Vanbrugh spot on and Derwent breeze through

Vanbrugh started the game in full West Brom kit from last season and one presumes that they had hoped to play like the Baggies of the Championship and play free flowing football with loads of goals. Sadly, they created little from free play, perhaps lacking a Chris Brunt like figure, but they were always a threat from the set piece. Goodricke were in the normal green strip but not their normal line up as they were shorn of their star players. Dom O’Shea, Luke Molyneux, Tom Wilson, Chris Grayland and keeper James Mortimer were all absent which gave a few second team players the chance to shine. Two of these were Rob Shanley and Josh ‘Tank’ Barker who kept the Vanbrugh players at bay but failed to create much in a very cramped central midfield.

The main action of a dull first half resulted in Goodricke taking the lead through Smith. A bouncing ball was struck well by Smith with his weaker foot though few expected the ball to beat Paul Taylor who let the ball slip through his outstretched hands and roll into the net. It was either going to take a moment of magic or an error to break the deadlock and sadly for Vanbrugh it was a blooper from their keeper. The lead did not last long after half time as a defensive mix up from a corner left Gouland with all the time in the world to pick his spot from his header, which he duly did.

The game then became totally dominated by set pieces as neither team could get a foot hold from free play. Triston Buckley and Goluland looked dangerous from the long throw of Dan Hewitt while at the other end it was the deep delivery of Adam Lewis causing problems. Richard Remington threatened twice direct from free kicks but very little was happening until a penalty shout in the final minute. Dave Coupland was desperately trying to reach a ball driven to the back post by Remington when he was hauled down by Tom Sheldrick but the referee just waved play on much to the grievance of Coupland. So penalties beckoned and it was Coupland who stepped up first for Goodricke, but Taylor redeemed his earlier error and saved the penalty to his right. Gouland stepped up next and never looked like missing before centre half Ronan Joyce had his shot saved by zero to hero keeper Taylor. The next three were scored before Rob Shanley skewed his penalty wide and sent Vanbrugh through.

In the days other Cup quarter final, Derwent had little trouble in beating Alcuin seconds in the thunder and lightning. A 20 minute treble salvo made the rain more of a spectacle than the match as supporters ran for cover or just left to keep dry.

The enigmatic Anton Murphy gave Derwent the lead with a deflected effort before Player of the Tournament candidate Chris Barnett coolly slotted home after a missed defensive header. Top refereeing from Andy Case then resulted in a penalty as a slide tackle was spotted and correctly given as a penalty. Alex Cooper curled it in and Goodricke could have done with him earlier as the game was taken beyond Alcuin. Alcuin rarely looked like doing anything and Derwent went through the motions to record an easy victory.

The Plate quarter finals kicked off with Langwith first losing out 2-1 to Goodricke seconds in an efficient display from the Plate favourites. Langwith took a first half lead after a long throw found its way to Tommy Chrimes to bundle in at the near post and they held the lead until half time. Goodricke knew something wasn’t quite working as Tom Foy had kept Coupland very quiet so they changed it up with immediate effect as Oli Hanlon took advantage of some dodgy keeping under the high ball. The winner came from Barker as he powered home a header which crashed against the bar and probably crossed the line, however Barker followed it up to make sure. Langwith’s misery was further compounded as Tom Parker was sent off for a professional foul after bringing down Shanley who was clean through.

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