The last weekend of College Football action in Michaelmas saw Cuppers fever sweep the city, and to the delight of almost everyone, the holders, St John’s, have crashed out before Christmas. Wonderful.

Girton proved to be the biggest giant-killers of the round, putting in an amazing shift to thwart a St John’s side tipped by many to retain the trophy. Claims that some St John’s players were denied visas for the trip to Girton are said to be unfounded, although one can appreciate why a Johnsian would be turned away at the borders. The Second Division outfit face last year’s runners up in the next round, Pembroke, who comfortably overcame Magdalene (aka Andy Webster FC) to set up a tricky quarter final encounter. Pembroke of course have reached the final for the last two seasons running – losing both. Girton will be hoping to put them out of their misery earlier than usual this time round.

Cuppers (overwhelming) favourites Fitzwilliam are also still in the competition, but only just, after they suffered a huge scare at home to Third Division side Clare. The lower league side pushed Fitz all the way and were only denied by a late wonder-strike by Dan ‘loves-a-steak’ Sandbach, sinking their hopes of causing a greater cup-upset than one of the favourites being dumped out away at Girton. Unthinkable, surely.

Premier League surprise-package Queens’ are also out of this year’s tournament after they succumbed to a penalty shoot-out defeat to Selwyn. In a terrific example of park-the-tank and repel the Syrian Air Strikes, Selwyn were able to thwart a dominant Queens’ side and nab a shoot-out win to set up an encounter against rampant Robinson in the Quarter Finals. The runaway Second Division league leaders brutally annihilated poor Peterhouse, who had been lured to play by the prospect of prawn sandwiches after the game. Harsh, but I’m sure they were just pleased to still be here after an historic cup run.

Elsewhere, religion conquered science as Darwin lost to Jesus, there were Milky-bars all-round as a Jonny Crease inspired St Catherine’s smashed Premier League strugglers Caius and Churchill cruised past Homerton to set up a mouth-watering Hill Varsity Quarter Final against Fitz.

Cuppers Second Round

Girton 1-0 St John’s

Girton: Hicks

Last year St John’s faced Girton in the quarter finals en route to Cuppers glory. That day they ran out 8-0 winners. Girton were shamed, exiled (if they’re not that already) and humiliated. When St John’s came calling this time round, the Green men were determined not to be humbled again. In front of a capacity crowd of at least 30 undergraduates and their College ‘Mistress’ (Possibly their Master but you can’t be sure of what goes on at Girton), they put on a show to remember. The first half was a cagey affair, with neither side taking hold of the game, and so it remained until Harry Hicks netted the only goal of the game. In the second half, with around 65 minutes on the clock, Hicks struck what will now be a fabled goal in the footballing history of the university. In amongst a goal-mouth scramble, Hicks was able to roll the ball over the line, sending the home fans into delirium. Unsurprisingly, with their egos at stake, St John’s threw everything at Girton to find an equaliser – the golden-platted kitchen sink, the bathroom sink, even Alex Gaskell. Yet despite their best efforts, they just couldn’t break the Green wall down. Special praised was reserved by Girton captain Trifunovic for the holding midfield work of Stefan Ritter, but no player filed less than a 10/10 performance. Girton march on and will hope to go one better than last year’s cup run by making it past the quarter finals – but in order to do that they will need to beat last year’s runners-up - Pembroke. For St John’s, Cuppers glory will have to remain just a figment of the past. Unlucky, chaps.

Fitzwilliam 3-2 Clare

Fitzwilliam: Rutzler, Meredith, Sandbach

Clare: Holmes, Schomerus

Fitzwilliam remain on course for Cuppers glory after they squeezed past a resilient Clare in their Second Round Fixture. The unfancied Third Division side, who came into the game with a 100% league record, were not intimidated by the prospect of facing the side who had crushed Premier League champions Downing in the previous round, and they more than matched their opponents. Fitz, missing a few key players including a recognised Gluten tolerant/intolerant goalkeeper, started slowly and Clare asserted themselves early on with their disciplined shape and driving runs from midfield that Fitz struggled to deal with. It would be the visitors who would take a shock lead, albeit with a slice of good fortune. Euan Holmes found some space near the by-line, and his looping cross caught stand in keeper Dunn-Massey by surprise when a gust of wind helped push it over him and into the net – leading to jubilant celebrations from the travelling support. Fitz struggled to really hit top gear but they continued to press for an equaliser as the first half wore on. Despite a few openings forcing some good saves, it would not be until right on half time that the home side would draw level when Peter Rutzler was set free down the right hand side, and his left footed shot caught the Clare keeper flat footed.

