With two years of Varsity dominance and two wins against Oxford already this year, the women’s Blues seemed to have this year’s annual clash on lock before the first whistle. But before the match, captain Alexia Dengler emphasised the need to avoid complacency heading into the big game. Such a mentality was the key to an eventual triumph over their determined rivals.

Once more, the Abbey Stadium played host to this encounter, inviting an electric crowd which roared on the Light Blues from the get-go. The first 10 minutes, as a result, was all Cambridge. Their suffocating high press forced Oxford into countless errors, with the visitors struggling to advance into the Cambridge half or even string more than a couple of passes together. With Oxford’s nervousness came increasing Cambridge confidence, as star striker Alissa Sattentau almost found an opener after being slipped in on goal from midfield.

“An electric crowd roared on the Light Blues from the get-go”

The start from Cambridge, while promising, did not amount to anything significant; a few wasted corners and rash decisions inside the final third meant that the spell of dominance enjoyed by the home side was both short-lived and inconsequential. After a quarter of an hour, Oxford started to get into the game a bit more, finding their feet with a few nice passages of play. Suddenly, the match evened up and a previously relaxed Cambridge team seemed to lose a bit of composure.

A few chances then came for both sides – the best of which fell for the dazzlingly sharp Cambridge winger Sakina Dhirani, who placed a curling shot just wide of the goal after a nicely laid-off ball from Sattentau. It quickly became clear that these two would be a massive threat going forward for Cambridge; the question was merely whether they’d find the back of the net at some point.

But before the Cambridge attack could build any more momentum, it was Oxford who eventually drew first blood after 34 minutes. Failure from multiple defenders to clear a lacklustre cross toward the right-hand side of the box led to an equally unconvincing shot, which found its way into the bottom corner of Alisa Kinaret’s goal. What followed was more of a frustrated than inspired Cambridge response, leaving them 1-0 down at the break with little to show for their half’s work.

The second 45, however, was a different story. Things started off in familiar territory as Cambridge dominated the first 10 minutes with their high press and creativity going forward – only this time they quickly got their reward. With 56 minutes gone, Johanna Niggemann produced a beautiful lob over the Oxford keeper to level the score. Barely three minutes later, a nicely constructed move from one sideline to the other ended with Dhirani rifling a shot into the top corner. 2-1 Cambridge, just like that.

“Ella O’Connell bossed the midfield, almost toying with her opponents when on the ball”

The next 20 minutes were entirely controlled by the women in light blue. Ella O’Connell – who earned player of the match for her brilliant composure and tireless chance-creation all game – dominated the midfield, almost toying with her opponents when on the ball. The Cambridge back line held equally firm – with a reassuring sense of calmness to their play, and the chances kept flowing.

Just as it seemed as though these efforts would once more be to no avail, Cambridge added another to their tally. O’Connell’s fancy footwork slipped in Cambridge’s reliable number 9 Sattentau, who jumped on a spilled ball from Oxford’s keeper and slotted it into the empty net. With under 10 minutes to go, Cambridge had one hand on the Varsity trophy.

But not so fast, said Oxford’s Kate Parsons, who – less than a minute later – shifted the ball onto her left and drove a lovely strike into the bottom right corner of the Cambridge goal. One minute Cambridge were in dreamland, the next they found themselves clinging on for dear life.

Oxford piled on the pressure with increasing severity as time kept ticking. Centre-back Sara Pickrell was called upon multiple times to make a massive challenge to stop Oxford from advancing into the Cambridge penalty area. A nervy final 10 minutes and an increasingly passionate crowd created a gripping atmosphere well worthy of a Varsity match. Oxford rained in their last few hail-Mary crosses into the box, the last of which was almost spilt by keeper Alisa Kinaret, but eventually, it was the home team that sprinted onto the pitch in ecstasy at the final whistle – whilst the hopeful visitors fell short.

It was not quite the confident win we have seen from Cambridge in recent times, but that is not what will matter to the light-blue players out there on the pitch. In fact, the higher levels of grit and toughness in this year’s Varsity perhaps made the win that much sweeter. A three-peat for the women’s Blues to finish off the football season, and bragging rights remain in the light blue camp for another year.