Photos: Oliver Todd
| Team | Pld | Pts | GD |
| Vanbrugh 1sts | 5 | 12 | +16 |
| Halifax 2nds | 5 | 12 | +12 |
| James 1sts | 5 | 12 | +11 |
| Wentworth 2nds | 5 | 6 | -5 |
| Goodricke 3rds | 5 | 3 | -9 |
| Vanbrugh 4ths | 5 | 0 | -25 |
Halifax broke James hearts as they created the first major casualty in this years College Cup with a convincing 5-1 victory over Wentworth 2nds. Having watched on as James 1sts had beaten Vanbrugh 4ths 5-2, Halifax knew the task in hand at kick-off, win by 4 goals and the next round beckoned, any less and a place in the plate awaited them.
Halifax opened strongly, seemingly undeterred by their 3-1 loss to Vanbrugh 1sts last week, and opened the scoring early on, Sam Dempster with the goal, heading home from a corner, albeit via a spillage by Wentworth ‘keeper Jon Cook. Halifax continued to press after the early goal, and wasted a couple of chances, in the form of shots by Elliot Ragan and another effort by Dempster. However, it wasn’t to be long until Halifax doubled their lead, Hamish Denham’s effort striking a Wentworth hand, hence leading to referee Joe Broughflower awarding a penalty, which Mark Lund gleefully tucked away into the top corner with aplomb.
Suddenly, Halifax’s target looked achievable, but their confidence was shortlived. Wentworth were unwilling to lie down and be beaten, and got themselves back into the game when a long ball found its way to Lachie Murray, who nudged the ball home past goalkeeper Dean Hanson to shock the ‘fax support into silence. However, it wasn’t to be long before Halifax got back into their side and they entered the break their 2 goal lead restored. This time, Luke Charles shot from 30 yards into the top corner, a quality strike undercelebrated by a Halifax side who knew they still needed more goals. The two teams went in at the break with the score at 3-1.
The second-half commenced with a similar level of tempo, and again Halifax were dominant. Following Hamish Denham rattling the bar early in the half, Charles added his second goal to make it 4-1, this time a headed effort after Tom Patrickson’s flick-on from a corner. Wentworth’s Andy Pratt saw an optimistic effort go wide, but in truth, this second half was all about Halifax 2nds, knowing that they needed just one more goal to oust James 1sts in the race for a place in the quarter-finals on goal difference.
A number of chances went begging. Elliot Ragan, Denham, and Charles all saw efforts saved, but the best was still yet to come. With time beginning to run out, Halifax found that crucial fifth goal. Anton Ellis, on as a substitute, beat his man down the left wing and sent an early cross into the box, where it was met by fellow sub, Ben Rea, sliding in to apply the finish, to the wild celebrations of their supporters on the touchline.
As the full-time whistle blew it was Halifax 2nds who joined Vanbrugh 1sts in the next round, where they will face the runners-up in Group 2, which will be decided tomorrow. An understandably happy and relieved Halifax captain Harry Pearson commented: “our boys did what we needed today. We knew what we needed and that helped give us the impetus, and we dug deep at the end, desperately trying to get it over the line, and we just about managed it in the end”.
Vision MOTM: Mark Lund and Luke Charles were Pearson’s picks, perhaps with Charles edging it due to his vital two goals, particularly his wonderful first.