College football round-up: Gameweek 4

Yesterday's results were as follows:

• Halifax 1 - 1 Derwent
• Goodricke 2 - 1 Vanbrugh
• Alcuin 7 - 0 Wentworth
• James 6 - 0 Langwith

Halifax 1 - 1 Derwent

Halifax scorer: C.Brennan

Derwent scorer: Gardner

On the second pitch Halifax took on Derwent in what turned out to be a rather flat, uninspiring game reflecting the calm weather. Halifax’s skipper Joe Harrison started on the bench and the lack of leadership showed in his team’s sloppy start. Fortunately for Halifax, Derwent were equally slow out of the box and the team lacked any urgency that may have come from a keen fresher or two. Despite the deadlock, strikers on both sides were getting the best of their markers; Murphy gave Halifax’s back four a torrid time whilst the lively Conor Brennan made the most of Dom Green’s flick-ons to leave Derwent centre-backs Waller and Henney very stretched.

Both team’s pace came via their right wingers in the form of Ward-Jones and Fahey for Derwent and Halifax respectively. Both got beyond the left-back on numerous occasions but their crosses failed to be converted. Towards the end of the first half Halifax took the lead thanks to a fortuitous Tom Ragan goal. The ball fell to him 20 yards out and his scuffed shot looked to be no trouble at all only for Derwent’s ‘keeper, Amoroso, to allow the ball through his arms and it trickled inside the post.

This did little to ignite the match despite the efforts of the experienced university players on both sides, who seemed to be struggling from Saturday afternoon’s exertions. The introduction of Halifax’s Joe Brennan in the second half gave the game some urgency and Halifax had several efforts to double their lead only for them to be foiled by Amoroso, who was keen to make amends for his earlier mistake.

Derwent’s possession wasn’t paying dividends and their players became increasingly frustrated. When it looked like they had run out of ideas, and time, they were awarded a free-kick 30 yards from goal with seconds on the clock. Murphy resisted the temptation to shoot and instead followed orders to perfection, lofting a delicate cross to the back post for Gardner to attack. Gardner duly fulfilled his role in the planned set-piece by powering a header into the top corner and equalising with essentially the last touch of the game.

Goodricke 2 - 1 Vanbrugh

Goodricke scorers: Coupland, S.Lewis

Vanbrugh scorer: Grayland (O.G.)

The eagerly anticipated clash between the underachieving Goodricke and Vanbrugh lived up to expectations and was a highly competitive and fascinating match. Goodricke were still dogged by injuries and missing personnel but for the first time this year they could field something close to their strongest 11. This showed through on a pitch which, typical to college pitches, was less than pristine (one goal mouth was essentially a bog) and Goodricke dominated the first half with Wilson, Coupland and Smith all going close.

The second half followed much the same pattern with Goodricke in the ascendency and having much joy attacking down the flanks and Wilson dominating the game from the middle. Vanbrugh were typically well organised and with “Brummy” Matt pulling the strings from centre midfield, Tom Sheldrick’s men did pose Goodricke some problems going close on several occasions in the second half.

It was Goodricke though who took the lead mid way through the second half, Coupland scored with a good slice of luck, the Vanbrugh defenders cursing the referee for offside and a hand ball. Throughout the match there were a few contentious refereeing decisions, however the referee was consistent and while both sides have grounds for complaint it must be remembered that the referees are doing a difficult job without pay and the games wouldn’t happen without them.

Sam Lewis doubled Goodricke’s lead with an emphatic volley. With 25 minutes left this goal seemed to spark Vanbrugh into life and they piled the pressure onto the previously unthreatened Goodricke defence. Vanbrugh created numerous chances and can blame their poor finishing for the defeat; they did pull one goal back through a Grayland bullet header past his own keeper. Vanbrugh besieged the Goodricke goal for the last 10 minutes but to no avail and Goodricke held on for the win.

Alcuin 7 - 0 Wentworth

Alcuin scorers: Delaney (3), Hyde (2), McDermott, Onwudike

Wentworth's pointless season continued with a heavy loss to an Alcuin side buoyed by their captain's birthday celebrations. Though Dan Cox didn't get on the scoresheet his side demolished Wentworth and got them back to winning ways after last week's comprehensive defeat by James.

Delaney got an impressive hat-trick, including a screaming half-volley in off the bar. The hat-trick is made all the more impressive considering he was playing in the back three, but Alcuin's goalie, Wynd, was largely untroubled allowing the imposing defender to maraud forward.

A sublime lob from Hyde was the pick of the other goals in a day Wentworth's captain Andy Suggitt will be keen to forget. Dan Cox on the other hand was jubilant and confident when assessing his side's title chances: "We're one point behind James at the moment with James still to play Derwent, Halifax and Goodricke so I still believe we're in with a strong shout, although the pressure is all on James not to slip up". Let the mind games commence...

James 6 - 0 Langwith

James scorers: Offord (2), Johnson (2), Vermuelen, A.Smith

Yet more goals from fresher James Offord, with able support from the midfield, combined with another clean sheet for goalkeeper Tim Green meant James steamrolled Langwith on a pitcher in dire need of a roller. Playing on the far pitch, usually reserved for Wentworth, James' captain Matty Smith was happy with the display but wouldn't get carried away with his side's title ambitions, remembering a similar position last year in a season that faded away.

Offord could well be the league's top scorer, and this coupled with the fine goalkeeping capabilities of Tim Green, both of whom have made it into university teams, mean James are still unbeaten and top of the table.

All this means that at the league's mid-point the table looks like this:

1. James.........10 - 15 (goals for) - 4 (against)
2. Alcuin...........9 - 15 - 8
3. Halifax..........7 - 11 - 7
4. Derwent........7 - 9 - 5
5. Goodricke.....7 - 11 - 8
6. Vanbrugh......4 - 12 - 8
7. Langwith.......1 - 7 - 23
8. Wentworth....0 - 2 - 19

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