College Football: James 4-2 Alcuin

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Photos: Oliver Todd

A bitty but open contest saw clinical striker James Bryers net a hat-trick to help James see off Alcuin on Saturday morning.

James went 3-0 up on the hour mark before a spirited fightback saw Alcuin pull two goals back; the latter from the penalty spot. But all hope of a magnificent comeback was lost when Bryers headed in Freddie Ferrao’s floated corner, capping his match-winning performance with a third.

Alcuin captain Bradley Wood called for a “disciplined game” as his side took to the field for the first time since demolishing Langwith 6-0 last week. James would prove to be a very different test, though, as their teamwork and fluid approach clashed with Alcuin’s gifted individuals.

It wasn’t long before Alcuin threatened; with just twenty seconds played Josh Allen tore down the left and pulled a precise pass back for the Peter Crouch-like Alex Brown. The lanky forward scuffed his shot as it trickled painfully wide of the post, missing out on an early lead.

Ten minutes later Alcuin came forward again. This time, a well-timed cross from right back Chris Houlgate was met by Harry Billamore’s firm header, and the ball narrowly whistled over.

Alcuin goalkeeper Boyd was enjoying a fairly quiet opening, but after twenty minutes James broke the deadlock with their first meaningful attack. After the looping ball dipped into Boyd’s six yard box, he tried to claw it away to safety. But despite his best efforts, the goalkeeper was beaten by James Bryers, whose header rippled the back of the net and put Alcuin behind.

And James looked to double their advantage moments later as a strong challenge from Spurling set up an opportunity for Brownlow, but before his strike nestled into the corner of the goal, an offside had already been called by the referee.

The match continued to become more entertaining, and another chance for James went begging. St George was found unmarked in the area but his effort cannoned off the bar.

Nevertheless, James did grab a second just minutes before half time. Freddie Ferrao volleyed in a deep cross from the left and the ball flew past Boyd. Josh Allen, who went down in the build-up to James’ second goal, was becoming increasingly frustrated with his side’s poor defending, and this annoyance was having an effect on his fellow teammates.

After the break, Alcuin were caught napping again as they gifted James a free kick on the right flank, about thirty yards from goal. After a scramble in the box, Bryers seized his second and James’ third as he nudged the ball past the goalkeeper and Brad Wood on the line.

And that should have been that. James were three up and Alcuin looked knackered, but football, it is widely recognised, never goes to plan. A header narrowly wide from Leonidas Kanonis and then a good save from Kirkwood in the James goal foreshadowed Alcuin’s brave response.

And despite Houlgate having to go off injured, leaving Alcuin with only ten men for the final thirty minutes, they grabbed a lifeline. Jacob Scholz smashed in a loose ball in the area to bring the score back to 3-1.

The men in red were not finished there. A superb stop from Kirkwood from a low Pickering drive counted for nothing after Kanonis was bundled over in the box. Kanonis struck the penalty low and hard to beat the goalkeeper and increase hope of at least a draw.

But Bryers completed his hat-trick five minutes from time as he headed in a bullet from Freddie Ferrao’s corner.

James’ captain, midfielder Richard Baxter, said: “We should have had two penalties and we couldn’t pick a pass with any conviction because of the pitch. But we battled really well, and everyone gave one hundred per cent.”

Vision MOTM: James Bryers