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Photos: Philip Mourdjis
Halifax 1sts maintained their unbeaten record with a 4-0 win over Derwent 3rds in the final round of group games. On a scorching JLD, Derwent knew that a win would secure their place in the Cup semi-finals, but against a Halifax side who are yet to concede a goal that was a challenging task.
Halifax started the game with only ten men, due to the absence of Tom Day, who arrived late from an exam. An insipid first 25 minutes, saw neither side really impress, but the introduction of Day sparked Halifax into life, as Connor Meckin opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time and Halifax then bagged three more after the interval.
Halifax’s decision to start with only ten men was made even stranger by the virtue that they possessed a substitute in the form of Oli Bull, and the men in white were hindered by Day’s absence as the game meandered by.
The best chance of the early stages fell to Meckin, who fired over from six yards, after the ball fell to him from a corner. At the other end the closest Derwent came was a 35 yard freekick from James Fraser which flew over the bar.
Day’s arrival though sparked Halifax into life, and on 25 minutes Keiran Gennoy almost opened the scoring, when he curled an effort onto the inside of the post. The ball ricocheted clear, only to be whipped back into the box onto the head of Luke Stevenson who directed his effort over the bar.
On the stroke of half-time though Halifax did open the scoring, as Meckin finished off a crisp passing move. Alex Tringham skipped past one defender, and produced a beautiful curling cross, which Meckin stooped to and nodded home from six yards out.
After the break Halifax were vastly improved, and played some of the succulent passing football that we have become accustomed to see, with Ash Daly and Matt Mawdesley dictating play from midfield. Indeed these two linked to double the scoring, Daly whipping a beautiful ball towards the back post, and Mawdesley provided a deft touch to help the ball into the corner and past Ruari Franklin.
Mawdesley then threatened to bag his second when found by a raking pass from Dan Jones. Mawdesley’s control was excellent, but his shot from an angle could only find the side netting.
Overall Franklin had impressed for Derwent, but in the 43rd minute a terrible error gifted Halifax a third. Guy Bowden played a harmless long ball forward towards Franklin, who then proceeded to fumble the ball into the path of Jones who walked the ball home to put the result beyond doubt.
At the other end Jonny Sim was merely a spectator, not having to make a single save in the whole contest. Gennoy then almost added a fourth with a rasping drive, which fizzed narrowly off target with Franklin stranded.
Halifax continued to impress, as another flowing move created a chance for Meckin, who could only blast his shot over from 12 yards. The fourth goal though did arrive on 52 minutes from the penalty spot, as Day slotted home into the bottom right hand corner, after Max Brewer adjudged that the ball had struck the arm of a Derwent defender.
The momentum continued in Halifax’s favour, as Day, Daly and Tringham all had further efforts, but were unable to beat Franklin in the Derwent goal. Regardless Halifax cruise through to the quarter-finals with a 100% record, whilst the defeat leaves Derwent in fourth place in a tantalisingly close group and through to the plate.
After the match Tom Day told Vision: “It wasn’t a vintage performance but we scored a few goals with different scorers. We’ve kept clean sheets all through the group stages and will be looking to continue that form through to the knockouts. Matt Darling will be happy with the result when he finds out.”
Derwent’s stand in captain Christie Welch remarked: “We had four or five key players out, so we had to draft in a couple of fours or fives players, but I think most people were quite impressed with us and our captain will be quite happy with the performance.”
Vision MOTM: Guy Bowden
Where are the photos???