Halifax and Derwent frustrated as Alcuin close the gap
Derwent missed the opportunity to extend their lead at the top of the College Football league beyond a solitary point after labouring to a 0-0 draw with Vanbrugh.
Meanwhile, Alcuin moved level on seven points with Halifax in second position with a 2-1 win over Langwith, the defending champions held to a goalless draw by Goodricke.
In the day’s other game, James beat Wentworth 3-2 to leapfrog Goodricke into fourth spot. The competition, which has been severely curtailed this term due to frozen conditions, is set to continue in the first three weeks of the summer term, prior to the start of the College Cup.
Derwent failed to kick on after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Halifax, wasting a number of chances in a scrappy encounter on the 22 Acres. The gusty wind and bobbly surface meant quality football was impossible and chances were at a premium.
Steve Walwyn’s clever free-kick nearly fooled the Vanbrugh goalkeeper while, at the other end, Ali Prince fluffed his lines when played clean through, the ball rebounding to Dom Henney who unwittingly hit the post.
Dan Hewitt, the Vanbrugh co-Captain, had two opportunities from the corner of the penalty box, one of which struck the upright.
“Getting a draw against the top side is a good result,” said Hewitt. “We played well and should have won. I think that when the College Cup comes around on a flat pitch and with a few players back who aren’t fit, we will be a force to be reckoned with. We made the final last year but this team is better.”
The Halifax-Goodricke match was equally cagey, with Ben Smith seeing his under-hit penalty saved by Alex Taborda late in the second-half after Tom Patrickson had brought down Matt Sutherland.
“Goodricke had the better of it,” said Dave Coupland, the Goodricke Captain. “Halifax aren’t very good, we’re not worried about them.”
Alcuin did just about enough to overcome Langwith’s spirited challenge with two goals from Udy Onwudike sandwiching an equaliser from Danny Mullen.
Langwith played most of the second period with nine men as players departed for other commitments, with Bruce Starkey, the striker, filling in between the posts.
Starkey was disgruntled with the situation afterwards: “Hopefully the next captain will be better and we’ll be able to get a full team out.”
“We made hard work of it,” said Miles McDermott, the Alcuin skipper. “I wouldn’t exactly say we deserved it and Langwith put in a very spirited performance.”
Alcuin, the defending College Cup champions, look well-placed to challenge Derwent and Halifax when the league resumes in April.
A brace from James Offord guided James to a narrow victory over Wentworth, with Sam Clitheroe, a goalkeeper playing outfield, also on the scoresheet to settle the match late on.
Andy Suggett scored twice for Wentworth, the first a header from a Seamus Kent corner and the second an impressive volley which put Wentworth briefly in front.
Clitheroe was one of two James stoppers playing outfield and added to his hat-trick against Langwith last Sunday, with Tim Green putting in a man of the match performance at centre-back.
Additional reporting by Leigh Clarke, Henry Cowen and Jake Farrell.
Comments
Crikey! Alcuin top again??
My trophy cabinet is literally groaning under the weight of college silverware, I’m not sure it can take anymore…..
Where is the so called new era of Halifax dominance?
Where is the resurgant Vanbrough?
What has happened to the once great name of Goodricke?
When will the sacred Cooper/Gardner/Barnett triumvirate bring Derwent the glory their talent deserves???
This has clearly been pieced together from Vision’s articles, even the spelling mistakes are the same
Normally, I don’t care about comments on the web, but trying to tarnish the name of the Good Doctor Shergold? Not a chance, sonny.
Actually Dan, we had three reporters at the College Football on Sunday morning – Leigh Clarke, Henry Cowen and Jake Farrell – who then submitted information from all four matches for me to write this round-up. I would have been there myself, but was interviewing Sam Asfahani at the time.
We don’t need to take information from Vision, thank you.
So why aren’t the real reporters mentioned in the byline? Its hardly “additional reporting” when they did all the actual legwork!
“So why aren’t the real reporters mentioned in the byline? Its hardly “additional reporting” when they did all the actual legwork!”
- The Doctor can do as he pleases with these accounts from the minions! (love you Leigh!)
To be fair, I didn’t want to have a go at Adam one bit (wish he had run against Sam this year). Just thought that it was interesting how little was seen of the Nouse guys this weekend and then their report included the exact same mistakes as the vision report. No stress
@Credit where Credits due..
Have you ever seen a four person byline?!?! Yuck!
Have you ever seen a sports report written my someone who wasn’t even there!?
Adam Shergold once ate four bowling balls without chewing, covering a college football match without attending is pretty easy for him.
Sorry to disappoint those who feel that there has been some great byline stealing/ Vision copying scandal here, but in reality I suggested that Adam took the byline so that we had a range of names on the two page spread.
“Just thought that it was interesting how little was seen of the Nouse guys this weekend and then their report included the exact same mistakes as the vision report.” The first statement is a little bizarre as there were three reporters there, and the sharing of spelling mistakes is probably down to the fact that, if there is a reporter from each paper, we’re likely to help each other out with team sheets. Sometimes we even speak to them.
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