College Cup: Wentworth 2nds 2-1 Vanbrugh 4ths

Vanbrugh 4ths lined up for the opening College Cup fixture just a day after qualifying for the tournament, having beaten Derwent 4ths on penalties after a grueling 1-1 draw.

On paper, their opponents Wentworth 2nds had a look of professionalism about them; lining up with a 4-2-3-1 formation, and even a manager on the touchline. But as fierce winds lashed across the sunny JLD astroturf, tactics went out of the window and players focused on the challenge of keeping the ball on the pitch.

Early moments in a scrappy first half saw Wentworth centre-back Dan Horsfall head wide, and his team-mate Samik Datta fall over the ball after finding himself in a decent position on the left. The first goal however, was Vanbrugh’s: Dom McKinnon-Green received the ball with his back to goal and, in a moment of Bergkamp-like brilliance, flicked it with the outside of his boot, through to strike-partner Ben Huckle, who finished calmly.

A downtrodden Wentworth capitulated, and presented Vanbrugh with several chances in quick succession. McKinnon-Green forced goalkeeper Jon Cook into a skillful save, and then sent a spectacular overhead kick over the bar, following tireless work from James Bugg.

In the second half Vanbrugh continued to press Wentworth; Kimmy Tang-Wright surged down the left and won a corner, which he then sent in for Will Cooper, who hit the base of the base of the post.

But as Vanbrugh pushed forward, and space between the defenders and goalkeeper increased, Samik Datta’s pace threatened more. For the equaliser, Datta flew down the right flank, and opened his body to beat Paul Taylor at the far post with an unorthodox, yet stunning, left-footed finish.

The Vanbrugh team seemed to look hard-done-by, having conceded against the run of play. They almost found a way ahead when a powerful Andy Dakin drive crashed off the crossbar, and minutes later, when another long range Dakin effort found the post, via the hand of Jon Cook.

But it was Wentworth who took the points with a late goal from an unlikely source; full-back Bo Han slotting home from a corner.