At the break, after an even half, the scores were tied. Clare had the misfortune of seeing their preferred forward taken off with a broken nose before the break – and he would certainly be missed in the Second Half. Fitz came out firing, and they quickly took the lead when Mike Meredith smashed home a loose ball from a corner high into the roof of the net. With the lead in hand, Fitz dropped their tempo and this allowed Clare back into the game. Despite not creating too many clear openings, Clare did come close with a couple of penalty-area scrambles, before one eventually paid off when some indecision at the back proved costly as Fabian Schomerus nipped in to prod home from under two yards. With the game tied at 2-2, extra time was beginning to look increasingly inevitable. But Dan Sandbach had other ideas. When the ball fell loose ten yards outside the penalty area, the central midfielder stepped up and fired a swerving thunderbolt into the left hand side of the net. The Fitz contingent were sent into delirium. The goal was a crushing blow to Clare, who, despite some very heavy pressing at the end of the game to try and pull level, were unable to salvage the game. Fitz go through and will face Churchill in what promises to be a tasty Hill Varsity quarter final. Clare will take heart from an excellent display, and they will hope to carry the knowledge that they are much better than a Third Division side into their promotion push in the league.

Magdalene 1-7 Pembroke

Pembroke: Oldfield, Ogier, Nielsen, Ifere (x2), Berenson-Barros (x2),

Pembroke are safely through to the Quarter finals after they overcame Division Four side Magdalene. Magdalene, who had won every game in all competitions prior to this fixture, were confident having knocked out King’s of the Second Division in the First Round. But Pembroke would prove to be an altogether more difficult proposition. Boosted by Blues forwards Nielsen and Ifere, the visitors had little trouble dispatching the underdogs. The away side raced into a 3-0 lead by the break, and by that point the game was as good as over. The final score of 7-1 didn’t flatter Pembroke (and before I am questioned over the score, apparently the score on the Full-Time website is erroneous – a bit like St John’s early season hopes of winning the tournament). Goals from Oldfield, Ogier, Berenson-Barros with a brace and two more for Ifere and one for Nielsen, were enough to see Pembroke into the quarter finals. They’re hoping to reach the final for a third consecutive year – where they can look forward to a third consecutive defeat, this time against Fitz, obviously.

Queens’ 2-2 Selwyn  (Selwyn win 4-3 on penalties)

Queens: Hope, Farrar

Selwyn: Massey, Ball

Queens’ and Selwyn met in all-Premier League tie that turned out to be a thrilling encounter. Queens’, after their excellent start to the season, came into the game as a side tipped to pull up a few trees in the tournament, while Selwyn, who have only been bothered to play three league fixtures this season, had already gone one better than last season’s performances courtesy of Peterhouse’s best friend BYE.

Queens’ unsurprisingly started this one the brighter of the two sides and they would remain in the ascendancy for much of the game. The opening 20 minutes saw Selwyn pressed back against the wall, with a volley and some trademark last ditch defending by Sam Lumley repelling the home side’s best efforts. After soaking up the early pressure, Selwyn gradually grew into the game, yet neither side were able to find that killer instinct or creative ingenuity to find a way to break the deadlock before the interval. That changed in the Second Half when Queens’ opened the scoring. Slipping his marker, Queens’ winger Sefton drove a low ball across the six-yard box which was turned into the net by the shin of Hope (providing light in times of despair). Buoyed, Queens began to launch more incisive forays forward, forcing the hitherto unemployed Selwyn goalkeeper Keir Baker into action, making a quality fingertip save to turn the ball around the post in one v one situation. With Queens’ on top and the wind against them, it looked an uphill task for the visitors to get back into the game. But super-sub James Massey had other ideas, when, on one of the rare occasions Selwyn made it out of their own half, he clinically drove the ball into the bottom corner. The visitors didn’t hold back and not long after they found themselves ahead when Ball latched onto a Massey pass to give Selwyn the lead. Unfortunately for Selwyn, there’s an old cliché in football that you’re most likely to concede just after you’ve scored, and there’s certainly no smoke without fire. Baker magnificently kept out a stinging volley, but after a goalmouth scramble from the resulting corner, the match was back level, when Ben Farrar found the net for Queens’.

