League action returned this weekend to the delight of thousands across the city.

In the Premier League, it’s all still to play for at the top and the bottom after some huge results this weekend. At the top, Selwyn put Pembroke to the sword with a convincing victory that sees them move top with a game in hand. In another huge title showdown, St John’s lost their unbeaten record to Jesus who still boast a 100 per cent record in the league.

At the bottom, Fitzwilliam defeated St Catharine’s in a massive six pointer, especially considering both sides went into the game with no points on the board. The result leaves St Catz in serious trouble. King’s too look set to be cut adrift unless their fortunes turn around quickly. They were thumped by Gonville & Caius, who look to have secured their place in the division for next season.

The hunt for promotion in Division Two is seriously heating up. With Darwin, Girton and Churchill still unbeaten, the title race remains wide open. In the biggest game at the top of the division, Queens’ promotion dreams were dealt a blow by Darwin, who recorded a comfortable win that sees the post-grads go top. Churchill joined them at the top of the tree with a win over Long Road, who, after Christ’s comfortable victory over Trinity, will be increasingly concerned about the possibility of being drawn into a relegation dogfight.

 

PREMIER LEAGUE

St John’s 2-3 Jesus

Jesus: Purcell, Crawford, O’Loughlin

Jesus vs John's was always going to be a big game. With Jesus boasting a 100 per cent record and St John’s still unbeaten and currently sitting top, it had all the ingredients needed for a classic. Jesus started the game well, with the opening 25 minutes being played exclusively in the John’s half. They made the pressure count when Niall Purcell found the net after some excellent footwork from the goal scorer. Before long it was two, when Crawford lost his marker and found the net from an Ashmead corner.

John’s had a mountain to climb now, especially considering Jesus have only conceded two league goals all season. But they fought back, grabbing a goal to halve the deficit. But Jesus very quickly restored their two goal advantage just before half time, this time with O’Loughlin expertly finishing a low driving cross from the left hand side.

At the break, it was 3-1.

The second half was a cagier affair with chances few and far between. With the pitch beginning to cut up, the game looked set to finish 3-1, until with 15 minutes to go, a looping cross caught Jesus off-guard to bring John’s within one of equalising. John’s piled on the pressure hoping to equalise but Jesus defended resolutely, keeping their record intact.

This result has huge ramifications for the title race. Jesus and John’s have so far seemed the strongest sides in the division, and Jesus’ victory leaves them within a point of John’s with a game in hand. Both sides are still in the cup, and I wouldn’t bet against this fixture being repeated in the final.

 

St Catharine’s 0-2 Fitzwilliam

Fitzwilliam: Whiting, Rutzler

At the other end of the table, in another huge encounter, St Catharine’s faced Fitzwilliam. Both sides going into the game had no points, sitting joint bottom. The game started with Fitzwilliam in the ascendancy, looking threatening out wide, but, as has characterised a lot of their season, remained impotent in front of goal, unable to deliver in the final third. St Catharine’s, who were missing their key midfielder Jonny Crease, looked capable of threatening on the counter especially when they put a few passes together, but on the whole, their only threat came from set pieces. The first period was marked only by unfortunate injuries to two Catz players, with Fin Allen going off with a head injury, whilst goalkeeper Harry Glover was injured right on the stroke of half time.

The opening period closed with the scores 0-0, and it was beginning to look like a traditional bottom of the table clash between two sides struggling for goals, points and luck.

After the loss of keeper Glover, Captain Stuart Cummings volunteered to go between the sticks. He would have a busy half.

The game really kicked into life in the second half, as both sides realised how important it would be to earn three points. St Catz were denied claims for an unconvincing pass back, and then immediately Fitzwilliam went down the other end and were awarded penalty when winger Rutzler was brought down by Michael Lane inside the penalty area. Despite the protests, the referee stuck by his decision.

Up stepped Fitz captain Carl Plane. Having never scored for his college, he now had the chance to give his side a crucial lead. Fitz prior to this game have had a shocking record from the spot, having missed two in league games already this season, as well as going out of cuppers on penalties. And this trend continued when makeshift stopper Cummings dived well to his left to deny Plane that elusive first goal. His wait goes on.

From here, the game had more of an edge to it. Challenges were flying in, with Fitz increasingly in the ascendancy. They got the breakthrough from corner, Michal Roniek rose well, but his header was blocked on the line. But luckily for the away side Matt Whiting was there to tap home. Fitz maintained their pressure and doubled their lead when a long ball over the top caught the Catz back line out. With the keeper committed outside of his box, the ball sprung loose after tenacious work from Sandbach, falling to Peter Rutzler, who, on the turn, chipped the keeper from thirty yards.

