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Photos: Tom Wooldridge
Vanbrugh 3rds survived a nervous end to the game as they deservedly scraped through to the semi-finals of the Plate 1-0 at the expense of Derwent 3rds.
Vanbrugh’s goal came in comical fashion – Tom Fisher’s corner finding its way past Colclough in the Derwent goal without any further touch when the ‘keeper really should have done better.
Vanbrugh dominated the game, with Derwent failing to create any chances until late on, but they were at times sloppy in the final third. They failed to take several goal scoring opportunities and were lucky that they weren’t left to rue their misses after Derwent’s late resurgence.
Vanbrugh almost took the lead early on but Adam Lewis could not turn in a dangerous ball across the box from Priest.
Seb Knight then headed wide from a corner before Fisher’s kick sailed straight into the net to leave Colclough red faced and Vanbrugh 1-0 up.
Lewis came close again when he chased a ball down the left and did well to beat Burke, only to fire a tame strike straight at Colclough.
The same player then spurned another opportunity after once again doing well to get his shot off. The big forward took the ball round Carroll but poked wide with the outside of his foot from just a few yards out.
Perhaps the best chance of them all, however, fell to Callum Priest on the stroke of half-time. Tom Fisher whipped the ball in from the right hand side and Priest found himself with a free header. However, he couldn’t guide his effort past Colclough and the Derwent ‘keeper saved comfortable when Priest really should have doubled his side’s lead.
Vanbrugh continued to be on top in the second half, though derwent did have the ball in the net early on as a Matt Jenkins long throw found its way in but without any further touch.
Vanbrugh’s Seb Knight, whose marauding runs from centre-back caused Derwent problems throughout, and he had a powerful long range strike deflected behind early in the half, before he and Howell both had efforts blocked from the resulting corner.
Priest and Lewis then both missed chances before Derwent were almost gifted an equaliser as the Vanbrugh defence switched off.
Welch was left completely unmarked inside the area from a free-kick and Jenkins fed him the ball. Welch couldn’t get anything on his shot however, and the ball went harmlessly through to Williams in the Vanbrugh goal when Welch should have at least hit the target.
Vanbrugh then missed an even simpler chance to double their lead, with Lewis again the culprit. Mason crossed well from the right and with Colclough out of position, Lewis found himself with a free-header and the goal gaping. The Vanbrugh striker couldn’t direct his header on target however, and their lead remained fragile.
Derwent pushed for a late equaliser. Eyles missed an excellent chance and Glassar fired a long range effort high and wide but they couldn’t get any closer than that, the referee calling time on the game much to the relief of the Vanbrugh support.
“It was a cracking performance,” said Vanbrugh captain Mark Lajca after the game. “It was a bit tense at the end but we were in control for the majority of the game. We ground out the win and we’re happy with it. Onto the next round.”