Cambridge take on Oxford in the 135th Varsity football matchDevarshi Lodhia

by Devarshi Lodhia & William Ross

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  • Oxford 1-1 Cambridge (Cambridge win 5-3 on penalties)
  • Ringhof wonder strike gives Cambridge the lead 
  • Actelstetter equalises for Oxford
  • Cambridge Men's looking to avenge last year's Varsity defeat 
  • Cambridge Women earlier won 3-1 to regain the Varsity crown

5:19pm And that's all from us here at The Hive

From Will Ross and Devarshi Lodhia it's goodbye for now!

5:14pm What a game! 

Congratulations to both Cambridge teams today

5:00pm Jubilant scenes here at the Hive 

5:00pm NWUBA SCORES!!! CAMBRIDGE WIN

4:59pm Nwuba steps up and if he scores Cambridge win!

4:59pm Sypniewski saves for Cambridge!

4:58pm Gallagher scores for Cambridge 4-3

4:58pm Oxford score 3-3

4:57pm No mistake from the former pro 3-2 to Cambridge 

4:57pm Goalscorer Ringhof steps up for Cambridge

4:57pm He scores 2-2

4:56pm Captain Ackerman steps up for Oxford...

4:56pm Ellis scores for Cambridge 2-1

4:55pm Oxford score 1-1

4:55pm Young scores 1-0 Cambridge

4:54pm  Joe Young of Cambridge will take the first penalty 

4:51pm It's going to penalties

4:49pm Looks like we'll have penalties. Game petering out here.....

4:48pm 3 minutes of injury time to be played 

4:46pm Corner comes to nothing. 88 minutes played 

4:45pm Corner to Cambridge. Can we nick it?

4:43pm Into the final five minutes of ordinary time......

4:43pm Oxford sub: Evans off, Burton on 

4:42pm Bit of insider info here from my co-blogger Devarshi Lodhia. If it goes to penalties, Noah Reich is unlikely to take one having missed a crucial penalty in his school's cup final in upper sixth 

4:41pm Melbourne is unable to continue and is replaced by Callum Parker 

4:39pm Lull in proceedings as Cambridge captain Oscar Melbourne receives treatment. Oxford captain and UCS alumnus Leo Ackerman brings his team into a huddle and shouts "Big last 10 here boys"

4:38pm 80 minutes gone here. 10 minutes till penalties......

4:36pm Nwuba's physicality has made a difference since he's come on, and he again does well to hold the ball up and relieve some Oxford pressure 

4:33pm Nwuba threatens to break away, and the Oxford coach yells "F****g foul him" - the Oxford defender duly obliges and we have a Cambridge free-kick 

4:31pm First yellow card of the game as Oxford's  Naylor is booked for a disgraceful challenge on Young. No place for that in the game! Naylor serenaded by chants of "W***r" from the Cambridge faithful 

4:27pm 20 minutes to play here. Just a reminder that if it's all square after 90 we go straight to penalties......

4:26pm Cambridge sub: Mortimer on for Bull 

4:24pm All Oxford now - Cambridge look slightly rattled and are struggling to string any passes together 

4:20pm Lots of noise from the Oxford fans now. Cambridge need to weather this storm....

4:19pm A slick Oxford passing move culminates in Ackerman getting to the by-line, and his excellent cross finds Achtelstetter who pokes home from 2 yards out 

4:18pm OXFORD GOAL!

4:18pm The Oxford coach just yelled 'Pick a pass" seven times in a row. Not sure that's particularly helpful......

4:17pm As we approach the 60th minute mark, the game is still delicately poised. #CouldGoEitherWay

4:14pm That Cambridge sub means that Cambridge now have two up top and have switched to 4-4-2. Will Jez George's tactical switch pay off?

4:13pm Cambridge sub: Nwuba replaces Rodrigues 

4:12pm Oxford sub: Aktelsterr replaces Mort 

4:11pm Ringhof lines up another shot from 25 yards out but this time his effort flies high and wide 

4:08pm "We hate Cambridge" ringing out from the stands now #GDBO

4:05pm Early Oxford pressure in the second-half, with Cambridge forced to deal with some early corners. Hang in there boys!

4:04pm The second-half has begun. Can the men cap off an excellent day for Cambridge?

