Considering the recent weather, the pitch at Oxford Road, Fitzwilliam’s home ground, was in pretty good shape, the scars left from the previous day’s match not affecting the possibility of good football. Both sides were without their influential Blues players, making this clash a real test of strength in depth. Injuries and absentees stripped Fitz’s side even further, captain James Gillingham forced to hand debuts to post-grad Rich Bulmore and Fresher Dan Ayres. Arguably it was these two debutants that swung the game in Fitz’s favour, ex-UCL full-back Bulmore slotting into the centre of midfield, whilst Ayres started in attack.

As well as being a story of two debuts this was a game of two very contrasting halves. The first-half witnessed a dominant Fitz moving the ball confidently, marshalling the midfield, and possessing a cutting edge in attack. It was a very different case in the second period, a scrappy 20 minutes was followed by a neat finish which made the remainder of the game a nail-biting encounter. Fitz took an early lead when Shalabi’s shot was only parried, winger Harry Gamsu beating the defender to slide the ball in at the back post. A competitive contest proceeded, neither side able to really test the opposition. Bulmore’s energy and composure in the centre of the park restricted Bordell and San Antonio from prising open the Fitz backline. Fitz extended their lead before the break when a long ball from Bennici was latched onto by Ayres, the rapid Fresher gaining a yard on his marker before coolly dispatching his first clear opportunity past a despairing Blake.

The first half displayed the kind of form that saw Fitz pick up back-to-back wins at the start of Michaelmas, but the second showed why Girton are challenging Downing and Trinity for the Division 1 title. As the second half ebbed away Fitz started to look increasingly tired, Girton piling on the pressure and receiving larger quantities of possession. Bordell eventually gave Girton a way back into the match after he was cleverly slipped in by Stone. With roughly half of the second period still left on the clock everything was set for an exciting finale. Placing Fitz’s penalty area under siege, Girton desperately sought a goal that would at least earn them a point. Captain Andy Stone came closest when his glancing header looked destined for the top corner, only for his counterpart, Gillingham, to pull off an exceptional one-handed save. Girton threw everything at Fitz in the dying minutes, throwing more and more men into the Fitzwilliam half; a gamble which almost backfired when substitute Ed Evans caught Girton on the break only to squander two great opportunities, Blake denying him on both occasions.

Relief surged through the Fitzwilliam ranks as the final whistle signalled their hard earned three points, Girton doubtless disappointed that their efforts were not at least rewarded with a point. This result means that Fitz join Girton on nine points so far this season, leap-frogging them on the grounds of a superior goal difference.