The CUAFC women’s team has been confirmed as champions of the BUCS Midlands 2B League, having beaten the University of Bedfordshire by five goals to two in the last round of midweek fixtures.

Though the opening goal for Bedfordshire in Wednesday’s encounter threatened to put Cambridge champagne on ice for the foreseeable, the Light Blues came roaring back, with midfielder Becca Hirst cutting in from the wide left to hammer a thunderous effort past the goalkeeper to level the scores within seconds of the restart. And with half-time fast approaching, Cambridge put themselves one to the good as Xelia Mendes-Jones collected a clever lobbed pass to slide home at the goalkeeper’s far post.

In a terrific second half the champions-elect started to run away with it. A thumping finish from Daisy Luff from a Becca Hirst corner was followed by a scrappy goal for Bedfordshire from a corner of their own. But order was soon restored thanks to a close-range finish from Mendes-Jones and a mazy dribble and shot from Ceylon Hickman, the whistle blown at 5-2 to confirm Cambridge’s place as the league’s top dogs.

Armando Cordero’s charges have won all eight of their league fixtures this season, putting them a comfortable 11 points ahead of second-placed East Anglia, having scored a staggering 38 goals and conceding just nine. In fact, the Light Blues haven’t lost a league fixture in just under a calendar year – their last defeat came in a 4–1 reverse by the University of Nottingham women’s second team.

On the prospect of finishing an entire league season unbeaten, Cambridge captain Gerda Bachrati has high hopes for her side. Talking to Varsity, the skipper said: “We’ve got two league games left this season against teams we’ve beaten convincingly before. That, together with the extra training and effort we’re putting, in should help to get a similar result.”

And the Light Blues have no intention of stopping there. Cambridge take on the University of Birmingham thirds this Wednesday for a place in the semi final of the BUCS Midlands Conference Cup. “I’d love to add the Cup to the cabinet,” said Bachrati. “A League, Cup and Varsity treble win is the dream this year! Importantly, our season will end with Varsity and we’re working really hard in all aspects of our game to ensure we go into it strong. We’re going into the next five weeks all guns blazing, so we’re giving ourselves the best chance possible to end the season unbeaten.”

With a place in the Midlands 1A Division confirmed for her side next season, Bachrati is relishing the challenge of coming up against some big names. “We’re really excited about playing in it,” she said: “You’ve got Nottingham, Nottingham Trent, Loughborough – it’s brilliant, and as a player you want to be playing against skilled opposition like that. It makes you a better player, so although it’s going to be a huge step up, and it’ll be difficult to be as successful as we’ve been in this league, it’s something we’ve all wanted for the past two years”