From here Fitz remained in control as Catz struggled to keep possession or create enough chances, although they did come close through late surges by Gareth Goh and Andy Lowson. The final score was 2-0. A big win for Fitz.

 

Trinity Hall 1-2 Downing

Downing: Churcher, Coombes

Downing maintained their unbeaten start to the season and kept up the pressure on Jesus and St John’s thanks to a win over the title-holders Trinity Hall. Downing started brightly, and deservedly took the lead early on through Churcher. Determined to double their lead, Downing pushed on, creating numerous openings. A flowing move saw Fitton get to the by-line, and his ball back across goal was somehow put wide by Downing's rampaging fullback O'Connell. With the score only 1-0 at half time there was a danger that Downing's poor finishing would be punished. 

And indeed it was. Downing struggled in the opening period of the second half, with sloppy passing gifting possession back too easily to Tit Hall.

The equaliser came after a wonderful piece of skill from the Tit Hall striker which saw him beat two men before curling the ball over keeper Matthews from what appeared to be an impossible angle.

Downing were stung back into action, and with Moorcroft-Moran causing havoc in the box it seemed only a matter of time until Downing scored. With time running out a bouncing ball on the edge of the box fell kindly to Coombes who calmly dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to open his account for the season.

What a time to grab a winner! Downing march on, whilst Trinity Hall, especially in the wake of their 6-0 home defeat to division two Churchill in the cuppers match last week, will be looking nervously over their shoulders having not won in the league in four games now.

 

Selwyn 5-1 Pembroke

Selwyn: Ball, Kane, Hawes, Thompson (x2) 

Selwyn’s demolition of Pembroke has thrown them right into the mix for the title.  The home side remain unbeaten in the league so far, and now leapfrog St John’s on goal difference, whilst also having played one fewer game. With Jesus and St John’s still to play, they look set to be up there come the end of the campaign. Pembroke went into this one in second place, and this defeat is a huge scalp on their bid to claim back to back titles, having won division two last season. But it’s not over for them yet, especially considering that they have a Cuppers semi-final against Jesus to look forward to next week.

 

King’s 1-6 Gonville & Caius

Caius look to have pulled themselves clear of trouble, whilst King’s look set for a tough battle ahead. Joint bottom with St Catharine’s on nil-point, results have to start coming sooner rather than later. But with Fitzwilliam, Trinity Hall and St Catharine’s all still to play, an exciting run-in awaits.

Team	Games Played	Goal Difference	Points
SELWYN	5	+12	13
ST JOHN’S	6	+8	13
JESUS	4	+10	12
PEMBROKE	6	+6	10
DOWNING	5	+6	10
CAIUS	5	0	7
TRINITY HALL	5	-3	4
FITZWILLIAM	5	-2	3
KING’S	5	-15	0
ST CATHARINE’S	6	-22	0

  

 

 

DIVISION TWO

 

Emma P-P Clare

Queens’ 2-5 Darwin

Darwin: Gray, Hope (x2), Bennett, Freudenreich

Queens’: Marshall, OG (Darwin GK)

 

Homerton 2-2 Girton

Homerton: Mack, Lauwers,

Girton: Hicks, Ballantyne

*special mention to Homerton’s Harry Draper, who soiled himself in the style of Gary Lineker, yet managed to carry on through the embarrassment and discomfort*

 

Long Road 1-2 Churchill

Churchill: Rolph (x2)

 

Christ’s 4-1 Trinity

Christ’s: Baron x3, Armstrong 

Team	Games Played	Goal Difference	Points
DARWIN	5	+10	13
CHURCHILL	5	+6	13
QUEENS’	6	+9	12
GIRTON	6	+9	12
EMMA	5	+4	7
TRINITY	5	-1	7
HOMERTON	6	-5	7
LONG ROAD	6	-8	3
CHRIST’S	6	-12	3
CLARE	4	-15	0

 

 

Game of note:

Corpus Christi 4-4 Sidney Sussex (Division Four)

“The game finished 4-4 although Sidney were ahead for most of the game. For a Division Four game the quality was exceptionally high, but understandably so given that Sidney beat Caius I, whilst Trinity Hall I needed penalties to beat Corpus in Cuppers. Both teams went into the match with their title ambitions in their own hands, but with that draw Sidney now look favourites for the title. It was a particularly feisty encounter because of its importance to the title race, but also because of its importance in deciding the 2nd and 3rd worst college first teams (although both teams are capable of giving division 1 teams a good game!).”

 

*Note: no goal scorers/game details for fixtures is a result of no correspondence from the college captain.