FLICKR: DAVID MICHALCZUK

It’s week five of the College Football Season, and by now it is clear that Jesus aren’t a bad side, but Trinity Hall and Gonville and Caius probably are – as well as St John’s, obviously.

Anyway, this week saw the top two early front runners in the Premier League face each other in what was set to be a potentially vital title showdown. In the end, it was Jesus who ran out winners against Queens’, maintaining their 100 per cent record and emphatically continuing to ridicule my presumption that they would be dark horses. Downing look to be building up some momentum after they managed to brush aside a much fancied (although not by me) Churchill outfit, whilst Pembroke recorded back to back 3-0 wins by overcoming poor Trinity Hall. Elsewere, Fitzwilliam and St John’s shared the spoils in their meeting, while Selwyn took the points from their trip to pointless Caius.

In Division Two, champions elect Robinson recorded yet another win, ending St Catherine’s unbeaten start to the season. Girton responded to their set back against the league leaders last week by taking three points against King’s, in a result that could prove pivotal in the battle for promotion. And finally, in what surely is the standout result of the weekend, Queens’ IIs managed to take their first three points of the season against fellow strugglers Emma!

Premier League

Queens’ 1-3 Jesus

Queens’: Albert

Jesus: Raikes, Roocroft, Emerton

The top two faced off against each other in what was undoubtedly the standout fixture of the weekend. Both sides went into the game boasting 100 per cent records, with nine points from their opening three fixtures. Queens’, who were missing several key players, had a stroke of luck when their goalkeeper only received a yellow cared for clearing out an onrushing Jesus forward inside the opening five minutes. With the striker through on goal, the keeper was lucky not to see red. Jesus from this point on grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, but despite striking the woodwork, where unable to make their dominance count in the first half. In fact, it was Queens’, playing against the wind, who remarkably took the lead when Albert scored late on. The second half was a much more even affair as the wind died down, but it was Jesus who were the more clinical, netting two goals from set plays as well as fine dipping finish from the edge of the area. The result puts Jesus well and truly in the driving seat for the title, opening up a three point gap over Queens’. Next up for them is a Fitzwilliam side desperate to get back to winning ways. Queens’ will know that despite this set back, there is a still a long way to go between now and the end of the campaign. 

Downing 4-1 Churchill

Downing: Moorcroft-Moran (x2), Lawrence, Sawer

Churchill: Cammack 

Churchill’s injury crisis continues and this week Downing took no mercy with a seemingly comfortable 4-1 win. The away side started the game with nine men, but remarkably took the lead when Joe Cammack scored an absolutely outrageous free kick from inside his own half, sending their away fans and visiting supporters into delirium. Unfortunately this was short-lived, seeing as they proceeded to concede from a corner before the break. In the Second Half, the visitors weren’t at the races as Downing used the advantage of the wind to pin the Hill College back, and thanks to clinical finishing, were able to record a vital win that keeps them within striking distance of the Premier League frontrunners.  Back to back defeats will have dented Churchill’s hopes of maintaining a consecutive title push, but with Trinity Hall to play, they have the ideal opportunity to reignite their season.

Fitzwilliam 1-1 St John’s

Fitzwilliam: Roniek

St John’s: Gordon-Brown

Fitzwilliam’s title hopes are looking increasingly slim after they made it three league games without a win following their stalemate against St John’s. The visitors, who came into the game off the back of consecutive league wins, opened the scoring when Gordon-Brown struck a 40 yard effort that flew past an unmoved Henry Warne – unconfirmed reports suggest the ball was made of gluten. Gordon-Brown was, nonetheless, clearly delighted with the strike, and it probably ranks among his previous achievements such as saving the union and crashing the economy*. Fitz’s stricken keeper was duly removed, and the home side rallied in search of an equaliser, but they went into the half time interval a goal down. Chances were at a premium in the second period as the game proved to be a scrappy one, despite Fitz’s dominance of the ball. The home side did finally draw level when Roniek sent a bullet header flying into the net following a corner. From here on, Fitz pressed but were unable to produce anything in the final third. The result leaves Fitz on four points from four games and eight points adrift. With Jesus next for them, it could be make or break for their league campaign. St John’s meanwhile move on to seven points from their opening fixtures, and with key games against Queens’ and Jesus still to play, they will certainly back themselves to be amongst the front runners come the end of the season.

 *the College Football Review remains a political neutral environment and this comment was made purely for the cause of banter. Please don’t make a complaint – there are better things to do with your time

Gonville and Caius 2-3 Selwyn

Selwyn: Ball (x2), Sullivan 

Another game and another one goal defeat for Gonville and Caius who just can’t seem to catch a break at the moment. The beneficiaries this time were Selwyn, who recorded their second win of the season despite their entire squad (bar one) having played ninety minutes the day before against a ‘Neil Baldwin’ eleven (No, I don’t know who he is either). Goals from Ball with a brace and Sullivan were enough to see off the luckless home side, who are only kept off the bottom by virtue of having a nowhere near as awful goal difference as Trinity Hall. Selwyn sit sixth on six points, and travel to Queens’ for their next fixture in what should be a tougher test.

