It’s the final week of term and this can only mean one thing. I’m not talking about the end of studies for this year and no, I’m not talking about Christmas, nor the sudden appearance of countless garish Christmas jumpers. It’s much, much more important than that. It’s the Second Round of Cuppers. 

Cuppers truly lived up to its hype this weekend with thrillers galore. There were a staggering 46 goals in eight matches, a phenomenal stat, reflecting the glorious excitement of Cuppers and why we all love it, as well as the complete inability for any college to defend properly. 

What’s more, we were not left without our fair share of shocks either. Previously unbeaten Premier League side Downing fell at the hands of high flying Darwin, losing 4-1 in what was clearly one of the biggest surprises of the weekend. Third Division side Robinson are also through to the quarter finals after a crushing demolition of Second Division outfit Homerton, whilst St Catharine’s rounded off a disappointing term with a disappointing home defeat to Second Division side Girton.

Also through to the next round are Premier League leaders and perhaps joint tournament favourites St John’s, who overcame Fitzwilliam, but only through spot-kicks. The holders Jesus are also through after a second consecutive extra time victory, this time over impressive Fourth Division side Sidney Sussex who will be delighted to have confounded pre-season predictions for the tournament by reaching the dizzy heights of the Second Round. Churchill, Trinity Hall and Pembroke complete the Quarter Final line-up.

FITZWILLIAM 3-3 ST JOHN'S

St John’s win 3-4 on penalties

Fitzwilliam: Rutzler, Sandbach, Hobbs

St John’s: Gaskell (x2), Selway

The beauty of Cuppers is that league form often goes out the window, and Fitzwilliam were certainly hoping this would be the case against Premier League leaders St John’s on Sunday. In front of a vocal crowd pushing 40 in number, the two sides played out a thrilling encounter, with St John’s emerging triumphant from the lottery of the shootout. It was the away side who struck first, quickly stealing ahead through Gaskell who prodded home from inside the area in the opening stages. The half thereafter was a relatively even affair, but Fitzwilliam had the chance to draw level when Rutzler was clumsily challenged in the box. However, Tom Hickey’s spot kick was saved by the visitor’s keeper. St John’s then capitalised on this, doubling their lead courtesy of Selway, who managed to bundle home a cross from deep. At halftime, the game seemed all but over. But Fitzwilliam came out fighting. With nothing to lose, and buoyed on by the home faithful, they mounted a comeback.

With around ten minutes played, a scramble from a cross sat up nicely for Peter Rutzler, who, 20 yards out, hit a sensational scissor kick volley into the far corner. This lifted everyone in the Fitzwilliam camp. Filled with newfound belief, they pushed for an equaliser which came through Dan Sandbach, who was able to make the most of a miscommunication in the John's backline, sending a long range low drive via a deflection into the net. But St John’s weren’t about to keel over. As the game moved towards its final stages, Alex Gaskell rose well from a set piece to head home from close range. Many would be forgiven for thinking that was the game. It looked even more so when Henry Warne, the Fitz keeper, seemed to have sustained a serious injury with just five minutes to play. After a fifteen minute pause, play was resumed. With just moments to spare, it was Sam Hobbs who saved the home side, audaciously scoring directly from a corner despite suffering with cramp. The fans were sent into raptures. At full time, with light fading, it was agreed to go straight to penalties. John’s were clinical, scoring all four of their penalties, to Fitzwilliam’s three out of five. St John’s face Girton in the next round, whilst Fitz will go into the Winter break knowing their focus has to be on the league, and staying in it. 