3:57pm Incidentally, 30-year old Cambridge goalscorer Julian Ringhof previously played professional football for Arizona United SC in the United Soccer League. You know you're good when you've got your own Wikipedia page! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Ringhof

3:52pm A really pulsating half of football, and the fans who made the short trip to North London certainly getting full value 

3:50pm Oxford will perhaps feel slightly aggrieved to be trailing at the break, having had the better of the chances. A long way to go though......

3:49pm The half-time whistle goes, and Ringhof's fabulous strike separates the two sides 

3:48pm The Oxford coach is furious, bellowing "Get hold of the f**** ball", as the Cambridge fans bounce up and down in the stands 

3:47pm Ringhof with an absolute screamer for Cambridge! There doesn't seem to be any danger when he picks up the ball in midfield 25 yards out, but he unleashes a wonderful effort into the top left-hand corner. What a time to score!

3:47pm CAMBRIDGE GOAL!!!

3:46pm Chance for Cambridge! A solo run Rodrigues causes panic in the Oxford defence, wriggling past a number of challenges before his shot is deflected, and the pinball in the Oxford eventually falls into the Oxford keeper's hands

3:43pm Oxford go close from the corner, as Evans's free-header from 5 yards out flies over the bar. Should he have hit the target?

3:42pm Oxford corner now as a Barton shot from range is deflected side. Can either side grab a goal before half-time?

3:37pm Good driving run from Ollie Lerway and Cambridge have a free-kick in a decent position 

3:33pm Chance for Oxford!An audacious piece of skill allows Mort to again beat his man and get to the by-line. Again, his cut-back falls to an Oxford attacker, but the shot flies into the side-netting

3:29pm Oxford fans really making themselves heard now, as Cambridge 'keeper Sypniewksi is subjected to some light-hearted abuse 

3:28pm Oxford threaten again, as Barton fizzes over a shot from distance 

3:26pm Cambridge get in down the right but Lerway's cross floats harmlessly into the Oxford keeper's gloves 

3:23pm No sign of the intensity dropping here as we hit the 20 minute mark. Pretty even for now, looks like it will be a game of fine margins 

3:20pm Gasps from the Cambridge supporters as Ellis flashes a long-range short narrowly wide. Promising signs here......

3:19pm Cambridge growing into the game here, playing some neat passing football to gain a foothold in the game 

3:16pm Cambridge go close as a neat move culminates in Lerway flashing a shot across goal. Suffice to say, the Oxford coach does not react well, sinking to his knees and yelling "F****g sort it out" 

3:13pm The Cambridge back-four need to liven up or it will be a long 90 minutes......

3:12pm Oxford really on top here, as they again break the offside trap. This time Patrick Barton bears down on goal but is caught in two minds whether to shoot or square it for Dom Thelen, and his tame effort rolls into the hands of Sypniewksi 

3:10pm Big chance for Oxford! The Oxford left-winger, Ed Mort, again beats the offside trap, gets to the byline and cuts it back, only for the Oxford attacker to last high and wide from 7 yards out 

3:08pm Lively atmosphere in the crowd here at the Hive, and the hefty challenges keep coming in - a real derby atmosphere!

3:06pm Good save from Sypniewski to deny the Oxford left-winger who'd broken past the Cambridge offside trap. Made himself big, and narrowed the angles à la Hugo Lloris 

3:04pm Cambridge University manger Jez George, ex-manager of Cambridge United, is pacing up and down the touchline, barking out instructions. Fast-paced start to the game 

3:03pm Some full-blooded sliding challenges in the opening minutes. No love-lost between the two sides - great to see!

2:58pm Oxford: Langham, Ackerman (c), Tutton, Collins, Naylor, Thelen, Mort, Evans, Barton, Cantrill, Evans. M Subs:Briggs, Burton, Achtelstetter, Tray

2:57pm Cambridge: Ringhof, Young, Melbourne (c), Reich, Lerway, Ellis, Alexander, Rodrigues, Bull, Gallagher, Sypniewksi Subs: Harrison, Nwuba, Parker, Mortimer, Radus

2:47pm Just a reminder that Cambridge and Oxford have already played each other twice this season in the BUCS Midlands 1A division. Oxford won the first game 1-0 but Cambridge won 4-0 away at Oxford in November. Who will win the all-important game today?

2:31pm After that wonderful performance from the women's team, we now turn her attention to the men's game, with the Light Blues out for revenge after last year's defeat 

2:25pm A lovely touch as the injured Lutkenherm is carried out onto the pitch to celebrate with her team-mates 

2:25pm The full-time whistle goes, sparking an impromptu pitch invasion from the Cambridge bench. Jubilant scenes 

2:25pm CAMBRIDGE WIN!!!!

