Grange Road, the soon-to-be home of Cambridge United Women, played host to the 40th Women’s Varsity football fixture, where the light blues sought to retain their Varsity crown. However, Oxford’s clinical finishing saw them take the spoils in a match that went to the wire, in front of a bumper 1500-strong crowd.
After a minute’s silence for young Oxford United academy goalkeeper Amelia Aplin, who tragically passed away ealier this month, Cambridge got the game underway. It was the home side who got a shot on target within the first minute, with Sakina Dhirani involved in the action down the left wing early on. Oxford then won the first corner of the game, but it was dealt with well by the hosts; both sides struggled to get a foot-hold in the opening stages and to threaten the respective back lines.
Cambridge were reluctant to commit too many bodies forward, mindful of the threat that Oxford’s quick transition and counter attack posed. It was such transitional play that earned them another corner, and the game’s first big chance fell to Matilda Beloou, whose effort was kept out by Sophie Perret between the sticks for Cambridge – forcing the first save of the game.
Wayne and Dhirani’s link-up play looked like a promising potential creative spark for Cambridge but just couldn’t fashion a dangerous enough move to threaten the away side’s defence. Oxford soon began to get real control of the game as Cambridge struggled to maintain possession and make it out of their half, although the back line remained resolute. However, it was almost broken, if not for Victorious Olamona’s professional foul on Oxford’s leading goalscorer Di Verniero, who nearly found herself through on goal. Olamona switfly became the first name to enter the referee’s book, though the resultant free kick posed no trouble to Perret.
“The hosts were living dangerously as they looked to keep a dominant Oxford side at bay”
Cambridge had a rare venture into the opposition box and won a corner after Wayne’s incisive pass was intercepted and put behind – the subsequent corner evading everyone in the crowded box. Beloou forced another save from Perret soon after as the dark blues continued to knock on the door in search of an opener and make their early pressure count. The hosts were living dangerously, and would be welcoming the half time whistle as they looked to keep a dominant Oxford side at bay. However, Oxford finally found their well-deserved breakthrough as a ball over the top found Jordan Di Verniero, who managed to get away from Omalona this time and fired it beyond Perret in the 35th minute.
Cambridge skipper Lara Branston sought to inspire a response from her side in the middle of the park, but any attempts to play the ball forward were quickly snuffed out by a well-organised Oxford defence. Oxford were close to a second as half time beckoned, Cambridge managing to scramble away another corner. An ambitious long-range effort up the other end from Cambridge’s Christiana Wayne sought to catch Tully off-guard, but rose just over in the last effort of the half.
The hosts did well to hold out until the break with just a one-goal deficit, Cicely Levett and Eva Kelly putting in some crucial interventions in the box to deny Di Verniero her second of the half. A well-drilled Oxford side dominated the first 45 and were scarcely threatened by the light blues, who were yet to unleash their attacking prowess as moves consistently broke down before the final third.
“A sucker punch came just as Cambridge had begun to find their rhythm”
The second half began in similar fashion to the end of the first; Oxford comfortably keeping possession, until a rare mistake saw Abels-Marti presented with an opportunity to draw level. Wayne picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area, playing Abels Marti through and forcing Tully into her first real save of the match.
Buoyed by that early chance, Cambridge had a spell of pressure that disrupted Oxford’s flow as Dhirani and Wayne began to see more of the ball in midfield. Attacker Elin Greif was dropping deeper to pick up the ball, Cambridge’s link-up play an instant improvement on the first half. This pressure brought the home support to life and shook a previously sturdy Oxford defence, as misplaced passes and unforced errors saw momentum shift. Abels-Marti nearly caught Tully out in possession, the Oxford keeper just doing enough to clear her lines on the hour mark.
However, a sucker punch came just as Cambridge had begun to find their rhythm. A ball in behind was latched onto by the clinical Di Verniero, who slotted it beyond Perret to double Oxford’s lead. The home side’s momentum was halted, and they had a mountain to climb with just over twenty minutes left on the clock. The light blues’ bench responded with a quadruple substitution as they sought to claw themselves back into the game. They did just that a matter of seconds later. Christiana Wayne’s superb strike sailed past Tully and into the Oxford net, the Grange Road crowd erupting, setting up an enthralling end to the game.
“Wayne’s superb strike sailed into the Oxford net, the Grange Road crowd erupting, setting up an enthralling end to the game.”
A welcome break in play came for the away side as Omalona received treatment which allowed them to regroup, their earlier hold on the game having been completely lost in the second half. Cambridge’s relentless pursuit of an equaliser soon continued however, as Isla Strutt’s good work down the left won a corner for the home side. The joy down the left flank persisted as Abels-Marti’s cross found the head of Greif, her effort rising just over the bar.
Into the final ten minutes, time was running out for Cambridge to complete a comeback, Oxford happy to run down the clock and dial down the temperature in front of an increasingly hostile crowd. The elusive equaliser so nearly came from a well-worked counter attack, but the final ball just eluded Greif in the six yard box.
To the excitement of the home support, ten minutes of additional time were to be played after an injury-ridden second half. That excitement was so nearly extinguished as Kezia Elston’s free kick from 30 yards hit the crossbar, inches away from decisively sealing victory for the visitors. Cambridge couldn’t fashion another opportunity, and that one-goal cushion proved to be enough as Oxford held on to reclaim the Varsity title. The light blues’ valiant and much-improved second half display was narrowly overcome by Di Viniero’s clinical finishing, which ultimately proved the difference.
