Halifax 1sts gave themselves the opportunity to defend their title as College Cup champions as they held off a strong second half comeback to defeat a weakened James 1sts 2-1 and set up a final with Vanbrugh 1sts next week.
The two sides had two opposing tales of their tournaments to this point. James, who had started so strongly in the groups, found themselves faltering in recent weeks whilst Halifax started with a disastrous defeat to James 2nds before kicking on at the right time to propel themselves into the final once again.
First half goals from Matt Mawdesley and Hamish Denham had put Halifax in a comfortable position before Josh Brownlow’s goal on 40 minutes turned the tides. Despite missing the tournament leading-scorer Tom Clarke, as well as Josh Spurling, Oscar Lynch and Angel Sahi, James dominated the final 20 minutes but could not find the all important goal to turn around ‘Fax’s first half superiority.
The game started in a lively manner, with James Davies marauding through the Halifax half and firing off a long range effort that was matched by Jonny Sim, and Mawdesley almost finding Beadle in the James area with a through ball inside the opening minutes.
Baxter then headed over at the far post following a Davies free-kick that found its way over the head of Sim before Tom Day almost found himself through on goal at the other end following a mistake from Matt Bainbridge.
James Davies was finding large amounts of space for James and he posed a threat throughout. He almost created his side an opener when he paced through the Halifax midfield with another mazy run from the halfway line before playing James Offord through on goal. However, Jonny Sim pulled out an excellent stop to deny Offord from just a few yards out.
The save was made all the more meaningful minutes later as Halifax opened the scoring at the other end. Matt Mawdesley sent his looping header from a corner over Bradley and into the top right hand corner to make it 1-0 13 minutes in.
The goal spurred ‘Fax on and the champions smelled blood. A curling long range effort from Alex Reid thumped against the crossbar with Bradley beaten before they doubled their lead through Hamish Denham.
An excellent whipped ball from Gio Pilides from the right was placed perfectly for the onrushing Denham, and the big Halifax forward powered a header back across goal and into the bottom right to make it 2-0 and put Halifax right in the ascendancy.
They ended the half strongly with Mawdesley glancing a header from a Denham long throw wide before Tom Patrickson had another cleared off the line on the stroke of half-time.
Halifax continued to look comfortable in the early stages of the second half, with Mawdesley and Pilides dominating proceedings in the middle of the park.
They had a chance to put the game to bed five minutes into the half when Gio Pilides was brought down 20 yards out and Ash Daly lined up a free-kick, but he struck his effort straight into the grateful arms of Luke Bradley.
Five minutes later however Josh Brownlow’s goal changed the outlook of the game. Freddie Ferrao beat two Halifax defenders and squeezed his way into the area before laying the ball back to James Offord. Offord was once again denied by Sim from close range but the Halifax ‘keeper couldn’t hold it and Brownlow tapped in the simplest of rebounds to make it 2-1 and give his side 20 minutes to turn the game around.
The back swans sensed a comeback. They had Halifax rattled and introduced a sense of urgency into their game that had the champions worried.
James Offord almost put Davies in before some excellent work from the same player almost gave his side a stunning equaliser.
Davies put in yet another penetrative run from inside his own half before playing a one-two with Freddie Ferrao and finding himself through on goal with just Sim to beat. Halifax once again had their goalkeeper to thank for retaining their lead however, and Sim narrowed the angle and stood strong to parry Davies’ effort away.
Richard Baxter came close with a diving header from the resulting corner and with time ticking away James’ efforts to produce an equaliser looked more and more unlikely.
They were resigned to defeat when Halifax were dubiously awarded an indirect free-kick just outside the James area for a pass-back, from which Bradley palmed away Matt Mawdesley’s strike to the sound of the final whistle.
“I’m delighted with our performance” said Halifax captain Jack Beadle. “It’s the best we’ve played. We were quality today. That’s six in a row now. We’ve come here to defend our title and now we have the chance to do that.”
Vision MOTM: Matt Mawdesley
Get in Mawdo lad, fax on the march again.