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Photos: TK Rohit
Wentworth 1sts made it two postgraduate teams into the semi-finals of the Plate, with a commanding 3-1 victory over a depleted Vanbrugh 2nds team.
Vanbrugh were missing players through injury and unavailability, but take nothing away from Wentworth, who put in a superb performance and were deserving winners.
Colin Hill made an early save to deny a hooked effort from Paul O’Bierne, but with roughly ten minutes gone, Wentworth opened the scoring as Dan Bawdon capped off an excellent move by firing home past Tom Williams.
Bawdon almost doubled his account soon after, but this time Williams refused to be beaten, clawing the ball away. Wentworth were edging a competitive contest, whilst at the back Selahattin Kosunalp and Mutlu Cukurova were denying Vanbrugh any clear chances.
Out of the blue, though, Vanbrugh equalised through a stunning individual goal. Callum Priest picked up the ball 20 yard out, found some space, and fired an effort into the bottom corner, leaving Colin Hill no chance.
The scoreline remained level until half time, but early in the second half, the industrious Dom Green almost restored Wentworth’s lead. Firstly he had a long range shot comfortably held by Green, then he fluffed a great chance, by trying to cheekily lob Williams from close range, when blasting the ball into the back of the net seemed an easier option.
At the other end, John Sanderson cut in from the right and drilled an effort on target, but only into the arms of the grateful Hill, whilst Parish nodded a corner goalbound, but was once more denied by the keeper.
The pace and power of Lachlan Murray was causing a constant threat for the Vanbrugh defence, as his surging runs down the right wing terrorised their backline. Midway through the half, Wentworth found themselves back in front, courtesy of a stinging volley by Jonathan Hiley, which fizzed into the top corner, leaving Williams helpless.
The goal gave the postgraduate team added confidence, and they began to assert their dominance over the game. Kearney struck an effort wide, before skipper Wayne Paes put them two goals ahead, by superbly placing his shot into the bottom corner, after being fed by the impressive Bawdon.
Bawdon almost added a fourth, as he latched onto a Dom Green flicked header, but once more he was denied by Williams. Credit to Vanbrugh they never gave up, and continued to push for a goal to get them back into the game. However this was made even more challenging by excellent performances by Paes and Greg Kearney in the centre of midfield.
Paes particularly impressed with his range of passing, and led by example, as his team closed out a 3-1 victory to seal their place in the semi-finals. On the basis of this performance they will prove formidable opponents in the future rounds, and have a realistic chance of winning the Plate competition.
After the match, a delighted Paes commented: “It was a stunning performance, we rekindled the sort of display from the Derwent game in the groups, I’m delighted. Our aim now is to go on and win the Plate, and we’re looking good at the moment”.
Unsurprisingly Vanbrugh captain Paul O’Bierne was devastated with the loss, and told Vision: “We weren’t good enough today. It’s difficult when we’ve got so many players missing, it was a good effort though, I can’t fault that”.
Vision MOTM: Dan Bawdon