Cambridge is known as the birth place of football, it has provided many a football first, notably the first rules of the game. Perhaps, after such a fruitful 6 weeks of inactivity and Christmas indulgence, English football should again turn to the pioneering example of Cambridge college football and endorse a winter break?

While Liverpool continue to sell-out hospital wards in A&E with the blight of the hamstring, Cambridge college footballers returned to action last weekend refreshed and unfit for the return of the College Football League.

In the Premier League, it is all to play for at the top. Front runners Jesus look favourites to lift the league title however St John’s and Queens’ will certainly push them all the way. Both those sides recorded wins over the weekend, with Queens’ annihilating league champions Downing in a real statement of intent. Elsewhere, Churchill and Fitz took home 3 points each from their weekend travels, while at Tit Hall the cheque book was dusted off, leading to fervent rumours of mass squad investment from their sheikh owners, but in the end they went more Mike Ashley than Sheikh Mansour and the money was only used to buy consolation gifts for their goalkeeper, who has so far let in 37 goals in 6 games.

Division Two is as wide open as a Germany’s borders. Robinson looked to have wrapped up the title before Christmas after a stunning display of domination in Michaelmas, smashing everyone and everything sight. However, they’ve had a rude awakening to the start of this term. They were left dazed and confused by a superb performance by Darwin who comfortably beat them in their own backyard. Robinson’s defeat opens the door for and Long Road and Girton to launch an assault on top spot, with both sides bagging three points last week, the latter at Trinity, who hit rock bottom. The relegation places are far from a foregone conclusion. Emma recorded their first win of the season to pull them off the bottom, but the gap separating Trinity from 4th place Darwin is just four points. With 3 to 4 games still to be played for most sides in the division, anything could happen.

 

Premier League

 

Queens’ 6-1 Downing

Queens’: Ward, Weller (x2), Sefton (x2), Hope

Downing are making a habit of being dumped out of competitions comprehensively. Indeed, for all intents and purposes, they still had an outside shot at defending their crown coming into this term. Not anymore. Queens’ went into this game knowing that if they want to win the title this season they would have to keep winning, especially seeing as they lost to Jesus at the back end of last term. They’ve started out on the right foot. (best foot, left footers are just as valuable)

Despite the heavy final score, the game itself started in a cagey fashion, but it wasn’t long before Queens’ began to assert themselves. They took the lead on the half hour mark when Ward fired home a ‘Yaya Touré-esque’ curler from 20 yards out. The game remained generally even-handed, although the league champions received a crushing blow just before half time when Weller sent a fluffed cross over the stranded Downing stopper into the top corner. He claims it was intended, and thus a goal of the season contender. But we all know it wasn’t.

In the second half Downing capitulated. Dreams of retaining the title floated away down stream as Queens’ opened the floodgates. Sefton nabbed two, one of which he smashed home following a Marshall through ball. Hope got his mandatory goal, and ‘deserves special mention for stifling Downing’s beautiful tactic of long balls and throws to their centre back.’ Downing grabbed a consolation from a corner, but Queens’ scored again when Sefton burst through on goal to secure his hat-trick, yet decided to square it to a grateful Weller to tap home.

Queens’ have a huge fixture next week against fellow title-contenders St John’s. They know that any slip up could prove costly at this stage in the season, and with a game in hand over Jesus, it could go right down to the wire. It’s back to the drawing board for Downing; at least they have the Plate to look forward to.

 

 

St John’s 4-2 Selwyn

Selwyn: Ball (x2).

Girtonophobia may just become a thing at John’s. Well I hope it does. Defeat in Cuppers has given Johnsians a greater impetus to attain league glory this season, and thanks to this win against Selwyn, they now sit top of the Premier League at the start of a crucial Lent term.

However, it was Selwyn who started this game the brighter. Five minutes in, after handling nicely a short spell of Johnian pressure, it seemed like 2016 would be off to an ideal start. Smart play between Harvey Roweth and Jonny Dodd on the left wing set Lewis Ball free, who was characteristically clinical as he rounded the keeper to put Selwyn ahead.

Suddenly flashbacks of ‘that day’ in Girton were beginning to infiltrate the thoughts of the St John’s players. Was it going to happen again? Unfortunately for Selwyn the answer was no.

The home side began to take control of the game, spraying passes but unable to break Selwyn down. It would take a mistake from Selwyn keeper Baker to draw them level. He misjudged  a free-kick, and after flapping at it, the ball fell to an onrushing John’s forward he fired home.

John’s took hold of the game from here on. Baker made some excellent saves to keep the scores tied, including an “absolute worldie” from six yards, but it seemed a matter of time before the home side took the lead. They did so in freak circumstances; A low cross darted across Selwyn’s six yard box, pin-balling off two defenders and ricocheting off Matt Evans into the net.

