A late Callum Woodall penalty rescued a point for Vanbrugh against a determined Alcuin side, as for the second week running they had to fight from a goal behind to salvage a draw.Alcuin opened the scoring after 34 minutes through Graham Kimber, but a second half resurgence saw Vanbrugh seal a deserved equaliser in the 89th minute after Adam Lewis had been brought down in the area by Harry Billimore.
Vanbrugh started the encounter brightly, Elliot Ross forcing a save from Alcuin ‘keeper David Marshall low down to his left. The wet and muddy 22 Acres pitch was not conducive to attractive passing football, but both teams attempted to move the ball around crisply. One pleasing Alcuin move saw Danny Matthews pull a shot wide of the post, after being fed by Kimber. Moments later Kimber came closer to opening the scoring as he placed a shot inches wide of the far post after a slip by Matt Graham. The same player soon drew a challenging save from James Wilson, as he rounded off a free flowing passing move with a powerful shot goalbound, which was deflected off a Vanbrugh leg.
Vanbrugh’s main threat was coming from Rory Sharkey and Ross down the left wing. Gradually both teams settled into the game, and clear-cut chances became a rare commodity with both defences looking increasingly solid. However after 34 minutes, Alcuin, who had enjoyed the greater share of possession and looked a stronger side than during last year’s College Cup quarter-final, took the lead. Greg Fearn whipped a dangerous freekick into the area from 30 yards out, and Kimber diverted the ball past Wilson with his outstretched right boot to hand his side a deserved lead. Another Fearn freekick was unconvincingly dealt with moments later, as set pieces proved a constant threat.
In the closing stages of the half, a reckless challenge on Ross earned Alcuin captain Chris Boyd a booking and handed a freekick to Vanbrugh on the edge of the area. Sharkey wasted the opportunity though, curling his effort harmlessly over the bar. As the half time whistle sounded, Alcuin’s performance justified their lead.
The second half saw a revitalised Vanbrugh team emerge, and they immediately started in lively fashion. However the early chances fell to Alcuin as Matthews turned sweetly before cutting the ball back for Kimber, whose shot scuttled wide. The middle of the park proved to be an excellent battle with Will Dodgson and Fearn matching their Vanbrugh counterparts Woodall and captain Johnny Grout. Kimber had been one of Alcuin’s most influential players, but on 53 minutes he spurned a gilt-edged chance to double his side’s advantage. James Homer slid a lovely ball through to Kimber, who was free of the last defender, yet his finish verged on laughable as his attempted chip dribbled hopelessly wide of the post.
The miss was almost immediately punished as Marshall made a shocking error, dropping a simple Woodall freekick, but Adam Lewis somehow managed to put his shot over the bar from three yards, when it appeared easier to score. Marshall though avenged for his mistake with a fine save from Ross minutes later, after the Vanbrugh forward made a surging burst down the left flank. Vanbrugh began to pile on the pressure as they went in search of an equaliser, Lewis heading a John Sanderson corner wide of the far post.
Alcuin’s back four continued to be equal to the challenge, remaining resolute throughout with full backs Luca Nazzicone and Chris Houlgate particularly impressing. Grout almost equalised with a quarter of an hour remaining as his fizzed shot clipped the outside of the post with Marshall beaten. The pressure continued to build on Alcuin, and Fearn was booked for a rash tackle, one of many strong challenges in a feisty encounter.Sharkey had another shot deflected over the bar, whilst at the other end Matthews threatened the Vanbrugh defence with a burst of pace, which saw him find half a yard to unleash a vicious shot off target.
Alcuin substitute Josh Allen was then set free by Matthews, and as he rounded Wilson, the keeper clipped his heels. Yet Allen honestly stayed on his feet, only to be denied the chance to unfurl a shot by some last ditch defending. As time ticked down, Vanbrugh finally got their reward for all of their efforts, Adam Lewis’ persistence winning a penalty after he was fouled by the otherwise imperious Billimore.In the 89th minute Woodall stepped up to take the penalty, and crashed his effort against the underside of the crossbar. The ball bounced down, and was adjudged to have crossed the line by referee Rob Longley, despite the vehement protestations of Marshall and his fellow Alcuin players. Seven minutes of injury time were played, but neither side could produce the decisive winner.
Alcuin’s Boyd told Vision: “I’m really pleased with how we played, we battled well. Credit to Vanbrugh as well for their determination in the second half.”
Vanbrugh’s Grout summed the game up excellently saying: “They outplayed us in the first half. In the second half we were unlucky not to win it though. In the end a draw was a fair result.”
When Marshall dropped the ball it wasn’t me who took the shot, it was Max Brewer who knocked it over the bar