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Photos: Helen Leech
Ryan Gwinnett scored an 89th minute winner as Derwent completed a stunning comeback victory over Vanbrugh to put themselves on the brink of winning the 2012 Autumn Term League.
The fresher, who was making only his second appearance for the college, slammed home emphatically from close range to cap a ruthless second half display from Derwent.
Vanbrugh seemed to be in control at half time as a Phil Taylor penalty and a poacher’s goal from Rob Rix gave them a 2-0 lead.
However, Dan Atherton inspired Derwent after the break as the winger scored twice, including a spectacular goal straight from a corner kick, before carving out the opportunity for Gwinnett’s late winner.
The result means that Derwent must avoid defeat in their next match against James on Wednesday to confirm themselves as champions and retain the title they won last year. James must beat Alcuin tomorrow and any hopes of Vanbrugh or Wentworth claiming top spot have been eliminated.
The last meeting between these two sides came in last year’s epic College Cup semi-final, in which Vanbrugh emerged victorious on penalties. Today’s encounter lived up to its pre-match expectations as both sides knew that a win was vital.
The conditions were just about perfect for the players on the 3G surface; a welcome change from the rain and snow in previous weeks which has caused numerous cancellations.
Vanbrugh began the stronger of the two sides, moving the ball around quickly and efficiently, pulling the Derwent defenders out of position.
And the perfect opportunity came after only six minutes when Taylor was chopped down just inside the area by a reckless slide tackle from Mirhire Overo-Tarimo. The striker made no mistake from the spot as he drilled the penalty home, sending Franklin the wrong way.
Vanbrugh’s midfield trio of Callum Woodall, Johnny Grout and Harry O’Brien did not allow Sam Earle and Mike Whittall any licence to play, but from around the 25-minute mark Derwent grew into the game, and were unfortunate not to draw level.
After a Gwinnett shot was blocked by Matt Graham, Whittall contrived to drag his shot just wide from the angle with just Wilson to beat. Two minutes later, David Kirk wasted his side’s best opportunity as he smashed a shot against the crossbar from a central position, after Earle was strongly tackled by Rix.
Derwent were made to pay for such wastefulness after 34 minutes, when the referee awarded a free kick for Overo-Tarimo’s foul on Taylor on the edge of the area. Sharkey’s shot rebounded off the crossbar and Rix, sporting a stylish pair of grey leggings, reacted faster than Franklin to tap in.
Despite enjoying less possession than Derwent, who were forced to thrust their full backs further forward in search of a route back into the game, Vanbrugh continued to carve out chances on the counter-attack.
Captain Grout drove into the Derwent penalty area down the right before pulling the ball back to an unmarked Taylor, whose scuffed effort was beaten away by Franklin.
Another fantastic chance for a third Vanbrugh goal presented itself to Kieran O’Dwyer, but the midfielder’s header from Sharkey’s cross was superbly saved by Franklin, fully-stretched to his right.
Somehow, though, Derwent stemmed the Vanbrugh threat and began to command proceedings as they had midway through the first half.
On the hour mark, they were given a lifeline as Earle marauded into the area and, after the midfielder was tackled, Atherton pounced with a beautiful curling shot into the bottom corner.
Derwent had their tails up and pushed harder for an equaliser, while Vanbrugh began to sit deeper. Kirk flashed an effort just wide from the edge of the area before Atherton bagged his second goal in spectacular style to make it 2-2.
His corner from the left was hit with such curl and venom that the ball flew over the head of Wilson and nestled in the far corner to the amazement of everybody on the pitch.
Vanbrugh tried to respond in some way, but Derwent, pressing hard in midfield, snuffed out any further threats.
With seven minutes left, Atherton, on a hat-trick, almost sealed victory as his bending shot was brilliantly saved by Wilson, and Overo-Tarimo’s towering header flew just over from the resulting corner.
The third goal was on the cards and it arrived with just one minute left. The superb Atherton tricked his way past Graham and O’Brien on the right, found Kirk, who flicked the ball to the unmarked Gwinnett, and the fresher had time and space to blast home the winner.
It was a devastating blow to Vanbrugh, who had no time to find a response, and Derwent sealed their incredible comeback.
After the match, captain Kirk told Vision: “We started slowly and gave them a two-goal lead, but I’ll praise Dan Atherton for his goals.” On Gwinnett, he added: “We’ve nurtured him and he’s a top player.”
Meanwhile, a philosophical Grout said: “We started really well and I think we deserved to be up at half time. At the start of the second half we had some really good chances, but then we lost our shape. They played really well and deserved to nick it at the end.”
Vision MOTM: Dan Atherton
As it stands – Autumn Term League table:
