Photos: Katy Roberts
Vanbrugh 2nds played out a comfortable and expected victory against Wentworth 3rds in ever-changing weather conditions, running out 3-0 winners on a sodden JLD.
They took the lead early on. Centre-back Tom Ostler had already sent a header from a corner narrowly over the bar when Max Poynter-Hall, dynamic down the Vanbrugh right in their attacking 4-2-4 formation, put past Humberto Orango in the Wentworth goal to make it 1-0.
Vanbrugh were well on top in the early stages, and when Wentworth did get forward they really struggled to create any clear-cut chances. All the action was coming in the Wentworth half; Lewis’ glancing header was cleared off the line after Jon Gill’s long throw and then another ball hurled into the area by the same man was headed just over by Dan Radford.
Soon, Vanbrugh had their second. A burst of pace from Adam Lewis down the right hand side allowed him to get into the area drive the ball across goal. Sam Taylor was there to emphatically slam the cross into the back of the net.
Lewis had a chance to score himself after a cheeky backheeled flick from a Poynter-Hall cross went inches wide of the upright. Wentworth then found themselves in a decent scoring position. The ball ricocheted around the Vanbrugh box as they failed to clear their lines, but no Wentworth player could find the time or space to get a shot in, and the scores stayed at 2-0 going into half-time.
Wentworth started the second-half much improved, putting more pressure on the Vanbrugh defence and turning the game into a more even contest, but they still struggled to create much in the form of goal-scoring opportunities. Midfielder Alex Jones saw his powerful drive from 20 yards fly just over the bar before Vanbrugh once again taught them the importance of being clinical and made it 3-0.
Vanbrugh substitute Ben Kirkby made a run into the Wentworth area and drew Arango towards him. He selflessly laid the ball off to Adam Lewis to his left, allowing the striker to finish calmly into an open goal with the ‘keeper stranded. Despite the welcome appearance of the sun, with this goal, any faint chance of a Wentworth recovery was ruined.
They had a chance to pull a goal back through a Samir header that flashed just wide of the post, before Lewis and Kirkby both came close at the other end. Wentworth striker Ant Woodhead then volleyed over the bar late on but by this point it would hardly have been a game changer.
The final whistle soon blew and Vanbrugh left the points with the 3 points they would have fully expected. ‘‘It was a comfortable win but we can be more efficient with out play’’, said Kallum Taylor when questioned on his side’s display. ‘’There were some good performances from some individual players’’.
Vision MOTM: Max Poynter-Hall