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Photos: Jack Western
Derwent brushed Wentworth aside 4-1 with an accomplished display, to leapfrog their opponents into pole position in the autumn league table. Captain David Kirk opened the scoring after just six minutes, Whittall also netted, and Dan Atherton returned from injury with two goals.
Dom Green struck for Wentworth in the second half, but the goal failed to halt Derwent as last year’s autumn league winners completed a decisive move.
The current league standings reveal that Derwent lead on 10 points, Wentworth fall back into third on eight points, with James elevated into second place thanks to their superior goal difference.
The defeat was Wentworth’s first of the academic year, after recording two wins and two draws. Few people could have anticipated such an excellent season for the postgraduates, and it took a clinical performance from Derwent to see them off.
The conditions could not have been better for the players, who had the luxury of playing on the slick 3G surface under some beautiful autumn sunshine.
Derwent struck first after a quiet opening few minutes, with arguably their two best players combining wonderfully. Winger Dan Atherton evaded his marker on the right touchline with a Cruyff turn, before whipping in a ferocious left-footed cross for Kirk to tap in from a yard out.
This single piece of quality was all that separated the two sides leading up to half time, as Wentworth proved once again they would not be overwhelmed.
Derwent, though, should have added to their lead minutes after going in front. Masashi Nozaki sliced his effort over after some skill from Kirk, and Mike Whittall crashed a header off the underside of the crossbar from Atherton’s corner.
Wentworth grew into the match as the first half went on, and Dom Green saw an impressive volley destined for the top corner bravely blocked by Dave Belshaw.
Derwent continued to fashion opportunities, as a lovely passing move involving Sam Earle and Nozaki resulted in Ryan Gwinnett seeing his shot deflected just over.
Gwinnett also nearly profited from an embarrassing collision between Wentworth ‘keeper Cook and Townson, but the angle was too tight for the impressive debutant.
Wentworth were on top towards the interval, but Dom Green disappointingly chipped a free kick over the bar from just outside the box and Dai Taira saw his vicious volley palmed over by Franklin.
On 56 minutes, Derwent knocked the wind out of their opponents with a crucial second goal, and there was a touch of fortune about it. Dan Atherton collected possession on the left and delivered a sizzling cross which evaded everybody and flew into the top corner beyond a baffled Jon Cook.
Wentworth will be frustrated with the manner of their sudden collapse as a third goal quickly arrived. Whittall collected an Atherton corner before driving a low shot into the net beyond Cook.
Wentworth pulled a goal back with 10 minutes remaining; Townson’s cross found Green, who tucked home from close range.But as they pushed for greater prizes, Derwent hit the postgraduates on the counterattack with a fourth, as Earle fed Atherton who tapped in for his second of the game. Experiencing the top-of-the-table feeling, Captain Kirk said: “Wentworth are no mugs but we performed well. They say form is temporary but class is permanent and we showed that today”.
Meanwhile, Wentworth’s Sutton told Vision: “Derwent were easily the best team we have played so far. I don’t think we fully did ourselves justice. They didn’t really open us up at all apart from the last goal.”