to extend their advantage, but Joe Mann’s cross-shot from an Astbury long ball could only find the side netting.

Not much later, Halifax’s Sean Cole also could find the side-netting, after he was played in by Wallace.

Halifax then enjoyed a spell of dominance in the Goodricke half.

A Gennoy free-kick flashed across the face of goal and Jonny McGuinness volleyed a Cole cross wide of the mark.

Goodricke were then gifted another opportunity to extend their lead, Gennoy mis-hitting a clearance straight into the path of Hurd. Yet, the Goodricke Captain drove his effort wide of the mark.

Halifax then went on to have another spell of dominance in the Goodricke half.

Wallace almost scored with a spectacular over-head kick from a Daniel Aindow free-kick but his effort was turned round the post by Neill.

He then proceeded to fire a long-range strike over the bar before McGuinness and Joey Knott both struck efforts wide of the mark, the latter courtesy of a deflection.

Post match, Goodricke Captain Alex Hurd expressed his pleasure at his side’s performance: “We were really disciplined today and everyone worked well for each other. It was a really big game. I’m over the moon that we’ve qualified.”

Meanwhile, Halifax Captain John Wallace commented: “we played some nice football today and had the vast majority of possession. However, they had the vast majority of chances of early on and, to give them credit, they put up a really good defensive display.”

Vision MOTM: Sam Astbury. He was a rock at the back today, winning every header and restricting Halifax to long-range efforts.