Trinity Hall 0-3 Pembroke

Pembroke: Berenson-Barros, Glennerster, Harries 

Trinity Hall really are in a mire. Just like St Catherine’s of last year, they look to be unceremoniously bombing out of the division. Having registered a goal difference of -17 from their opening four games, the prospect of staying up looks as likely a Gordon Brown* bagging a forty yarder in College Football…hmm.  Anyway, Pembroke recorded another 3-0 win with goals from the potent Berenson-Barros, Glennerster and Harries. Building from solid foundations from the back, they controlled this game and they perhaps should have scored five or six, if it wasn’t for the stunning form of the Trinity Hall goalkeeper, who made stop after stop, including a sensational double save to help ensure the score-line remained respectable. Pembroke move onto 6 points and will know that, with a game in hand over those above them, they remain in and amongst the contenders for the title. Next up for them is the visit of fellow title hopefuls St John’s. Trinity Hall meanwhile need to find something from somewhere: what that something is would preferably be points. Next up for them is a trip to Churchill. 

Division Two

King’s 1-3 Girton

King’s: Case

Girton: Hicks (x2), Almond 

Girton and King’s both harbour ambitions of promotion and this clash could prove to be a crucial one if they are to make them a reality. In the end, it was Girton who would prevail in what were dreadful conditions at King’s playing fields. Girton dominated much of the ball and they made it count when they took a 1-0 lead, however Kings’ remained a threat and created numerous openings of their own, and duly equalised when full back Jonny Guerny clipped the ball into the path of Case who volleyed home. The second half was a more one sided affair, and Girton made their pressure count by bagging two goals to seal the points. Sportsmanship praise was awarded to Girton from home captain Case, following their honesty over a close goal line decision that patently did not cross the white paint. The result puts Girton back into the top two, whilst King’s slip remain in fourth place. 

St Catherine’s 0-2 Robinson

Robinson: Procter, Sibley

The top two in the Second Tier met in what was billed as a crucial promotion showdown. Robinson, 100 per cent in all competitions faced a St Catherine’s side who were likewise yet to slip up in all competitions.  In a game that was a distinctly long way from Robinson’s 8-0 drubbing of the home side in preseason, it would ultimately be the better side who would come out on top.

The fixturewas made difficult by very one-sided conditions - each team for one half had blinding sunlight, blustery winds and a slope against them. Robinson were clearly the stronger team in the first half when the aforementioned conditions were in their favour, with Procter, Sibley and Cotterell all causing problems for St Cats' defence. The home side occasionally flickered into life - Harrison was forced to make a reflex save from a corner and had to deal with a few dangerous crosses that flirted with the Binson goalmouth, but that was the extent of Cats' threat. The Binson breakthrough came in pretty agricultural fashion, with Harrison punting a ball downfield that Procter ran onto and blasted into the roof of the net, giving Robinson a half-time lead. The second half began with Cats on the front foot, but they were unable to convert territory into any clear-cut chances, although a free header from a corner could and perhaps should have been converted. Robinson continued to threaten on the break and missed some seriously guilt-edged chances to double their lead. Controversy broke out when Sibley finished a swift counter-attack, only for the flag to go up on the far side, a decision received with general bewilderment. Cats continued to push hard but Binson delivered the sucker punch with another Sibley-finished counter attack with about ten minutes to go. Cats' hit the post directly from a corner, but the game was over by that stage. The game became marred a bit in the second half with flare-ups, bickering and some dirty tackles but there can be no doubt that the away side deserved victory. Special mention goes to Friend at the back and to both Sibley and Procter who continue their battle to be all-time Robinson top goalscorer (records began three years ago).

The result leaves Robinson four wins from four, comfortably top with a fair amount of daylight between them and the chasing pack. St Catherine’s drop to third, but will be aware that many below them have multiple games in hand.

Queens’ IIs 1-0 Emma

 And finally, this week’s review will end on a high note (Well for everyone except anyone who has any affinity to Emma) seeing as Queens’ IIs recorded a remarkable first win of the season. Having been drubbed 6-1 and 9-0 against Homerton and Girton respectively in their opening fixtures, the home side were finding life tough as the highest placed second string side. However, they may just have recorded a vital win against an Emma side who likewise cannot find a win for love nor money nor any other form of frowned upon bribery. The result moves Queens’ IIs up to the heady heights of 8th, whilst Emma continue to prop the table up with nothing to show from their opening fixtures.