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Photos: Jack Western
Halifax ensured their place in Sunday’s varsity qualifiers final as they settled a tight encounter with Derwent in a dramatic penalty shootout. Halifax ‘keeper Johnny Sim was the hero, saving Sam Weighall’s tame penalty to send the men in white into raptuous celebrations.
The match itself was also a close affair which was somewhat dominated by the exceptionally windy conditions on the 3G. Any attempts to play with an aerial threat were extinguished immediately, as short passing to feet became a necessity. Halifax skipper Connor McCoy opened the scoring from the spot in the first half after Mark Askham handled the ball in the area, as ‘Fax utilised the wind advantage to their favour in the first period. McCoy pulled the strings from the midfield, with winger Connor Meckin seeking to exploit any gaps in the Derwent back line with his pace. McCoy hit the frame of the goal with a speculative effort, but Derwent’s Felix Aylett proved his credentials with a string of saves. Derwent were able to match Halifax for organisation as Dave Belshaw marshalled his side, but striker Ed Fotheringham found himself shorn of opportunities up front in a largely uninspiring first-half display.
Derwent improved markedly after the break, and equalised early on through Fotheringham, who followed up Sam Earle’s saved effort to tap in the rebound. Although the blustery conditions remained a challenge, both sides began to grow accustomed to the unpredictability of the wind and adapted accordingly. Belshaw’s side soon found themselves in front as Joe Easter unleashed a brilliant low strike which left Halifax’s Sim well-beaten. With Derwent now firmly in the ascendancy, encamped in the Halifax half, McCoy knew that Halifax’s best chances lay on the break, and the captain was there to bail out his side with a calm finish to restore parity mid-way through the second half.
Both sides had chances to win it late on, but overall, a draw seemed a fair result, meaning that it was left to a penalty shootout to decide who would win the chance to meet either James or Vanbrugh in Sunday’s final.
Fotheringham blazed over and Earlie hit the post for Derwent, before Johnny Sim sealed the victory by keeping out Weighall’s low effort.
Halifax keeper was the legendary Jonny Sim, not Martin France.