Queens’ pressed on to try and find what turned out to be an elusive winner, but Selwyn held firm. With 90 minutes gone, extra-time beckoned, and again it was a case of Selwyn holding firm to deny all that Queens’ had to offer. In a nervy extra 30 minutes, neither side were able to create a clear cut opportunity, and despite Queens’ dominance and Selwyn’s superb defending – they “had set up camp pretty much on the pavement of Barton Road”, the game went to penalties. In the lottery that is the penalty shootout, it was Keir Baker who would become Selwyn’s hero, pulling off two exceptional saves. Nonetheless, it was Queens’ who took an early advantage when Ball’s penalty was well saved by their keeper. However, Baker instantly reciprocated for Selwyn, making a fine one-handed save to his right. Baker was at it again for Queens’ fifth spot kick, pulling off another excellent stop, this time high to the top left corner to claw away a powerful strike. The save meant it was up to Massey to finish the job, and he coolly slotted home.

Selwyn progress and will face Robinson in the quarter finals, while Queens’ will have to regroup and focus on their hunt for the Premier League title.

Churchill 5-1 Hometon

Churchill: Rolph (x2), Weller (x2), Waller

Everyone’s least favourite hill college are also through to the next round after Churchill comfortably disposed of second division side Homerton. There was once a time when Homerton were so good that their First, Second and Third teams were in the top three CUAFL divisions. That seems a long time ago now.

In a heavily wind-affected game, the Premier League outfit were able to emphasise the gulf in class between the two sides. After a slow first 30 minutes, Nick Waller opened the scoring with a volley off the underside of the bar from a precise Jonny Holland corner. The goal galvanised Churchill into playing a more intense and pressing game, overwhelming Homerton and ending up going into half time three goals to the good. Their second goal was a lovely lob from Tom Rolph from a threaded Henry Berridge-Dunn through ball and the third a thunderous half volley from Jean-Luc Weller who capitalised on a parried clearance from the opposition goalkeeper to maximum effect.

With the wind now in their favour Homerton rallied in the second half and pulled a goal back 10 minutes after the break. But Churchill ruined any hopes of a comeback with two sensational goals to put the tie to bed. First, Rolph picked the ball up in his own half and stormed up the pitch, seemingly taking on the entire Homerton midfield and defence to march into the box and finish powerfully into the bottom right. Next, Berridge-Dunn and Rolph's one touch passing down the right completely outwitted the defence and allowed Rolph to pick out a pinpoint cross for the onrushing Weller to finish low and hard into the net.

The final score of 5-1 didn’t flatter the home side, and they can now look forward to scintillating encounter with Cuppers favourites and local Hill rivals Fitz. That will be a game you won’t want to miss.

Robinson 12-0 Peterhouse

Robinson: Cotterell (x3), Sibley (x5), Procter (x2), Colverd (x2)

Peterhouse’s Cuppers tournament has been short and not so sweet following a 12-0 destruction by Robinson. The gulf in class certainly told, and the only bonus for the Fifth Division side is that their annual inclusion in the College Football Review has lasted longer than ever before by making it into the Second Round.

The match was as it sounds, a total drubbing, and Robinson put them to the sword. Peterhouse did, however, start quite brightly, and inside the first fifteen minutes they could well have taken the lead. But once Robinson found the net once, the floodgates duly opened. Procter and Colverd both grabbed braces, Cotterell netted a hat trick while Sibley grabbed five as Robinson ran out comfortable winners. Selwyn in the next round will surely provide a much sterner test.

Darwin 0-2 Jesus

Premier League front-runners are still on course for Cuppers success after they overcame Division Two makeweights Darwin. Darwin came into the game hoping to have something to build on for next term after what has been an indifferent start to the season, having struggled to pick up wins. Jesus, however, proved to be too much of a leap of faith to overcome, and the side who have won all but one game this season (they lost to Fitz, obviously) easily managed to book their place in the quarter finals. St Catherine’s lie in store for them.

St Catherine’s 4-0 Gonville and Caius

St Catherine’s pulled off a stunning win against Premier League side Caius to book their place in the next round. Caius came into the game buoyed by beating Premier League champions Downing last week, but they well and truly met their match here, with the Second Division side running away with it. In what was a very competitive game, underlined by the half time score seeing just one goal separating the sides, St Catz ultimately ran out comfortable winners. The home side have now dumped two Premier League sides out of Cuppers by a score-line of four goals to nil, and Jesus certainly shouldn’t expect a walkover in the quarters.

  

Quarter Finals:

Girton vs Pembroke

Jesus vs St Catherine’s

Selwyn vs Robinson

Fitzwilliam vs Churchill