The college football season has reached the point where results begin to mean that little bit more as college sides look to frame their ambitions for the run-in. Thrashing Trinity Hall is no longer just banter, but a necessary accumulation of goals and narcissistic ego trip.

In the Premier League, the title contenders are beginning to emerge from the pretenders. Jesus, who have been at the summit from the get-go, lead the way having achieved double-header delight over the weekend with wins over both Selwyn and Pembroke. Queens’ now look to be their most willing challengers, and in their huge match against perennial contenders St John’s, they came out on top to put themselves within touching distance of the league leaders. At the other end of the table, Trinity Hall have seemingly thrown in the towel, preventing Downing from improving their goal difference in a cruel declaration of a walkover; the last conniving swipes of a flailing college side. Caius’ survival hopes were unaltered after a postponement against Fitzwilliam, however they know that with Pembroke and Trinity Hall to play, the great escape could still well be on.

In Division Two, the bottom of the table looks like a hash job by an alcoholic barber. Anyone from 4th downwards is still, feasibly, in potential trouble, with only 4 points separating Darwin in the top four with bottom placed Homerton. Trinity pulled themselves off the foot of the table thanks to a huge win over Cuppers Quarter Finalists St Catharine’s, who now themselves will be glancing nervously over their shoulders at the trap door having lost three on the spin. King’s managed to arrest their recent slide in form with an emphatic win over Queens’ IIs, a win that moves them up to 5th, a point above their humbled opponents but only three above the drop zone. Emma dropped back into the relegation zone after being crushed by Robinson, whilst Darwin’s defeat to Girton, despite being the only side to score against the runaway leaders, means that they remain within touching distance of the bottom of the table. At the other end, leaders Robinson resumed winning ways away at Emma, leaving them in total command of their promotion hopes. Meanwhile the mysterious and unknown Long Road look set to push Girton all the way in their promotion push.

 

Premier League

 

Queens’ 3-2 St John’s

Queens’: Duncan, Marshall Sefton

St John’s: Horan, Gaskell

In the biggest game of the weekend by far, Queens’ triumphed to give themselves a real shot of winning the title. The home side, despite having lost to Jesus last term, were gifted the chance to catch the league leaders when they slipped up against Fitzwilliam, meaning, should the home side win their game in hand, they will go joint top with the current champions-elect. St John’s came into the game knowing that the title too was still in their own hands. A win here, and a win in their next fixture against Jesus, would have put them in the driving seat to lift the trophy. Nevertheless, it now looks like 2016 will be a trophy-less year for last year’s Cuppers winners, as Queens’ recorded a huge win.

Queens' got off to the best possible start when Duncan headed home from a corner within 5 minutes, an impressive first touch in first team football this year. Queens' then sat back and were duly punished by John's who equalised shortly after.

This turned out to be just what Queens' needed who then promptly went back on the front foot. Marshall regained the lead with a clever free kick, hitting it low and hard to the other side of the wall. Sefton cemented Queens' late dominance with a goal before half time. A delightful back heel touch put himself through on goal, and he made no mistake in a one-on-one with the John’s stopper.

The first half was very feisty, Queens' kept giving away free kicks about 40 yards out. Ward was booked for repeat fouls, having already chopped several John’s players down. Payne also probably should have been in the book for a two-footed lunge.  Shortly after the restart the John's centre-mid threw an almighty hissy fit, leading to a kick on  Ward, relatively unprovoked, in what was a stone-wall red card - but he was only given a yellow, then asked to be subbed off anyway.

Queens' were in charge for the first 20 mins of the second half, and then the game became very long-ball and cagey, with Johns having the better of the play. They pulled one back after a good run from their front man, who played very well all game. In the last 20 mins Queens' had several chances to kill the game off as John's were committed to finding an equaliser. A sensational save stopped Marshall bagging his second. Following the keeper going up for a corner, Plecko tore through goal. With only one defender to deal with Plecko had the opportunity to write himself into the history books as Queens' all-time leading Croatian born goal scorer, but promptly missed his open goal.

A huge result for Queens’, who, with only sides in the bottom half of the table to play – including Trinity Hall, will really fancy their chances of lifting the title.

Selwyn 1-4 Jesus (Saturday)

Jesus: Law, Ashmead, Raikes, Roocroft

In round one of Jesus’ crunch weekend, the league leaders comfortably saw off a plucky Selwyn side. The home team are yet to win a game at home in the league this season, and they will be well aware that with Caius still to play hapless and pointless Trinity Hall, they may soon find themselves in a scrap at the bottom if they don’t pick up points and quickly soon. Nevertheless, they will look forward to next week’s Cuppers Quarter Final against Division Two heavyweights Robinson, and having knocked out title contenders Queens’ in the previous round, they will fancy their chances against their high-flying opponents. Jesus meanwhile dusted off their boots and prepared for Sunday’s fixture, against Pembroke.

