Soggy pitches were on the cards during a rain-drenched weekendFlickr: Kevin Fay

The age-old nemesis that is the weather plagued this weekend’s fixture list, with waterlogged pitches wreaking havoc across Cambridge, much to the dismay of the travelling collegiate contingents. Nonetheless, a few braver (and perhaps foolhardy) colleges managed to ensure their games went ahead, with notable results in both the Premier League and the Second Division, the latter of which sees two games featured this week, including Queens’ vs Emma.

The most eagerly anticipated game of the weekend pitted joint Premier League leaders St John’s against Downing. Despite being buoyed on by a bumper crowd of 50, both sides seemed to batten down the hatches in this one, with the game ending goalless. St John’s had a busy weekend, for they were back out on Sunday to face King’s but showed little sign of fatigue in a comfortable win. Meanwhile in the only other fixture that survived the elements in the top flight, high-flying Pembroke recorded an extraordinary 9-1 win over poor St Catharine’s, who really are going to struggle to stay afloat this season.

In the Second Division, Queens' took advantage of the postponement of the crunch fixture between unbeaten sides Churchill and Darwin to go top after defeating Emma in a thrilling encounter that saw eight goals shared between the two sides. Girton also kept up the pace with a convincing victory over Long Road during the week, maintaining their own unbeaten record. Homerton recorded their second win of the season against fellow strugglers Christ’s, who, like Long Road, are yet to get off the mark.

PREMIER LEAGUE

ST JOHN'S 0-0 DOWNING

The great anticipation for a timeless college classic between these two early front-runners fell flat on its face after a competitive, yet goalless, encounter on Saturday afternoon. After a bit of pre-match tension over bibs and squad numbers, the game got underway smoothly in front of a 50 strong crowd, smashing the attendance record for this season. The first period was a relatively even matter, with both sides restricted to efforts from outside the box. In the second half St John’s took command of the game and camped themselves in the Downing half but couldn’t break their resolute defence down. Downing were thrilled to gain a commendable point, but this game won’t be long remembered by those who showed up to witness a college goal fest.

PEMBROKE 9-1 ST CATHERINE'S

Pembroke: Berenson-Barros (x5), Carroll, Griggs, Hudson, (+ Own Goal)

St Catherine's: Hussein

Pathetic fallacy could not be a more appropriate term to describe St Catharine’s weekend. In dreadful conditions on a sodden pitch, Pembroke mercilessly tore apart a vulnerable Catz side bereft of a couple of players including their captain. The game will be remembered for the astonishing goal-scoring display of Pembroke front man Zach Berenson-Barros who was, and I quote, “on absolute fire.” In fact, in one game, he has leapfrogged everyone and now leads the race for the golden boot. Supported by Tom Ogier and Phillip Griggs on the flanks and John ‘Morten Gamst’ Carroll in behind the front men, the latter finding the net directly from a corner, the porous St Catharine’s defence were simply unable to cope. By halftime, the score stood at 7-0. The Second Period saw St Catz come out with nothing to lose - playing with a freedom that saw them find the net through Hussein, whilst preventing any escalation of the damage that had already been inflicted. But it was some damage all the same. Further notable performances for Pembroke came from target man Pistoja and Harries as the water-carrier in midfield (he had plenty of that to do). Mellor, Hudson and Brittlestone were also all solid at the back whilst Weber in between the sticks will be relieved he didn’t have to face the deluge of goals that his opposite number had to. Pembroke move up to second, three points behind leaders St John’s. St Catharine’s meanwhile will hope for better luck in the cup next week, but in the meantime they have promised to compensate all of their travelling away support.

ST JOHN'S 2-0 KING'S

St John’s: Woss, Letrilliart

St John’s decided that one match was not enough this weekend and turned out to face King’s in awful conditions on Sunday. In a pitch that was churning up by the minute, St John’s found themselves having to deal with an effective King’s counter-attacking approach, with the away side hitting the bar from long range during the opening exchanges. But it was St John’s who took the league on 30 minutes, when a Woss free kick was fumbled in the wet conditions by the opposition keeper and slipped into the net. King’s pressed St John’s for an equaliser in the Second Half, drawing out a couple of fine stops from the home keeper Ballard, but St John’s sealed the points when another free kick, this time a cross-cum-shot from Letrilliart, drifted over the stranded King’s keeper’s head. St John’s saw the game out, and will top the table going into Christmas. King’s meanwhile remain in the bottom two with no points registered, but they do have a game in hand over the sides above them.

SELWYN P-P DOWNING

GONVILLE & CAIUS P-P TRINITY HALL

FITZWILLIAM P-P JESUS

DIVISION  2

GIRTON 4-1 LONG ROAD

Girton: Fisher, Ritter, Monks, Savitsky

Girton faced Long Road during the week and managed to record their third win of the season, maintaining their unbeaten start whilst fixing themselves firmly amongst the early promotion contenders. It was Long Road who took the lead in this one, after a botched clearance from a corner saw the ball bounce off a Long Road forward and over the Girton stopper’s head and into the net. Jake Fisher soon equalised, however, for the home side, latching onto a cross to score a tap in. Stefan Ritter fired a free kick into the top corner to give Girton a 2-1 lead at the break. The second half was an even affair but Girton were able to pull away thanks to a long range effort from Ryan Monks which found the net, before centre-back Ivan Savitsky ended the game as a contest with a goal from a corner. Girton are building up a good head of steam, and with struggling St Catharine’s their opponents next week in the Second Round of Cuppers, a shock could well be on the cards.

QUEENS' 5-3 EMMANUEL

Queens': Ellis, Marshall, Knight (x3)

Emmanuel: Gardner (x2), Stretch

It is remarkable that this game was not the highest scoring fixture of the weekend, but with eight goals on show, it was still a cracker for the college neutrals. Queens' now lead the Second Division after defeating Emmanuel, who have now lost back-to-back games as well as their early momentum to the campaign. They will, however, be pleased with the return of Stu Gardner, who, having been out through a broken foot sustained during preseason, managed to net a brace. However it was Queens' who opened the scoring in this one with Tom Ellis, who latched onto a Steven Evans cross-shot to net a tap in. Emma responded instantly however, with Gardner netting his first with a bullet header from an Anton Dennis delivery. Shortly after, Emma flipped the game on its head following some intricate interplay from Billy Pinder and Anton Dennis again, this time resulting in 20 yard strike from Ben Stretch. At halftime, Emma had the lead, albeit against the run of play. In the second half, a tactical switch from Queens' reaped rewards as the game swung back the other way. The move freed up Sam Dixon and Ali Marshall by placing Raffi Salama in front of the defence, and the two combined well to bring Queens' back on level terms through a low Marshall drive. Queens' kept up their pressure and took the lead when Alex Knight got on the end of a Luke Sefton delivery. The same duo combined moments later to double their advantage with another header from Knight finishing off the move. Knight completed his hat-trick from the spot, much to the grievance of the Emma contingent who described the decision to award the kick as the “worst decision in college football.” Regardless, the game was done, although Stu Gardner added his second after an excellent delivery from Jonny Parsons. 

CHRIST'S 1–5 HOMERTON

Homerton: Okoruwa (x2), Jones, Cozens, Dodd

CHURCHILL P–P DARWIN

CLARE P-P TRINITY

DIVISION 3

FITZWILLIAM IIs 0-3 ROBINSON

DOWNING IIs 0–1 CAIUS IIs

CCCC 6–3 MAGDALENE

QUEENS' IIs 1-3 JESUS IIs