College Football Round Up

Jesus 3 – Selwyn 2

Jesus made hard work of a fixture that they needed to win, just scraping past a resolute Selwyn.

Within three minutes Jesus were 1-0 up. The ball was worked from left to right in the midfield, before Jack Anderson fired over a cross, and the impressive Olly Juggins finished coolly from 5 yards, concluding what was the best move of the match. Thirty-five minutes in, Will Sheldon floated in a free kick that eluded the defence and found its way to Jesus centre-back John Crawford, who improvised fantastically and backheeled it through the keepers legs.

Lone Selwyn striker Chris Hutton was throwing himself about very effectively up front, and after failing to shepherd it out, the ball was worked to the edge of the box and curled home. Jesus made their height advantage count as Anderson volleyed in accurately from a corner before half time.

An early Selwyn second half goal from a long throw threw a spanner in the works, and the match could have been won when Danny McGrath comically sliced the ball across his own box straight to the Selwyn winger, but stand in goalie Tom Lee stood firm.

Fitz 3 – Downing 1

After an unlucky break in the first half Downing struggled to maintain their recent form, which Fitz capitalised upon leaving the magenta men to play catch up.

Read Jonny Singer’s full report here.

 Homerton 3 – Kings 1

Homerton ran out winners over a flat Kings team, as they continue their march to the top. 

It was third against fourth in what was anticipated to be a close fought game. It began in a frantic manner, with neither side really able to maintain possession and Homerton perhaps looking most likely to create something. Therefore, it came as a slight surprise when Kings took the lead 10 minutes in, with an incisive counter attack ending in Grigg finishing well after good work down the right-hand side by Putsepp.

Despite this, Kings didn’t take control of the game. On the whole, the side in purple were restricted to shots from distance, and Homerton came close to equalizing half way through the first half when Josh Dale drew a superb save from Greenbury, tipping a rasping drive on to the post. On the stroke of half time, Homerton’s endeavours were rewarded when Skipper was allowed to head home unmarked from a free kick.

The second half proved much like the first, with Homerton looking the more capable going forward. The team in blue took the lead soon after the break. A long throw into the Kings box was flicked on and met by an exquisite first time volley from Pates into the top corner. Kings continued to struggle to string passes together, but still had chances as Putsepp spurned a one-on-one chance and Folks came close when improvising with an overhead kick.

However, the game was killed off 15 minutes from time, as a loose ball was seized upon by Slack, who then unleashed from 25 yards, the ball clipping the post on its way into the top corner. Putsepp could have set up a grandstand finish but blazed over when well placed, and the game finished 3-1. This was a fully deserved win for Homerton against a lacklustre Kings side, and probably leaves Kings with too much to do in terms of challenging for the title.

Queens’ 4 – Emma 3

In a tight match Queen’s brought it to a grandstand finish at the bottom of the division, winning a close fought battle.

Read Tom Proctor’s full report here.

Christ’s 2 – Caius 1

Christ’s frontman Stephen Harrison slotted home twice in a lively encounter with Caius to give the Blue and Whites their second win of the season. Meanwhile Caius once again proved incapable of converting an otherwise solid performance into goal-scoring opportunities.

Both teams lined up in the glorious early afternoon sun looking for a win to alleviate their respective mid-table blues. Caius, the more desperate of the two teams, started the brighter and asserted early physical dominance and composure in their committed forward movement. A number of curling crosses from Dave Zhou and Andy Marsden on both flanks forced the best from Christ’s defence. However, Christ’s were patient and capitalised well on their opportunities on the break. Captain Owen Morgan showed finesse and was unlucky to hit the base of the post after a curved effort from the left edge of the Caius box. The momentum though was all Caius, with the deadlock finally being broken 10 minutes from the break, thanks to a driven shot from Nikos Yerolemou and a fumble from Christ’s keeper Oli Higgins.

Caius began the second half in similar vain to how they had finished the first, and were very unlucky not to go two up 15 minutes in. A Jeremy Warner corner was met by a horde of Caius heads which collectively sent the ball goalward, but was denied thanks to the redeeming efforts of Higgins. Christ’s looked shaken and certain to crumble. However, a long throw into the Caius box allowed Harrison the opportunity to equalise which he did not pass up, lashing the ball home past a helpless Junfeng Liu. Caius were stunned, and it was only a matter of minutes before the visitors struck again. A lovely through ball from midfield sliced the Caius’ back four open, and Harrison ran through to scoop the ball round Liu on the slide. Caius dominated from here on in, but could do everything but score, even when Will Pithers found space following a chipped through ball – his side footed effort skimmed the top of the bar.

Full credit goes to a persistent Christ’s defence who kept their side ahead and saw the game through and consternation for Caius, who once again deserved so much more than they got after an excellent display.