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Photos: Valeria Vallone
Derwent left it late as they sneaked a 1-0 win over Goodricke 1sts this afternoon to set up a College Cup semi-final with James 3rds on Monday. Dave Belshaw scored the decisive goal seven minutes from time to ensure Derwent’s progression in a game which had up to then seemed destined for penalties.
Belshaw came to Derwent’s rescue, blasting home from close range after Tom Brandreth’s header had been cleared off the line.
Goodricke had been resolute in defence but were finally breached, leading to jubilant celebrations from the men in black and blue. In truth, they had numerous opportunities to put the game to bed earlier but a mixture of wasteful shooting and staunch defence kept the score 0-0 until the Belshaw’s moment of magic.
The game kicked off in good conditions, though it didn’t take long for the heavens to open, and most of the match was played in intermittent sunshine and rain showers.
The two best chances of the first half from open play fell to David Kirk, both forcing goal-line clearances from the men in green. The first saw his header loop past onrushing keeper Zain Karbani, before being hooked away by Will Ward. The second time, Kirk’s shot was intercepted by Stu Dunk before crossing the line.
Still, Derwent should have led thanks to a penalty in the first half. Kirk turned Ward inside the area before being dragged to the deck by the Goodricke centre back. Captain Ollie Harrison stepped up, but his penalty, which went just to the right of centre, was saved by Karbani to keep the scores level.
Goodricke’s only real chance of the half fell to Joe Mann, but his curled shot from range floated harmlessly into the grasp of Derwent keeper Frank Woodcock.
The second half saw more Derwent pressure, but they struggled to convert it into a goal. Kirk had two great chances – one a header from a corner which went over the bar and the second a staggering miss at the back post from less than five yards after Alex D’Albertanson’s terrific cross.
Meanwhile, with ten minutes to go, Harrison almost made up for his earlier error with a delightful cross which evaded everybody in the box, and just missed going inside the back post.
But it wasn’t to matter, as some great interplay led by Joe Easter set up another Derwent attack. The corner was headed powerfully by Brandreth, hitting a green body on the line. The ball fell kindly for Belshaw, but he still had to make sure his shot got past the defenders on the line, which he did with aplomb.
Goodricke had a little over five minutes to get back into the game and force penalties, but didn’t fashion a gilt-edged chance. The closest they came was a ball over the top to Mann, who appeared through on goal, before being given for a marginal offside.
When the final whistle went, the emotion from Derwent had more than a hint of relief to it. They now stand as favourites to reach the final. Goodricke go home to Heslington East.