 

Churchill 3-1 Pembroke (Saturday)

Churchill: Komber, Berridge-Dunn, Cammack

Pembroke:  Allan

Fixture congestion meant that Pembroke would, like Jesus, have to play a second fixture over the weekend, and the first of these was against Churchill. The home side still harbour hopes of spoiling the Queens’ – Jesus party at the top of the table, as with two games in hand over the leaders, they could potentially move to within 3 points of the frontrunners if they win them all. This game was over by half time. Churchill took the lead thanks to a well taken rebound by impressive debutant Ahmad Komber, before Berridge-Dunn quickly doubled their lead off a Rolph cut back, neatly slotting home from the edge of the area. Joe Cammack then finished off Pembroke inside the first 45 after he rewarded Jonny Holland from a string of pinpoint corners with a finish through the keeper’s legs at the back post. Pembroke improved in the second half but by then the game was gone, even in despite of Allan’s consolation effort. A comfortable win for Churchill, one that sits them in 5th with four to play, whilst for Pembroke, they, like Selwyn will know that Caius could easily pull them into trouble. They face them in the next round of league action. Both sides will be involved in Cuppers action next weekend, with Pembroke facing Girton on Saturday, and Churchill travelling the distance to Fitz for the Hill Varsity.

 

Pembroke 1-2 Jesus (Sunday)

Pembroke: Ogier

Jesus: Ashmead, Law

Match two for both these sides was a much tighter affair than both outfits had faced the previous day. Similarly to their Churchill encounter, Pembroke buckled in the first half to find themselves two goals down at the break. The first of which was “an absolute worldie” by Jesus captain Ritchie Ashmead, who has been prolific this season. But the home side rallied in the second period, and at full-time, were unlucky to have not taken something from the game. They hit the bar and were also denied by an excellent save from the Jesus stopper, but they could only manage to pull one back, with the goal coming from Pembroke captain Tom Ogier. The result leaves Jesus at the summit, whilst for Pembroke, after taking 0 points from their double-header weekend, find themselves in 7th, 3 points above the drop zone and well out of title contention. But last year’s Cuppers finalists will take spirit from their Second Half in this game into their quarter final against St John’s slayers Girton, who are sure to put up a stern test. Jesus face St Catharine’s in another quarter final.

Fitzwilliam P-P Gonville and Caius

Downing v Trinity Hall - Home Walkover

 

Division Two

 

Darwin 2-5 Girton

Girton: Fisher (x3), Hicks, Ritter

Girton continued their promotion push with victory over Darwin, all but ending the home side’s promotion hopes. Darwin looked to have breathed new evolved life into the second half of their campaign having become the first side to defeat Robinson in all competitions and the first side to score against them in the league. However, up against a Girton side determined to go one better than last season they ended up falling short, courtesy of a hat trick from Fisher and goals from Ritter and the prolific Harry Hicks. The win leaves Girton in 3rd with 13 points, five points adrift of Robinson albeit with a game in hand, but importantly, only two points behind Promotion rivals Long Road, who they face in the coming weeks in what is sure to be a fiercely contested promotion crunch game. Girton also Cuppers to look forward to, and having defeated St John’s, the holders, in the Round of 16, they will hope to knock out fellow Cuppers finalists Pembroke on Saturday.

 

Emma 1-6 Robinson

Robinson: Bourgeard (x2), Sibley (x2), Procter, Cotterell

Robinson resumed normal service over the weekend, comfortably disposing of Emma, who slip back into the relegation places as a result. After the shocking performance of last weekend this was a much needed return to form for ‘Binson. They dominated a very open first half, racing into a two goal lead after Bougeard bagged a brace, the first being a sliding finish to an excellent cross from Sibley, the second a penalty. Sibley rounded the keeper after a beautiful through ball from Donega to make it three. Emma created chances for themselves however and scored a fairly route-one, flick-on goal to give them hope. Dewhurst then made a fine one-on-one save to prevent a further goal after Emma countered well from a corner. But Binson continued to terrorise their back four and Sibley made it four before half time. The second half was by contrast more reserved as both teams tired. Procter, on his fiftieth ‘Binson cap, scored an absolute worldie, collecting the ball after a series of one touch passes, cutting in from the left and then firing high into the net from 25 yards. Substitute Cotterell rounded things off with an extremely well taken finish that saw him set himself up for a volley and smack it into the roof of the net from twelve yards. Robinson know that should they win in their next league outing against Queens’ IIs, promotion to the top flight will, finally, be achieved.

King’s 5-0 Queens’ IIs

King’s: Bell, Foster, Daley, Case, Gurney

King’s secured a huge and comfortable result over Queens’ IIs over the weekend. Off the back of a 6-2 drubbing by Long Road, this result was much needed for the relegated side as it pulls them further away from the drop, although they are not quite safe yet. Goals from Bell, Foster, Daley, Case, Gurney in what was their “best performance of the season so far” saw standout displays from Bell, Daley, Case and Smith as Queens’ could hardly get a foot on the ball. While goals have never been a problem for this team - though again we could have scored three or four more - a first clean sheet of the season is certainly good news. The win puts King’s in a positive frame of mind going into their massive Europa Plate semi-final this weekend against Christ's. Queens’ IIs, on the other hand, edge closer to the bottom two.

 

St Catharine’s 0-2 Trinity

Trinity hauled themselves off the foot of the table with a win at St Catz. The win moves them up to 7th, 2 points clear of the bottom and with a game in hand. St Catharine’s, who have a tough Cuppers quarter final against Jesus on Sunday, will know that results must pick up soon if they are to avoid a back to back drop. With five games still to be played for the former Premier League side, they know safety is very much in their own hands. Trinity too can take comfort in the long run in, and they face bottom placed Homerton next.