2:23pm Into injury time here, and Cambridge 'keeper comes charging off her line to snuff out an Oxford long ball over the top. Shades of 2013 Manuel Neuer...

2:21pm The corner comes to nothing though, with Oxford failing to beat the first man. Oxford surely need a miracle now 

2:21pm Oxford win a corner. Can they pull one back? They'll need to score soon....

2:17pm Isabelle Lutkenherm comes off injured. Cambridge have already made all three subs so will have to play out the final five minutes with 10 men 

2:15pm Slight lull in proceedings here as a Cambridge player receives treatment. Cambridge heading towards their first women's Varsity football victory in four years

2:13pm Ashcroft comes off to rapturous applause from the Cambridge faithful. A sublime individual performance 

2:12pm Cambridge nearly get a fourth here, as Oxford again fail to deal with a set-piece but the headed effort flies narrowly over the top 

2:11pm 10 minutes to play here, and Cambridge looking comfortable 

2:08pm Ashcroft completes her hat-trick, calmly slotting her penalty into the bottom-right corner Mario Balotelli style! What an afternoon Ashcroft has had

2:07pm CAMBRIDGE GOAL!!!!!!

2:07pm Handball in the box and Cambridge have the chance to get a 2-goal cushion.....

2:06pm CAMBRIDGE PENALTY!!!

2:03pm A little bit of a scare for Cambridge as Oxford flash a cross into the box but the Cambridge 'keeper does well to come out and claim it. Warning signs 

2:02pm "Come on Oxford" rings out from the stands now. Cambridge looking comfortable and continue to dominate possession but hold only a slender advantage as we head into the final 20 

1:57pm Cambridge back controlling possession after that setback. A neat passing move breaks down in the final third 

1:53pm Re. the penalty incident - lots of Oxford fans were calling for a red card but no card given. Certainly looked to be a clear goalscoring opportunity - Cambridge perhaps fortunate to still  have 11 on the pitch 

1:52pm What a final 30 minutes we have in store now as that Oxford goal against the run of play brings them right back into it 

1:52pm Substitue Pedroza holds her nerve to halve the deficit 

1:51pm OXFORD GOAL!

1:50pm The Oxford striker is played in, round the keeper and is then brought down by a desperate Cambridge challenge 

1:50pm PENALTY OXFORD

1:48pm A rendition of "We love you Cambridge" rings out from the stands. The Cambridge fans who made the trip to North London certainly enjoying their day out

1:47pm Another Cambridge corner. Cambridge really piling on the pressure.....

1:45pm What a chance! Another goalmouth scramble from a set piece, this time the ball deflects narrowly wide. Light Blues really on top here

1:45pm Free kick in a promising position for the Light Blues. Can they put the game to bed?.....

1:44pm Magnificent start to the half from the Light Blues! Oxford shell-shocked #GDBO

1:43pm No doubt about whether she meant this one! Ashcroft curls in a beauty from 20 yards out

1:43pm IT'S ASHCROFT AGAIN!!

1:43pm CAMBRIDGE GOAL!!!!

1:41pm Was is a cross? Was it a shot? Liz Ashcroft won't care as she opens the scoring, her cross-cum-shot sneaking in via the post 

1:40pm CAMBRIDGE GOAL!!!!

1:36pm One change at half-time as Cambridge bring on Jen Atherton 

1:35pm The sun's come out and so have the teams ahead of the second half here in North London

1:18pm The half-time whistle goes. Still 0-0 here

1:12pm Cambridge's Zoe Cohen shows good feet to beat a couple of Oxford players and drives into the box but is denied by a last-ditch challenge!

1:09pm Noise levels beginning to pick up as the Cambridge fans from the delayed coaches stream in #GDBO

1:08pm Cambridge dominating possession here but struggling to break through a resolute Oxford backline. Promising signs....

1:06pm 0-0 with 35 minutes on the clock on a balmy afternoon here in North London 

1:05pm A mishap with the coach means that we are late but we are now live from the Hive! 

12:12pm Welcome to Varsity’s coverage of the Varsity football matches live from The Hive in Barnet. Cambridge will be looking for revenge after Oxford claimed victory in both the men’s and women’s fixtures last year.

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