College Football: Derwent 2-1 James

Derwent celebrated winning the college league title after a brace from David Kirk saw off rivals James.

James knew that anything less than victory would see Derwent crowned champions, and they fell behind after just 52 seconds when Kirk scored a simple tap-in. The striker then doubled Derwent’s advantage with a brilliant curling effort after half an hour, giving James a mountain to climb.

James rallied in the second half and pinched a goal back through Davies, but Derwent regrouped and defended stoutly to see out what has been a highly impressive autumn term.

Expecting a James side bent on attack, Derwent approached the match with a conservative 4-5-1 formation to flood the midfield, while James started with Baxter, the captain recovering in time from a knee injury sustained last week.

James were unbeaten in their previous six matches, but any confidence they may have accumulated was given an early blow. Alex d’Albertanson profited from some loose James passing just outside the box to set up Jake Farrell on the left. Farrell drove into the box and cut the ball back on the by-line for Kirk to supply the simplest of finishes inside the six-yard box.

James couldn’t live with Derwent’s high tempo start as Jacob Tapper missed two good chances, the first a wasted chip from eight yards and the second a looping header over the bar from a Farrell free kick.

However, James woke up with some good passing from Baxter and Davies in midfield releasing Freddie Ferrao down the left. His cross for James Offord in the box was controlled instantly by the deadly striker, who spun on a sixpence and stabbed an effort just wide of the far post.

Ferrao then had a chance of his own after O’Brien’s cross was fumbled by Seb Treasure, but the winger’s drilled shot was blocked by the goalkeeper to safety.

Derwent’s second goal was a cruel blow to James, who looked well on top by this stage. James’ defenders had several chances to clear their lines during a scrap on the edge of the box but failed to do so. The ball fell kindly to Kirk 16 yards out, who took a touch to set up a delightful left-footed curler into the top corner, past the motionless Toby Owen.

James now faced a monumental task in scoring three goals against a side who had only conceded four goals all season. Any set-piece deliveries and crosses were consistently cleared by the rock-solid centre-back pairing of Brandreth and Tapper.

However, they did allow Davies a chance with a dangerous snap shot which went over the bar, after he collected an Offord flick on. Then, just before half-time, Offord wriggled his way past three defenders in the box before laying the ball to O’Brien whose drive was saved at the near post by Treasure.

James dominated possession at the start of the second half and nearly scored when Baxter couldn’t grow enough to head in a Davies cross and the ball also eluded Bainbridge at the back post.

Derwent were menacing on the counter-attack, however, as Kirk set up a volleyed effort from Earle but Owen parried the ball over the bar with both hands.

James’ Davies was then denied by the tireless Brandreth, who timed a sliding tackle in the box to perfection, and then Boughtflower calmly cleared a Davies cross with O’Brien lurking behind him.

Offord then struck a Davies lay-off on the edge of the area which was turned around the post by Treasure, who also saved St George’s tame header from the resulting corner.

But James eventually found a way through Derwent’s stubborn defence after 71 minutes when Offord slipped a perfectly-weighted pass to the omnipresent Davies, who side-footed in from close range with just Treasure to beat.

More nervous moments occurred in Derwent’s box as Ferrao was played in by O’Brien, but Treasure was on hand to block his attempted cross. Then, excellent vision from Baxter picked out St George whose shot was deflected just wide.

A fantastic chance then presented itself to Davies with six minutes remaining after Treasure inexplicably allowed a simple long ball to slip through his gloves, but the midfielder was denied by scrambling Derwent defenders on the line.

It was the last chance for James, and Baxter reflected after the game: ‘Over the 90 minutes I think we deserved a point. We’ve played really well this term and we’ll come back even stronger next term.’

Derwent skipper Joe Boughtflower praised his side’s work ethic: ‘I’m delighted with the result; I thought our effort today was brilliant. Everyone has worked their socks off which is why we’ve had a great term.’

Vision MOM: David Kirk