Holy Trinity crucify sorry Magdalen
Football Cuppers
Magdalen.......................2
Trinity.............................6
It’s easy to exaggerate a cup upset like Trinity’s seemingly miraculous 6-2 massacre of Magdalen, who as everybody seems to be pointing out these days were top flight champions two years ago, though these days look anything but. However Trinity have had a patchy start to the season themselves, and this win to saw their first progression past the first round in cuppers for over four years.
Driving rain and a battlescarred pitch provided a seemingly perfect setting for the upset, with a fired-up Trinity team facing a Magdalen shorn of all but one of the title-winning side of 2003-4. The match was scrappy from beginning to end as the conditions frequently dampened the valiant efforts of the players to keep the ball on a slippery surface below a wicked wind, with Trinity eventually emerging as the clear victors.
Nontheless it was Magdalen who nosed ahead shortly after kick-off before the game had reached full swing. After some heavy touches in midfield the ball ran through to Hopkins, whose shot was disappointing but trickled to Tanaka near the penalty spot to allow him to slot home past MacPherson in goal. Trinity were soon level through centre-forward McFarland, who ended with the match with an impressive hat-trick.
Ignoring the inadmissible defensive testimonies of the Magdalen back-line, he streaked through to lift the ball over the onrushing Saunders. The keeper was forced into action again soon after to save from a stinging drive from Rennie. At this point Magdalen were beginning to gain the upper hand in a condensed midfield where time on the ball was so scarce that any composed touches were greeted with approving yells from the sidelines.
Hopkins and Siah pleased the eye in particular and were capably supplied by right-back Shah, though each ultimately flattered to deceive. Their enterprise was soon undone when Trinity’s Warren caught nervous Magdalen left-back Kelly in possession, then squared to Mc- Farland to calmly stroke the ball into the home net. For the remainder of the half, Trinity looked comfortable against their unfamiliar Premiership opponents.
They built from the back, where central defenders Randall and captain Rowles- Nicholson dominated the aerial battle behind midfielder Wahl. The Frenchman with collar upturned displayed some assured touches and strong tackles until a muscle tear forced his departure just before half-time. He was among the most vocal mere minutes later, however, when Trinity extended their lead.
Left-midfielder Hill blocked a defensive clearance enabling the powerful Copplestone to hammer the ball goalwards with the full effect of his weight behind the shot. Despite the setback, Magdalen appeared to retrieve the ascendancy again and even forced a goal-line save from MacPherson after peppering his goal without effect for a sustained period of the match.
Magdalen continued their effective midfield game into the second half, but were unfortunate to lose influential midfielder Adamson to a nasty injury after an awkward fall, an accident waiting to happen in the treacherous conditions. His side were briefly back in the game, however, when a distinctly dubious penalty was awarded and scored following a tangle of limbs in the Trinity box.
The respite was short-lived, as Magdalen’s defence imploded allowing the sparkling Hill to score twice, inspired by the excellent battling by Copplestone, before McFarland wrapped up the game and his hat-trick. He professed himself “very privileged to be part of such a team”, a commendable spirit instrumental in Trinity’s little piece of cup magic and their landmark progression through to the second round.
3rd Nov 2005