Fitzwilliam downed Homerton 3-1 in a much-anticipated Cuppers clash on Sunday night (13/11). The Griffins made a positive start, but were outmatched by the Fitz juggernaut once again, the third time they have been knocked out of Cuppers by Fitz in as many years.

An early Kosi Nwuba header was cancelled out by a Lumi Kanwei strike, before an inch-perfect Tom Randall free kick and a Kanwei second won the game for a star-studded Fitz. Fitzwilliam will be hard to stop in their pursuit of a seventh consecutive Cuppers victory.

Fitz were confident from the off, dominating the ball and looking for openings out wide. Ola Ogunnaike looked to weave into the Homerton box early on, but stern defending from Homerton’s James Hyde halted his advance. An early chance fell to Lumi Kanwei, who tore past Homerton’s centre-backs and sent a powerful shot goalward. But for the outstretched toe of Homerton keeper Liam Williams, the Griffins would have trailed.  

Homerton, capitalising on a period of promising play, took the lead through Kosi Nwuba. James Hyde curled in a teasing corner, and the Griffins' towering striker converted with a thundering header, raising delirium amongst the Homerton supporters.  

Determined to bounce-back, Fitz equalised with minutes to go in the first half. Sonny Macpherson, excellent all game, surged past four Homerton defenders, the ball eventually falling to Kanwei to level the score.  

With mist descending on the pitch, the second-half got off to a tense start. Long-balls went astray and both teams struggled to find their rhythm. A moment of brilliance broke the deadlock. Fitzwilliam won a free-kick thirty yards from goal and Tom Randall, their answer to James Ward-Prowse, stepped up. Powerful and precise, the curling effort left Liam Matthews a hopeless onlooker as the top left corner bulged.   

Fitz remained in command, but spurned chances to kill the game. Jathavan Thevarajah, tearing down the left-flank, teed up Theo Williamson, but the striker failed to make contact.  

Entering the final ten minutes, the Griffins began to threaten the Fitzwilliam goal. One of James Hyde’s whipped corners found Nwuba’s head, but his effort bobbled wide. As the Homerton players agonised over the miss, Fitz showed a clinical edge. An untracked Cassidy Ashworth ran beyond the Homerton defence and Tom Randall’s pass was inch-perfect. Ashworth’s cut-back found Kanwei, who slotted home his second of the match.

A commanding performance and a deserved win for Fitzwilliam as they begin their chase of the ‘seven-peat.’

MOTM: Lumi Kanwei