PEMBROKE 6-5 TRINITY

Pembroke: Harries, Ogier, Pistoja, Nielsen (x2), Carroll

Trinity: Nagy (x3), Bowbly, Apel

With 11 goals split between these two sides, I think it’s fair to say that this game was an absolute belter. Mid-table Second Division side Trinity pushed Premier League Pembroke all the way and were highly unlucky to lose out to a stoppage penalty after having comeback three times over the course of the 90 minutes. Trinity’s goals came from Ewan Bowlby, Garrett Apel and a hat-trick from Robi Nagy. However, it was Pembroke who raced into a two goal lead courtesy of Harries and Ogier, with both goals coming from set-pieces. Trinity pulled one back before Pistoja restored the home side’s two goal advantage. Just before half time, Trinity halved the deficit, crashing in a header to make it 3-2. A superb long range strike brought the visitors level after the restart, but Nielsen quickly restored Pembroke’s two goal advantage. Trinity, however, just would not throw in the towel. In a thrilling end to the game, the away side netted twice from crosses to bring the scores level. However, Trinity’s euphoria was to be short lived, as with two minutes of stoppage time played, Pembroke were awarded a penalty. Carroll stepped up and converted. It meant heartbreak for Trinity, but delight for Pembroke. Trinity will hope to take the positives of matching the top division side for most of the game, whilst Pembroke march on, still dreaming of cup final retribution for last year. They face in form Darwin in the next round.

HOMERTON 0-4 ROBINSON

Robinson: Bacon (x2), Cotterell, Kaplan

Having been something of a revelation all season in the Third Division, Robinson took their league form into the cup with a domineering display over Homerton. Two stunning goals from Tom Bacon helped to seal the result, with Leo Cotterell and Sam Kaplan grabbing the others. Robinson’s first came directly from a free kick, twenty-five yards from goal. After a scrappy second to double their lead, Robinson’s third was anything but that. A volley from Bacon, directly from a Homerton goal kick, saw the ball sail over the stranded keeper’s head. Perhaps a fluke, perhaps a moment of sheer quality, either way, Robinson wrapped up the game with a fourth, capitalising on a defensive error. Homerton lamented the poor quality of their pitch and the subsequent difficulty in retaining possession, but in the end Robinson were too strong. The Third Division league leaders are yet to concede a goal this season and will certainly pose the cup holders Jesus a challenge in the next round. Dark horses for the competition? I’d say so.

CORPUS CHRISTI 2-2 TRINITY HALL

Trinity Hall win 5-6 on penalties

Corpus Christi: Mackenzie, Worsfold

Trinity Hall: Engle, Daramola

Fourth Division side Corpus Christi came close to pulling off a classic cup elimination over Premier League outfit Trinity Hall. In a highly competitive but well natured contest, Corpus matched Trinity Hall for the full 120 minutes, only to lose out in the penalty shootout. Corpus started in the ascendancy and deservedly took the lead through Jon Mackenzie. But Tit Hall pulled level courtesy of their captain Gino Engle, who was able to slot home from a corner. Nevertheless, Corpus continued to apply the pressure, and won a penalty that was duly converted by Tom Worsfold before the interval. The second half gradually saw Trinity Hall take over, patiently seeking an opening. The breakthrough finally came thanks to substitute Joel Daramola, who slipped through down the left channel and finished well under the keeper. By extra time, both sides were spent – penalties became almost inevitable. It would take eight penalties to finally separate these two, with Marton Price netting the winning spot kick. Celebrations were muted at the end out of mutual respect for the tough battle having been fought. Trinity Hall will face Churchill in the next round, whilst Corpus return their focus to securing promotion to the third tier. 

CHRIST'S 2-2 CHURCHILL

4-4 AET

Churchill win 1-3 on penalties

Christ's: Armstrong, May, Baron, Cracknell

Churchill: Rolph (x2), Joe, Jean-Luc

Christ's may be struggling in the Second Division but you wouldn’t have guessed it from this result. Churchill, currently unbeaten in third in the second tier with a game in hand over the league leaders, went into this as clear favourites but they were certainly made to work by Christ's, who gave it everything. After a first half with little to note, it was Christ's, boosted by the return of their Blues players, who took a 2-0 lead courtesy of Ian Armstrong and James May. This sparked the away side into life and they quickly ramped up the pressure, squandering numerous opportunities. Christ's held out until the final five minutes when it all fell apart, with two goals in quick succession, from Rolph and Joe, taking the game to extra time. Extra time proved to be even more exciting than the previous 90 minutes. With the game wide open, goals flowed. Matt Baron restored Christ's advantage, but Churchill quickly pegged them back courtesy of a Rolph tap in just before the end of the first period. But this wasn’t the end of the scoring, Jean-Luc put Churchill ahead for the first time with a cool finish from a cut back. Churchill held out until the end of stoppage time, when Christ's won a corner. Jordan Cracknell, returning from a long term layoff with injury, rose above everyone to power home a late equaliser, taking the game to penalties. In the end, Christ's could only convert one of their four spot kicks, with Churchill netting three out of three. A typical thriller by Cuppers standards, Churchill will be pleased to march on and maintain their unbeaten record. Christ's will take confidence from this display into the New Year, helping them in their quest to avoid the drop.

