As college teams start to reach the end of the seasons, promotion and relegation talk is on everyone’s lips. With 14 games played and 89 goals scored across all competitions, this weekend represented a real bumper crop.

There were two cup matches played this weekend, the first being the postponed Fitzwilliam vs Caius Cuppers quarter-final with Storm Dennis’ timely departure allowing play to resume, With the prospect of a semi-final against Sidney in two week’s time on the line both teams were keen to come out on top. However, it was favourites and holders Fitzwilliam who came out victorious with a 5-1 win.

The game was not as one sided as the score line might suggest however, with Caius frustrating the hosts for large portions of the game. Nevertheless, a man of the match performance from Theo Williamson, who bagged four goals, was enough to secure safe passage through to the next round.

The other cup game saw Division 2’s fifth place side St Catherine’s comfortably beat Division 1’s rock bottom side Trinity 3-0 in the plate semi-final. In the first half left winger Marco Laurence netted a quality solo effort into the far corner after cutting inside, which was followed by a scrappy goal from centre back James Taylor before half time leaving Trinity with a lot of work to do in the second half.

“Queens’ league season has tailed off noticeably, and they now lie in 7th position”

Catz then put the game beyond all doubt in the second half when Ruan Haymer’s clipped ball into the box found Zixiao Hu, who took a touch and dispatched his effort calmly. The result now sets up an all Division 2 final which will see St Catherines face Girton on 7th March.

In league action, Division 1 saw two games this weekend. Robinson were able to celebrate securing safety by resting their usual suspects and naming a much-changed side against St Johns. Survival seemed to lift a significant weight off Robinson’s shoulders, with a freedom of play bringing four goals from Stefan Thomson, including a couple of cheeky chipped efforts over the keeper, which saw them 5-2 up mid-way through the second half. However, John’s were to have the last laugh, fighting until the end and scoring four goals in 20 minutes to come out 6-5 winners.

The pick of the goals came from John Greathead’s left footed bullet from 30 yards out and Abhik Vinod’s 40-yard screamer with the outside of his boot into the top corner. Alex Mercer (Johns) had a standout performance with his work rate and instinctive movement to notch two goals for his side.

The other Division 1 game was just high scoring but a far more one sided affair. Cuppers finalists Queens had a much-depleted side and came out the victims of a 7-1 pummelling by Downing, who rise to third in the division. 10-man Queens were unsurprisingly outnumbered and outplayed by Downing, and tenacious striker Max Burley bagged himself hattrick alongside Ewan Ferguson who lodged an equally impressive three goal tally.

Queens’ league season has tailed off noticeably, and they now lie in 7th position. Their prime focus will now be on the Cuppers final to be played after Easter (Friday 1st May).

In Division 2, Corpus Christi secured promotion in unlikely circumstances, being awarded a walkover in their away fixture at Jesus after there had been a mix-up in booking the Jesus pitch which resulted in only half an hour of friendly football being played. Long Road beat Trinity Hall’s ten men 5-1 to continue their late title challenge and their game against Pembroke at the end of term could well be the decider.

The other game to be played was Emma’s massively important 1-0 win against Girton which gives Emma a great chance of staying up and will have Girton looking over their shoulder in the hope that Fitzwilliam II fail to pick up points in their last two fixtures.

Division 3’s action this weekend saw the top two sides, Selwyn I and Kings I, both recording emphatic 8-2 and 9-2 wins over Trinity II and Churchill II respectively. This set of results sees Selwyn crowned champions and Churchill II relegated. With their superior goal difference Kings will be hoping to secure promotion in their final game against Trinity II, who are also in need points to avoid the drop.

In Division 4, CCCC suffered their first dropped points of the season as Emma II beat them in an enthralling game that ended 4-3. CCCC will still be hoping to top the division and can do so with one more victory. Emma II keep their promotion hopes alive in second place but are relying on results elsewhere. The other result in Division 4 was Downing II’s 2-1 win over Girton II.

Division 5 saw Peterhouse get back to winning ways, trumping a hard-working Christs II side 4-3 which sees Peterhouse promoted. Robinson III’s 2-1 win against Trinity Bruces has left them with a great chance of sidestepping relegation as long as they can avoid defeat by 3 goals or more in their final game against high flying Caius III. Fitzwilliam III’s 3-1 defeat against Jesus III means that they would be the team for the drop if Robinson can indeed pull off their great escape.

The other result in Division 5 was St Catherines II’s 6-3 win against an already relegated St Johns III side.

Full tables, fixtures and results can be found here.