Pembroke 2 - 4 Robinson (aet)

Pembroke’s reputation as the perennial bridesmaids of college football intensified after a horrible collapse led to defeat by Robinson in Friday evening’s Cuppers final.

Having lost both the 2014 and the 2015 finals, Pembroke arrived at Grange Road high in confidence, having breezed past Madgalene, Girton and St Catharine’s in this year’s competition. They faced an already-promoted Robinson side which had squeezed past Fitzwilliam on penalties in the semi-finals.

Indeed, the Valencians settled better early on, perhaps more relaxed under the lights of Grange Road, the venue they know so well. The powerful David Ifere struck a low shot which Falcons goalkeeper John Harrison couldn’t hold, before Marcus Nielsen’s follow-up was brilliantly blocked by the Wakefield-born stopper.

A promising start failed to ignite the Pembroke crowd, who seemed more cold than enthusiastic as they huddled under the pavilion roof. On the pitch, however, their side continued to threaten; Nielsen missed a golden chance from an excellent Berenson-Barros delivery, before Ifere also blazed over when well placed.

The first two finally combined to give Pembroke a deserved lead just shy of the half-hour mark. A Berenson-Barros corner from the right was only half cleared, allowing for the ball to be returned into the box, with Nielsen rising high to leave the goalkeeper with no chance.

Tom Ogier’s side, who have still never won the coveted Cuppers trophy, continued to dictate play and wasted further excellent chances to extend their lead before the interval. Robinson, meanwhile, were limited to the counter attack. Jack Sibley might have done better when bearing down on goal, only to try something a touch too intricate.

The yellow-shirted Robinson team were buoyed throughout by their vociferous if not numerous travelling fans. The smell of booze was almost detectable right across the playing surface, as the supporters, making the shortest possible journey on the college football circuit, became increasingly loud as the game wore on. Chants to the Pembroke fans of ‘Is this a library?’ were perhaps ironic, seeing as enough Robinsonians had clearly chosen their books over the football.

The question at the start of the second half was whether Pembroke would live to regret their missed chances, but that didn’t appear to be the case as, ten minutes after the restart, the men in blue extended their lead.

A ball into the box wasn’t dealt with, and Ifere swivelled and sent a low finish crashing beyond Harrison.

Robinson were growing into the game and fashioned chances from Sibley and Procter, but remained lacking in cutting edge, with the only real danger coming from the delivery of the cultured Matteo Donega, the Italian who has played at Serie C level.  

Having defended valiantly throughout, Robinson suddenly found a way back into the game seven minutes from time. Donega’s clever free kick slipped down the side of the wall, with Procter having the freedom of Grange Road to fire home having escaped the attention of Bittlestone.

From that point, the game became a tale of two goalkeepers. Whilst Robinson saw Harrison display fine handling skills and make an important save from Ifere, who was later withdrawn and replaced by Justo, Dan Fenelli in the Pembroke goal looked noticeable out of his depth.

Described in the pre-match programme as ‘like Tim Howard at the World Cup,’ the American looked like the American keeper of the past few weeks at Everton, flapping at crosses and failing to command his area.

A Donega free kick with three minutes left on the watch was allowed to travel much too far, eventually nestling in the far corner. Pandemonium ensued, with several Robinson fans on the pitch and suddenly, having wrestled the game level, it was the Division Two side who had all the momentum. Pembroke, having been so close to ending their Grange Road hoodoo, suddenly looked rattled.

The tireless work of Adebayo, Amjad and Oli Friend, the defensive midfielder, ought to be mentioned too, as the trio smothered several promising attacks before starting their team’s counters.

During extra time it was Robinson who looked the more likely, as Pembroke, perhaps sensing their chance had gone, dropped deeper and looked increasingly vulnerable from set plays.

Another of those set pieces led to Robinson taking the lead for the first time on 104 minutes. Donega’s ball into the box was badly misjudged by Fanelli and, after a scramble, Omar Amjad nodded in from close range. Some thirty Robinsonians streamed past stewards and onto the pitch in the melee which followed, confident their comeback had been completed.

Indeed it had, and the gloss was added just minutes later. An excellent advantage from referee Andy Webster allowed the constantly-lively Procter to burst to the byeline, before his low cross was steered into his own net by the unfortunate Haydn Francis.

The final whistle was greeted both with scenes of jubilation and with tears. Pembroke have thrown away their third, and most golden, chance to clinch the Cuppers crown. Their attention turns to the league; after Selwyn’s victory over Churchill they face a fight to say in the top flight.

As for Robinson, the rags-to-riches story simply goes on. Three years ago they faced a relegation battle in Division Three. Now, they are Cuppers champions.

Teams:

Pembroke: Fanelli, Allan, Bittlestone, Glennerster, Christou (Francis 97), Burdett, Oldfield, Ogeir (c), Ifere (Justo 78), Nielsen, Berenson-Barros.

Robinson: Harrison, Marino (c), Weston, Amjad (Woods 117), Friend, Adebayo, Cotterell (Colverd 64), Bougeard, Donega, Sibley (Dworschak 108), Procter

Referee: Andy Webster (Magdalene)

Man of the Match: John Harrison (Robinson)