The second half was the complete reverse, with Selwyn starting on the front foot. However, they were unable to find the onion bag and John’s duly punished them. They quickly doubled their advantage and the game was as good as done, although Selwyn did pull one back late on.

St John’s go top, although they have played one game more than rivals Jesus and Queens’. The latter they face this weekend in what is a huge title decider. Selwyn meanwhile remain on six points and are three points above the drop, although they do have games in hand on those around them.

 

Caius 1-2 Churchill

Churchill: Cammack, Rolph

Gonville and Caius remain inside the drop zone after they suffered defeat at the hands of Churchill. The home side are blighted by one goal defeats, this being their fourth defeat by that margin of the season. Tom Rolph and Joe Cammack did the damage for the away side, with striker Rolph capitalising on a mistake in the Caius defence, nicking the ball off the centre half before coolly rounding the keeper to slot home. Cammack found the net after latching onto the end of a Jonny Holland set piece, ensuring Churchill’s third win of the season. The result leaves the visitors in 5th place, comfortably clear of the bottom and with an outside chance of late title push, especially with a game in hand over Fitz and St John’s above them. Caius meanwhile remain three points adrift of safety, although they will hope their luck will change when they meet Fitz on Sunday.

 

Trinity Hall 0-3 Fitzwilliam

Fitzwilliam: Emmanuel, Ewen, Meredith

Fitzwilliam still harbour hopes of a double but the league title looks increasingly like it may slip away despite a comfortable 3-0 win over struggling Trinity Hall. Goals from Guy Emmanuel, Ross Ewen and Mike Meredith did the damage on a day when they could and probably should have scored more. The result leaves Fitz in fourth spot having played six games, and with only three to play, they are relying on Jesus, St John’s, Queens’ and Churchill all slipping up should they wish to take the league title.  Trinity Hall meanwhile are running out of humorous parody, as their awful season continues unabated. To think they won the league title just three years ago. How times change.

 

Division Two

 

Robinson 1-4 Darwin

Robinson: Sibley

Darwin: Freudenriech, Gutman, Withey, Vallette

This was undoubtedly the most surprising result of the weekend. Runaway leaders Robinson did not concede a single goal last term, yet found themselves on the end of a comprehensive defeat in their first outing in lent. Binson took the lead and looked relatively comfortable early on, however having kept clean sheets all year, it came as a surprise when Darwin bit back. An equaliser was quickly followed by a second as Robinson struggled to come to terms with the fact that goals can also go into their own net. At half-time they were in the unfamiliar position of being 2-1 down. Perhaps their inexperience at turning around a deficit told, but in any case, Darwin managed to stay on top and added to their total, picking out holes in the unusually open Robinson back four. The visitors ran out deserved winners, and the result pulls Robinson back into the promotion contest. With second place Long Road still to play, who coincidentally also have a game in hand of them, the title is no longer a foregone conclusion! The win for Darwin remarkably pulls them well away from danger into the top four, despite it being only their second win of the season. They’re four points off the bottom, although they will now hope to push onwards and try to resurrect a promotion push that characterised their season last year.

 

St Catherine’s 2-3 Long Road

The elusive Long Road actually resemble a force to be reckoned with. The win against Cuppers quarter finalists St Catz puts them within touching distance of leaders Robinson, and with a game in hand too, it would not be a surprise to see them in the Premier League this time next year. St Catz’s hopes of an instant return to the top flight have been dented somewhat by this setback, but with promotion rivals Girton still to play, and Robinson slipping up, they won’t be too disheartened by defeat here.

 

Trinity 2-3 Girton

Girton: Hicks (x3)

St John’s-slayers Girton started Lent term on a winning foot courtesy of a super hat-trick from Harry Hicks. In a five goal thriller, the away side managed to finish on top, with all the goals coming in the opening period. The win pulls Girton to within five points of Robinson with a game hand, and  with Cuppers run very much gaining momentum, this season could easily get a lot more exciting for the far flung college. Trinity meanwhile will be surprised to find themselves rock bottom after this defeat, but with only 3 points separating them from 5th place St Catherine’s, they’re by no means set to stay there.

 

Homerton 2-4 Emma

Emma recorded their first win of the season at struggling Homerton over the weekend. The win sees them move off the bottom and up as high as 7th. Every side in the division has now won at least one fixture, and with just 3 points separating the bottom 6, it’s anyone’s guess who will face the drop. Homerton will be nervously looking over their shoulder, however they will take comfort from the fact that they have a game in hand over the sides above them.