Division One

We are halfway through the college football season and it has so far been an unpredictable one; any slip-up could cost dearly.  Varsity has a look at the teams fighting it out in Division One and asks the captains what they think will happen.

 

Christs

 

Captain: Graeme Cade

Top scorer: S. Harrison (5)

Player to look out for: Z. Khreisheh

 

Captain’s comment: “We will look to continue the excellent start we had in cuppers (6-0 vs Magdalene) with a strong performance against Queens. We are confident that we can make at least the semi-finals. Unfortunately a couple of bad league results at the end of Michaelmas term take us out of title contention, but with an early victory or two this term there's no reason why we can’t make a top 3 finish. The first half of the season proved that we have the grit and determination to pull out some big results (e.g. beating Downing) but we need to be more clinical at both ends of the pitch.”

 

Downing

 

Captain: Josh McEvoy

Top Scorer: Dan Sellman

Player to look out for: John Lacy

 

Captain’s comment: “Disappointed by a shock defeat early on in the season the team have moved back towards the top of the table on the back of some strong performances. We are more determined than ever to win Cuppers having lost out in the final last year and take the coveted trophy back to Granchester Road.”

 

Emma

 

Captain: Tom Hughes

Top Scorer: James Douglas

Player to look out for: Mike O'Connell

 

Captain’s comment: “Emma's season has so far been a successful one, and we are second in the league and into the second round of cuppers. The first four league games brought 4 wins, with the team scoring 16 goals and conceding only one from the penalty spot. This incredible run was brought to an end with a narrow 3-2 defeat to Downing, which after going 2-0 up in the first half was disappointing. However we go into the second half of the season confident we can continue our title challenge, have a strong run in cuppers and put our neat passing football to good use in the five-a-side tournament.”

 

Fitzwilliam

 

Captain: Vince Bennici

Top scorer: Stephen Eisenhammer

Player to look out for: Teodor Todorov

 

Captain’s comment: “We have some very tough games against the top three teams in the coming weeks. If we take points off the three teams above us then we'll be a dark horse for the league title, but that's a big ask, especially after losing 10 first team players at the end of last season. We have mixed feelings about last term. However, we were disappointed to lose a late equaliser to Jesus, and feel we massively underperformed against Catz. All in all though, 7 points from 12 and 4th place in the league was a pretty good start. I think there's very little separating 7 or 8 teams in the league so I think anything could happen this term.”

 

Girton

 

Captain: Matt Foster

Top scorer: Dan Rees

Player to look out for: Oska Paul

 

Captain’s comment: “The first half of the season was not great and we find ourselves in a relegation battle. The team has changed a lot from last year with a lot of new players. It is going to be difficult to avoid relegation but we will fight all the way knowing that we have the quality to stay in the league. We will need to find the net much more often as this has been our let down thus far.”

 

Gonville and Caius

 

Captain: Dan Wellbelove

Top scorer: Top Scorer: Marsden, Scrase, Warner, OG

Player to look out for: Andrew Marsden

 

Captain’s comment: “Considering this is our first season back in the top flight, we are pretty happy with how the season's gone so far. We've only lost by the odd goal to two of the league leaders, and picked up results against those around us. We're confident of picking up another win or two which will keep us up for next year.”

 

Homerton

 

Captain: Ryan Stevens

Top Scorer: Richard Eggleston

Player to look out for: Anthony Childs

 

Captain’s comment: “With the players at our disposal we should not have lost 2 games already this season. From the first half of the season we have not played well as a team in some games, particularly defensively which is suprising when looking at the experience and quality we have there. With Trinity out of sight we're looking to challenge for second along with a few other teams. As ever we'll be trying to win cuppers having been narrowly knocked out in the previous two years.”

 

Jesus

 

Captain: Patrick Knight

Top scorer: Matt Gerrett

Player to look out for: Jordan Nadian

 

Captain’s comment: “After a mixed Michaelmas term in which some strong performances were marred by late lapses in concentration, we will be looking to push our way up the League during Lent. Key home fixtures against Homerton and Christ's will be closely fought matches, whilst we shall also seek to make amends for a disappointing Cuppers exist against Selwyn last year.”

 

St Catz

 

Captain: George Hill

Top scorer: Jack Hickmore

Player to look out for: Rob Mindell

 

Captain’s comment: “We are in a Relegation battle for the second consecutive season and we desperately need to pick up points against our relegation rivals, especially Girton. We need to take promising first half performances right up to the final whistle.”

 

Trinity

 

Captain: Matt Smith

Top scorer: Danny Gammall

Player to look out for: Matt cole

 

Captain’s comment: “The season has gone fantastically well so far. Excellent effort from the whole squad has meant we are so far undefeated and top of the league, whilst conceding just one goal. Long may it continue. Tough fixture against Emma on the 22nd that will help decide the league champions.”