College vase semi-final: Langwith 2nds 2-0 Alcuin 3rds

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Photos: Valeria Vallone

Langwith 2nds booked their place in the vase final with a comfortable 2-0 win over Alcuin 3rds this afternoon. Goals from Matt Morton and Sam Woodall either side of half time propelled Sam Morley’s side to victory, whilst Alcuin’s opportunities were limited to long range efforts.

The opening stages saw both sides restricted, as the battle centred around the middle of the pitch in a scrappy affair. Woodall had a shot well blocked from a long throw, and Tom Rudden blazed the resulting loose ball over, whilst the closest Alcuin came was an Alex Nixon effort which flew well wide of the far post.

In the 20th minute though the game burst into life, as Morton headed Tom Rudden’s cross from the right past Alcuin ‘keeper Michael Thurloway at the back post. Minutes later it was almost 2-0, as Woodall latched onto a well-weighted through ball, before being excellently denied by an acrobatic save from Thurloway.

Langwith ‘keeper Oliver Williamson meanwhile was rarely troubled in the opening period, pushing away a James Pearce corner and easily gathering a tame Tom Armstrong shot in a quiet half.

Alcuin improved after the interval, starting strongly and enjoying a good period of play, with their efforts epitomised by the hard work of Armstrong who battled excellently in the centre of midfield. In the 31st minute he fired narrowly wide from 18 yards, whilst Dan Davey twice had efforts off target, the second from a looping Dylan Chambers cross.

In the 46th minute though Langwith sealed their victory as Woodall capitalised on a defensive error by Sam Bentham after a loose pass from Jon Carney, and executed an exquisite flicked finish between the legs of Thurloway and into the back of the net.

The striker then almost bagged his second only two minutes later, but he was well denied by the outstretched leg of Thurloway, whilst Craig Burnell’s acrobatic follow up flew wide.

Langwith should have added a third in the 51st minute, as Hemingway produced a pinpoint cross onto the head of Morton, but the winger was unable to add to his earlier goal, directing his header over the bar from four yards. The miss had no impact upon the final result though, as Langwith continued to look the more likely to score, with substitute Jamie McDonald firing wide.

The win signals a dramatic upturn in fortunes for Langwith, who had struggled in the earlier stages of the competition. They will now meet Goodricke 2nds in the vase final on Thursday, in what is likely to be a tough encounter.

Langwith captain Sam Morley was delighted by his side’s efforts and told Vision: “I’m happy with the way we played, defensively we were really solid, and going forward we looked good but wasted a few chances. Looking forward to the final and well played Alcuin.”

Alcuin skipper Ben Bugeja couldn’t fault his side’s efforts and commented: “It was disappointing to lose, but this is the first time Alcuin 3rds have got this far. I’m really proud of the guys and I can’t fault them for effort, and they all did amazingly. We know quite a few of the Langwith lads and we’ll be rooting for them in the final.”

Vision MOTM: Sam Woodall