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Photos: Zoe Bennell
Vanbrugh 1sts battled against a strong James 2nds side to come through as 2-0 victor this afternoon in a closely fought contest.
The final score probably flattered Vanbrugh, who were well matched for most of the game by the James outfit, but goals in each half, by Elliot Ross and Keiran O’Dwyer, saw the men in red and blue come out on top.
The win leaves Vanbrugh in pole position in Group Four, all but certain of a place in the Cup knockouts, while James will now have a showdown against Derwent 1sts on Friday week seven to see which makes up the top two.
This game was far from a College Cup classic, despite both teams coming into the game with 100% records this year. Both teams showed signs of what they could do, with some slick passing moves, but these tended to be in neutral areas of the pitch and didn’t trouble either defence.
Both sides had their chances in the first half. The first fell to Rory Sharkey, but Ben Raper came out to smother the Vanbrugh winger run on goal.
Seconds later, James had their first chance, as Kirushanthan Sivagnanam delivered a back post cross for Marwan Hassan, but his header hit the back of the defender and rolled harmlessly away.
O’Dwyer forced some more good work from Raper half-way through the opening period, the James keeper making a good save with his feet after a jinking run by the Vanbrugh midfielder.
In the nineteenth minute, Vanbrugh made the breakthrough. Jon Gill’s long throw-in from the left hit a couple of bodies in the box before falling to Ross at the near post, who blasted past Raper from close range.
It was a game of few clear-cut chances, neither side threatening to run away with things. James had their best chance of the game shortly before the interval. Ameer Alhasan’s long throw-in was met powerfully by the head of Ralph Gill at the near post, but he couldn’t direct it into the back of the net.
James could have a strong claim to have been the better side after Vanbrugh had taken the lead. In the second half they also had their fair share of chances, but neither side really took a stranglehold on the game.
Five minutes into the second period James almost levelled again. This time Alhasan was on free kick duties, his ball to the back post being headed back across goal by Ralph Gill. In the middle, Sivagnanam couldn’t get his first time shot away from a couple of yards out and Vanbrugh managed to get the ball clear.
The next great chance fell to Ross, but his neat finish didn’t count as the referee pulled it back for a clear offside.
Vanbrugh had another great chance minutes later, Jon Gill connecting well with a back-post volley after a deep corner. The James defence held firm, though; the decision to have a defender on the back post paid off as he got a foot to Gill’s shot, deflecting it onto the post and out for another corner.
A minute later saw perhaps the most bizarre moment of the match. Vanbrugh had been on the attack before James gained control of possession. As the ball moved forward, a loud groan was heard back towards the James goal, and Vanbrugh captain Johnny Grout was laid out on the ground holding his shoulder. It appeared that Grout had been upended unintentionally by the referee; he was forced to substitute himself off because of his injury.
After this moment of comedy and confusion, Vanbrugh returned to business, Ross taking another shot which Raper saved well and collected at the second attempt.
As the game entered its last ten minutes James started to apply more consistent pressure. They could have had a penalty for handball with seven minutes to go, but the appeals came more from their rather boisterous support than from the players on the JLD.
James managed to force a couple of moments of disarray in the Vanbrugh box during the closing stages. On one occasion a Vanbrugh attempt to clear their lines was blocked by a James player, and appeared bound to lob into the goal, before descending just over the bar.
And with two minutes left on the clock James were made to pay for not taking their opportunities as Vanbrugh put the game to bed. Sharkey put in a deep corner and with the James defence seemingly asleep, O’Dwyer managed to sneak in unmarked at the back before connecting sweetly with a volley which found the net.
The game ended 2-0, a score line which didn’t really reflect the share of the game James had, but credit must go to Vanbrugh who were more ruthless in front of goal than their opponents, and more resolute in defence.
With only the two 3rds teams left to face, Vanbrugh look odds-on to finish group winners and maintain their 100% record, which could prove crucial in avoiding bigger teams in the next round. For James, their week seven match with Derwent 1sts looks set to be winner-takes-all.