Wentworth 1sts 2- 1 Alcuin 2nds
A pair of late goals from Lachie Murray helped Wentworth 1sts fight back from a 1-0 deficit and book their place in the quarter finals. The defeat signalled an official end to Alcuin’s chances of reaching the Cup’s knockout round.
In a half of few chances, Dom Green, Wentworth’s attacking figure head, had the best of the early chances when he managed to shake off his marker and connect with a well directed header from team mate Andy Suggitt. However the Alcuin defence were quick to act and in the rush Green miscued the shot and struck the bar.
Wentworth kept up the pressure on Alcuin and it was thanks to the safe hands of ‘keeper David Ambrozejczyk that the Reds stayed in the game. Alcuin kept their composure and waited patiently for their chance. This finally arrived towards the end of the first half when striker Alex Brown was played through on goal and found himself with plenty of space. Amid Wentworth’s cries of offside Brown attempted to push the ball across the goal face and into the bottom corner but despite beating ‘keeper Matt Taylor the ball ended up drifting harmlessly wide: a moment of great relief for a Wentworth side that were yet to find any rhythm to the game.
After the restart Alcuin wasted no time in making Wentworth pay for their poor start. Brown played a superb pass on the turn bamboozled the Wentworth defense and set Thomas Gibby free. A clinical finish followed and all of a sudden Wentworth’s hopes of reaching the knockout round was hanging in the balance.
Wentworth were clearly shaken by the goal and looked clumsy as Alcuin sought to extend their lead. Alcuin nearly capitalized on their ascendency when Gibby was brought down by a rough challenge from behind by Heiner Janus. Matt Stopforth stepped up to take the free kick which was whipped across the box, it was only ‘keeper Taylor’s quick reactions that denied Brown the chance to double Alcuin’s lead.
Wentworth quickly rallied round and was soon back level after a tidy pass by Samik Datta found Lachie Murray in the box. Murray proceeded to dispatch the shot with a very cool finish to bring the scoreline back to 1-1.
With chances at either end the game could so easily have gone either way in a passionate final five minutes which saw ‘keeper Ambrozejczyk booked for dissent after referee Matt Hallam adjudged him to have been time-wasting. In the end it was Wentworth who took home a very valuable three points after Murray, once again, popped up to nod in a corner in the dying seconds of the game and make the score 2-1.
A dejected Alcuin trooped off the pitch eliminated from the Cup competition though they have a very good chance of impressing in the College Plate. Wentworth left the game safe in the knowledge that they had done all they could to secure qualification.
Goodricke 1sts 4-0 Derwent 2nds
Derwent took to the pitch knowing that only a win could cause an upset and send them through to the quarter finals; for Goodricke, having already qualified, the game was simply a matter of pride.
Goodricke captain Dave Coupland went close within seconds of the kick-off with a shot that went high and wide. It was an unheeded warning to Derwent who spent much of the game being outclassed by a stronger and more skillful Goodricke side.
Coupland, who spent much time in the centre of his team’s attack, dispatched a respectable pass to find Nick Dheir just outside the Derwent area. Dheir chose to rather unselfishly pass over the opportunity to a lurking Eddie Silson. Unfortunately Silson’s shot rocketed over the bar.
Derwent were the latest team to lament the impenetrable ability of Goodricke’s back four as they were restricted to shots from distance. That’s not to say they were totally toothless: Goodricke were left with some concerns after a stunning 20 yard strike from Derwent’s Matt O’Conner forced an impressive save from Ed Foster.
Goodricke soon put their profligacy behind them after Dan Yorke made it 1-0 with a simple header at the far post when he found Sam Lewis’ cross. Eddie Silson was then on hand to make it 2-0 when Coupland crossed from the left flank to find him with acres of space in the Derwent box. A simple finish left Derwent’s spectators shaking their heads at such a soft goal.
The half time introduction of Ben Smith at the expense of cross-over player Nick Dheir gave a new attacking dimension to Goodricke and suggested that the men in green wanted to silence the critics of their forward line. The substitution paid off when a wonderful, inch-perfect ball from Silson spread play and found Smith on far post who charged the ball into the back of the net.
Moments later Goodricke nearly scored again, this time it was the turn of towering centre back Chris Grayland whose header was cleared off the line by defender Joe Boughtflower. However Grayland was not to be deterred and minutes later proved his worth to the team when he powered in a header from Smith’s corner to make the score 4-0. Derwent objected to the goal, telling the referee Dan Hewitt that the ‘keeper had been fouled in the build-up but Hewitt stood his ground and allowed the goal to stand much to the frustration of Derwent.
In the final moments Coupland came close to scoring the goal of the tournament as he flicked the ball round a defender only to hit the subsequent volley just inches wide.
The full-time score was 4-0 in a comprehensive Goodricke victory which placed them top of the group. Derwent were sentenced to a run in the College Plate as they came so very close to entering the Cup quarter finals.