JESUS 0-0 SIDNEY SUSSEX

Jesus win 1-0 AET

Jesus: Crooks

After their superb victory in the first round over Gonville and Caius, Sidney Sussex of the Fourth Division were hoping to pull off the impossible and defeat the reigning cup holders, Jesus. In a very cagey affair in front of a large crowd populated by both colleges, Sidney resolutely stood firm, preventing the unbeaten Premier League side from taking control. After some fine saves from the Sidney stopper and some solid defensive work from both sides, the game finished goalless in normal time. In the end however, it took a spectacular solo effort from Jesus’ Blues man Preye ‘son of Garth’ Crooks to finally break the deadlock. With both teams tiring, and Sidney’s cause hampered by a sending off late on, Jesus were able to see the game out. Jesus face the unknown quantity that is Robinson in the next round, whilst for Sidney, they can look back with pride on their two performances in this year’s tournament.

ST CATHERINE'S 3-4 GIRTON

St Catharine’s: DeJong (x2), Holt

Girton: Savitsky (x2), Ritter, Yun

Michaelmas would end winless for St Catharine’s despite a more encouraging display against Girton. In a game that saw six out of the seven goals coming from set-pieces, it was certainly more of a Tony Pulis than a Pep Guardiola affair. Again suffering imbalance, with four centre halves at the back and full backs on the wings, St Catz still looked promising but will be disappointed to lose out to lower league opposition, although it is very plausible that Girton may well take their place in the top flight for next season. It was St Catz who started well, racing into a 2-0 lead. Matt DeJong on his debut opened the scoring from a Holt corner, before doubling his tally moments later courtesy this time of a Jonny Crease pull back originating from another set-piece delivery. But Girton responded well. Savitsky netted the first of two volleyed strikes from a Ritter free kick. Then, in controversial circumstances, Girton were awarded a penalty after Fisher was fouled, which Ritter coolly slotted home. At the break, the teams went in all square. St Catz came out for the second period re-energised and restored their advantage after a long range free kick from Dean Holt was flapped by the Girton stopper, and then found its way to the net possibly off Henry Hall. However, the dubious goals panel (aka the St Catz faithful) awarded the goal to Holt. But Girton would not be put down. They equalised through Jaewon Yun, before Savitsky netted what turned out to be the winner with his second volleyed finish of the afternoon. St Catz will take the positives into next term, whilst Girton can now look forward a trip to Premier League leaders St John's.

DARWIN 4-1 DOWNING

Darwin: Chris Hope (x4)

Downing: Unknown (Captain Tom Coombes has claimed it as his)

Downing’s unbeaten start to the season came to an abrupt end at the hands of Second Division promotion contenders Darwin, who are evolving into a real force this season. Led by Chris Hope, who netted all of Darwin’s goals in an imperious scoring display, the home side started the brighter, making full use of all their weaponry, including a potent long throw. It was from a throw-in that Darwin took the lead. Downing responded but Burley missed a great chance to level the scores, firing wide of the target. Darwin capitalised on Downing’s impotence with a well worked goal finished off by Hope. After the break, Darwin quickly doubled their advantage and virtually ended the game as a contest, again the goal stemming from a long throw. Downing began to create chances, but it just wasn’t their day. The fourth goal was one Downing keeper Alex Matthews will not want to remember, after a long range pop shot from Hope slipped through his fingers, under his body and over the line. A late consolation did little to impact on the overall result, and Darwin march deservedly into the next phase.