College Cup: Wentworth 3rds 3-2 Alcuin 2nds

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Photos: Vivan Jayant

As Europe stood on the brink of Euro 2012, the two teams playing out the final group game in this year’s College Cup knew that this would be the last game of their season.

Alcuin who sat a point above their rivals, started the game the brighter. Right wing Bugeja who usually finds himself in goal got an early shot in. Wentworth’s keeper Captain Cook was ever present again to deny a one-on-one opportunity straight after.

Alcuin went close again, Hargreaves scuffing his shot when played through on goal. Minutes later though, his strike partner, Scholz, found space in the box to hammer in a pull back from a Budeja cross.

Wentworth though had provided plenty of opportunities themselves before Alcuin’s opening. Samit Dahta’s pace had caused trouble on the Alcuin defence through out the opening stages.

However, it was through a well-weighted free kick that saw Wentworth come back into the game. After a haphazard Lev Harris challenge, the post-grads chipped in the free kick which veteran Dan Horsfall did well to get his head to. The ball fell to teammate Bruce Rawlings who hooked it in at the back post to level the tie before halftime.

The start of the second half saw Wentworth keep the ball on the floor, destroying any of Alcuin’s rhythm in the game, but create little chances of their own.

The game played out under a grey sky was to be sparked into life by Wentworth’s striker, Beacham. The post-grad sporting swimming shorts, hit the ball speculatively from 30 yards which Alcuin 1st regular keeper Burge let slip through his fingers.

Their ‘keeper’s howler threw Alcuin into an immediate response. Scholz who had worked the ball down the right crossed to find fellow striker Hargreaves who finished expertly to level the tie.

The scores were not level long though. In the following Wentworth attack, Samit Dahta wriggled through the Alcuin defence before having his shirt tugged leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Beecham stepped up and sent Burge the wrong way to put Wentworth into the lead.

Alcuin thought they had found a way back into this dramatic game. Oliver Degerstadt hitting only the side netting from a corner. Before Nazzione won a free-kick in a promising position but his effort drifted agonizingly over to all but end any chance of a fightback.

The 3-2 end result which gave Wentworth 3rd their first ever points in a College cup game, owed much to the communication between their back four. Captain Cook speaking after the game felt the hard-fought victory was “just awards for Wentworth spirited efforts in this tournament”.

Whilst Alcuin 2nd captain Billimore who sees his team end up bottom of Group 4 felt ’embarrassed’ over the result and his team’s ‘dire’ campaign.

Vision MOTM: Left Back Scigliano. Worked his flank beautifully choosing the right moments to combine with the attack and being ever reliable when called upon in defence.