Robinson 0 – 0 Fitzwilliam
(pen: 3–1)

In a game that was as dire as the 0-0 scoreline suggests, Cuppers favourites Fitzwilliam missed out on their first final since their glory of 2013. They were dumped out of the competition by high-flying Division Two side Robinson through the lottery that is the shootout.

Perhaps the defining component of the match was, however, the atrocious wind, permanently keeping the ball on the far touchline and preventing either side from putting together any flowing football. The record number of passes from either side before the ball left the field of play stood at the grand total of five.

Fitzwilliam came into the game as favourites but were wary of Robinson’s renowned stoic defence. The Division Two side hadn’t conceded a goal in the league until midway through this term and, combined with the weather, it meant goals were always going to be at a premium.

Fitz, although missing two key players in the centre of the park in Stefan Wolf and Joe Painter, looked the most likely to score of the two sides. With threats on both flanks, they were able to test the finger-tips of Harrison through efforts from Spyrou and Rutzler. But these were rare occurrences. The main struggle was keeping the ball on the pitch.

Robinson, too, posed a threat; twice they looked to break through the Fitz line, and they came close when Sibley broke through on the right only to be denied by Henry Warne. At the break there was still no prospect of any goals.

At full time there was no score either and not a lot to report on in between. The best chance saw Fitz substitute Meredith fire a cross-shot across the face of goal, but it agonisingly evaded everyone and went wide.

So to extra time. Fitz rallied late on in the second period and struck the bar through Meredith, who let fly from 25 yards, and could also have had a penalty when Ewen went down in the area with moments to go. Unfortunately, penalties always seemed to be an inevitability.

The keepers, both of whom play at university level, duly put on a show, both impressively saving two penalties each. After the first two penalties were finely saved, Robinson finally opened the scoring, but Fitz failed to reply – blazing their second penalty over and wide. Two more saves left the score, after three penalties each, at 1-0 to Robinson. Robinson scored their fourth spot kick, and although Fitz managed to respond, Sibley had the chance to win it for Robinson. Unfazed, he calmly stroked the ball to the right of Warne, sending Robinson through to face Pembroke in the final.

Pembroke 4 – 1 St Catz

Pembroke, on the other hand, are now quite accustomed to cup finals. Grange Road is all but a second home now for the Valencians, and they will be back there today having swiftly cut St Catharine’s cup adventure short with a comfortable 4-1 win over the weekend.

Pembroke came into the game off the back of a terrible run of form of no wins in five games, a streak that has seen them slip perilously close to the drop. Plus, with forward David Ifere sidelined, they may have feared the worst coming up against the slayers of Jesus: St Catharine’s.

Yet they came out of the blocks full of energy, quickly taking the lead after 12 minutes through Captain Tom Ogier, who found the net following an excellent cross from Oldfield.

10 minutes later Lopez made it two, and minutes later an own goal left the home side 3-0 up and cruising into a third consecutive final.

Pembroke dominated most of the first half, with numerous opportunities, yet St Catharine’s were not about to surrender and Gareth Goh gave the second division outfit a glimmer of hope when he found the net from close range on 30 minutes. Yet a comeback of such unprecedented proportions was always unlikely. Pembroke remained the most likely to score in the second half, with the home side getting plenty of joy down the flanks.

Finally, with the game nearing its end and St Catz getting desperate, Marcus Nielsen put the game to bed. The Blues forward slotted home a goal from close range to send the home fans into delirium, and ensured Pembroke will be back at Grange Road for the third successive year.

With many now claiming that Pembroke’s golden generation is entering its twilight years, could this be their last chance to get their hands on that coveted Cuppers trophy?