PWC Division 1 – Week 1 Round-up

Downing 3-3 Christ’s

The biggest news from the first weekend came with last year’s runners-up, Downing, being held to a 3-3 draw away at Christ’s.

Downing went 2-0 up with early goals from Max Burley and Keith Hagyard but Christ’s replied against the run of play from a set piece and came right back into the game. Their second goal came from a wonderfully worked move culminating in a header driven into the top corner. Downing then replied but were exploited at the back by another set piece. Neither team was able to add to the score in the second half and Downing will rue three lost points.

Tit Hall 1-3 Homerton

Homerton bossing the midfield

A contentious offside decision put the seal on an opening day victory for the boys in blue of Homerton. Despite Chris Maxwell taking an early lead for Tit Hall, they were no match for the quality on show from the visitors’ creative and possession-hogging midfield quartet. Boccaccini’s calamitous own goal made it even at half-time, before O’Gara and substitute Dale put the match out of sight in the closing stages. Wildman, Homerton’s captain, praised the spirit of his team in coming from a goal down to play the sort of football expected of our continental brethren. Tit Hall players meanwhile were scathing of the critical offside decision leading to the third goal: “Homerton are just a bunch of fucking teachers, is it even a College?! And the referee is a teacher too so no bias there then!”

By Toby Lancaster

Tit Hall scramble the ball clear

Trinity 3-2 Emma

Meanwhile, last year’s champions, Trinity, cam back form a 2-0 defecit at home to Emma.

Trinity were 2-0 down after thirty minutes, but a huge turnaround at the end of the first half bought them to 2-2 at the break. The second half was quiet with few chances but Dany Gammall continued his goal-scoring form of the last two years and managed to nod one over the keeper for his second to snatch the lead. Trinity’s keeper, Ognjen Ivkovic, made a superb save to keep them in the lead with 5 minutes to go and they managed to hold on to the final whistle.

Jesus 0-4 Caius

Caius absolutely choked Jesus’ play in the first half by getting the ball wide, quickly, leading to their two opening goals. Blistering runs down the right wing from Marsden with pin-point delivery to the feet of new boys Fritschy and Johnson in the box and two cool, controlled finishes meant they were two-nil up in a matter of minutes.

The second half started brightly with the Caius’ centre midfielders winning everything and outmuscling their opposition – a huge effort from the three in the middle was what kept them on top at the dangerous 2-0 scoreline, especially Johnson who improved throughout the game and fought for every ball with strength in the air and great distribution. Soon Caius capitalised on more shaky Jesus defence with Scrase – who never stopped running the entire game – pressuring their man into an own goal following a blistering cross from Eben, who but in a great performance on the right wing throughout the game. Shortly after Scrase nipped another from a terrible defensive error on Jesus’  behalf. The lead was never in doubt with Mathers and Shinners at the back winning everything in the air and on the floor. Calm keeping from Caius’ Feng meant that they were able to start the season with a clean sheet.

Selwyn 0-3 Fitz

A scrappy game at the Selwyn pitches ended with a result that, in truth, slightly flattered an admittedly solid Fitz side. Two scrappy goals from Rhodes and Ayres were topped off by a spectacular free-kick from Fitz captain, Simon Court. Rich Ewers in the Fitz net was a stand out performer, keeping his side in the ascendancy.

Photos by Patrick Fee