Wentworth were left to rue missed chances this morning as they lost 3-2 to a late Sam Clitheroe goal for James. Wentworth bossed the last match of the term, and will be left bitterly disappointed by a result that was never on the cards.
As early as the first minute Wentworth shattered the James crossbar, a pile driver cannoning off the framework and serving as a signal of the graduate college’s attacking intent. For the first twenty minutes the James goal was under siege, as wave after wave of Wentworth attacks poured relentlessly into James’ penalty area. James goalkeeper Toby Owen was in inspired form though, at one point saving from point black range and at another stretching athletically to push a marvellous goal-bound lob over the bar and out for a corner. James’ players struggled to get hold of the ball, and it seemed only a matter of when, and not if, Wentworth would score.
Yet it was against the run of play that James scored the game’s first goal. Striker James Offord ran onto a ball played over the defence, skilfully bringing it back down, pausing momentarily before swivelling and hitting a dipping shot on the half-volley that flew past Wentworth’s goalkeeper. Despite the hint of a deflection, this was a superbly taken goal by James’ no.10. Buoyed by their unexpected lead, James sprang into life, and should have scored minutes later when Sam Clitheroe dragged his shot wide after turning his man in the box. Wentworth soon recovered from the shock of going a goal down though, and it was only the reactions of Toby Owen, saving first at the feet of Wentworth’s Samik Datta and then pulling off a magnificent point-blank reaction save, that kept James from conceding a goal before half time.
Despite Owen’s heroics the second half quickly brought the goal Wentworth deserved, with Andy Suggett heading in at the far post from a Seamus Kent corner. Only minutes later Wentworth went ahead, with Andy Suggett scoring again with a powerful volley in the box. Looking likely to get the third, Wentworth continued to create chances, with only Toby Owen standing between them and more goals.
Chance after chance came and went for Wentworth, and despite dominating the match they were punished for their profligacy when James equalised with ten minutes to go. James Offord grabbed his second of the match with a calm left-footed finish after running on to a defence-splitting through ball.
Wentworth’s misery was compiled five minutes later when James Offord, through on goal again and looking for his third, rounded the keeper only to be brought down. With Wentworth’s keeper left flailing, and calls for a penalty left unanswered, Sam Clitheroe was left with the simple task of slotting the ball into an empty net and securing an extremely unlikely 3-2 victory for James.
Wentworth will have been left wondering how they ended this match with anything other than a win.