Vanbrugh 2nds stutter, Halifax 2nds fight back

• Halifax 2nds 2
• Vanbrugh 2nds 1

There is no doubt that last year's Halifax 2nds team was one of the finest 2nd teams in recent memory.

A title win, coupled with a semi-final showing in the college cup (which only ended due to penalties) is all the evidence that is needed to justify this statement, and in Jonny Curtis and Paul Nightingale, they had two players who will go down in Halifax 2nds history as 'legends'. However, this year has been a transitional year at best thus far for Dom Green's men.

Wednesday 6th of February was a massive ask for Halifax 2nds, facing a Vanbrugh side that had won the league last term. Despite being without their inspirational skipper Ollie Regan, they called upon last year's first team skipper Jack Nicholas, among other high-profile college players.

Vanbrugh started brightly, with a lot of possession; however, they rarely tested the keeper, and Halifax held firm, with Paul Nightingale's experience aiding a strong backline. Against the run of play, Halifax scored a vital goal, with skipper Dom Green heading in an excellent cross from the right hand side of the pitch. Despite not seeing much of the ball, Green continues to show his predatory skills in the box, scoring the goals when they are needed.

However, Vanbrugh hit back soon afterwards. Good play down Vanbrugh's right saw Vanbrugh Chair Matt Oliver hit a speculative cross into the box that Halifax's keeper misjudged, and it went into the left side of the goal. Green was perplexed, and it seemed as though Vanbrugh's momentum would see them keep up their unbeaten run from last term. The game was fought at a slow and battling pace, with Vanbrugh first-teamer Nicholas relatively inneffective, and Corstjens - so often a warrior for Vanbrugh last term - often struggling to get to grips with the powerful Halifax midfield.

Towards the end of the first half, the excellent Joe Hart ran into the box after a poor mistake from Vanbrugh keeper Sean Henderson, and the keeper seemed to bring him to the ground. The Vanbrugh players argued - particularly right-back Dan Hewitt - but the referee stood firm by his decision, and Halifax tucked away the goal to take a 2-1 lead into half-time.

The second half played out in roughly the same way - Vanbrugh had most of the possession, but were unable to create any firm chances. A big part of this seemed to surround Oliver and Nicholas both finding themselves too isolated high up the pitch, with very little service to offer the two creative players any chance to show the abilities that they both have.

The introduction of Matt Richards spiced things up a little, and he worked hard to earn a penalty which the usually cool-as-ice Oliver would dispatch - but he missed. This took the wind out of Vanbrugh's sails, and Halifax continued to defend well, and took the three points in a deserved win for Green's men. The college seconds league appears to be wide open this term, with Alcuin having won both of their games, and Derwent, Vanbrugh, Goodricke and Halifax all still in the mix.

Halifax:

• GK Virag Patel - 6 Decent showing.
• DL Euan Edwards - 7 Did well - until Richards came on.
• DR John Halstead - 8 Solid game. Kept Regan quiet.
• DC Russ Joseph - 7 No nonsense.
• DC Paul Nightingale - 7 Solid as ever.
• ML Matt Underwood (sub 60 mins for Jay Li) - 6 Good probing runs, but could improve his final ball.
• MR Seamus Kent (sub 75 mins for Dave Baker) - 7 Obviously a good player, but is a luxury, and can be lazy at times.
• MC Timur Ustunsurmeli - 6 Worked hard without putting in his best performance.
• MC Simon Davidson - 7 Never stopped running.
• FC Joe Harrison - 8 A constant threat to Vanbrugh, and played a very intelligent game throughout. Man of the Match.
• FC Dom Green (sub 85 mins James Cope) - 7 What can you say about Dom Green? He scores goals.

Goals: Green 15, Underwood pen 40

Vanbrugh:

• GK Sean Henderson - 5 Looked nervous in goal.
• RB Dan Hewitt - 7 Grew into the game once he got settled. Decent distribution.
• LB Ben Ridgeway(cpt) 6 Works hard, and is certainly Vanbrugh through and through.
• CB Gareth Williams - 6 Could have been quicker in releasing the ball.
• CB Chris Schultz - 6 Not his best game, but he is certainly a solid performer.
• LW Liam Regan - 6 Started well, but frustrated as the game went on.
• RW Matt Oliver - 6 Not a great performance judging by the performances that we expect from one of Vanbrugh's most effective players. Scored yet again though.
• CM Olly Corstjens - 6 Never stopped trying, but it wasn't his day.
• CM Mike Waterson (Sub Matt Richards, half-time) - 6 Showed glimpses of talent, but often a peripheral figure.
• CM Jack Nicholas - 5 A technically excellent player who, going by his own high standards, had a bad game.
• CF Tristan Buckley - 6 Tried hard, but had little service.

Subs: Matt Richards (half-time) - 8 As much as this writer hates to admit it, Richards was a constant threat when he came on, and probably Vanbrugh's best player throughout the second half.

Goals: Oliver 18

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