James kicked off their college football campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Goodricke on the 3G pitch at Heslington East.
Andrew Jopson and James Bryers scored either side of half-time in a game which James controlled for all but a ten minute period in the second half, and they never looked like losing their lead as Goodricke struggled to create any clear-cut chances.
An error of judgement from Goodricke goalkeeper Noel Rodgers gifted James their opener on the half-hour mark. Freddie Ferrao swung in a corner from the right and Rodgers came to catch, only to see the ball sail over his head, leaving Jopson with the simplest of tap-ins to make it 1-0.
Bryers added a well-taken second ten minutes from time. He latched onto a long ball and cleverly flicked the ball over his own head to beat his marker, before lobbing the on-rushing Rodgers to seal the win.
The game had started slowly, with both sides struggling to forge opportunities on a slick 3G surface, but James were able to grow into the game as the half drew on. Freddie Ferrao looked lively in patches and Matt Bainbridge made a couple of well-timed runs into the Goodricke penalty area without being able to find a shot, before Jopson gave James the lead they probably deserved.
Ferrao looked to double his side’s lead two minutes later as he jinked his way past two Goodricke defenders only to see his shot blocked, before Rodgers was forced into two saves from midfielder Ralph Gill late in the half. Both opportunities came courtesy of raking free-kicks; the first from Ferrao which found Gill at the back post, but his headed effort went straight into the arms of Rodgers. The second saw Matt Bainbridge swing in a ball from deep on the right-hand side, which once again found Gill free at the back post. He aimed his header low but Rodgers was level to the effort, and ensured his side went in just one behind at the halfway mark.
James continued in the ascendancy at the start of the second half. Josh Spurling, Ferrao and Bryers linked up well before Rodgers made a simple save from the James forward. They went close again on the hour mark as Matt Bainbridge curled a free-kick towards the top left and produced a sprawling save from Rodgers. Two minutes later they should have doubled their lead. Jopson broke away from his marker and James found themselves three on one. He chose to play in Josh Spurling on his left but he overhit his pass and the chance was spurned.
Ralph Gill struck a long range effort against the post on the hour mark and Bryers forced Rodgers into a routine save minutes later as he turned sharply to get a shot away from the edge of the area, but they were unable to find a second goal. With just 20 minutes remaining Goodricke were able to put a bit a pressure on James for an equaliser, but were still unable to create a real goal scoring opportunity.Herd saw a half-volley fly well over the bar, before Osbourne tested Luke Bradley with a long range effort. The James ‘keeper spilled the initial shot, but managed to gather the ball just in front of the onrushing Goodricke striker Rob Young with the goal gaping.
Bryers put the game beyond doubt on 80 minutes with his cool finish, with Goodricke’s only remaining chance coming courtesy of a Young free-kick which was easy for Bradley. “It was a good game, I think we were on top throughout the game,” said James captain Josh Spurling. “We tried to play football and we got the result we wanted so I’m happy.”
“We matched them for 90 minutes but let them knock in a couple of goals,” said Goodricke captain Dave Bullock. “We’ll try and do well for the year, we just need to keep up the work rate.”