This year’s annual Geovarsity fixture was held in enemy territory. Despite the carpet-like pitch provided for the previous fixture in Cambridge, Oxford served up the kind of pitch usually reserved for Premier league teams visiting lower-league opposition. Oxford’s scouts had clearly been rattled by the prospects of Cambridge’s Barcelona-esque tiki-taka honed on the 5-a-side training ground.
Despite Oxford’s home advantage and superior numbers of substitutes the visiting team felt as though they were in with a chance of reversing the result of last year’s fixture. This feeling was borne out as the first half started, with Cambridge going toe to toe with Oxford for the first quarter. The small, muddy pitch prevented either side from stringing more than two passes together in a row, but Cambridge’s midfield five worked hard to prevent Oxford from coming out on top.
However, Oxford struck the first blow. Following an unsuccessful Oxford attack, Cambridge goalkeeper Green attempted to kick start a counter-attack, throwing the ball quickly to Lawrence who was unable to control it and was swiftly pick-pocketed. The Oxford winger promptly crossed the ball into the large whole in front of the defence, created by Cowton simply ball watching rather than tracking his man, which was slotted in for a simple Oxford lead.
The second Oxford goal came seconds after the restart. At this moment however Cowton had subbed himself off in a mixture of exhaustion and guilt and wasn’t paying attention. Sources tell me there was a slip by Hoggard although this has yet to be confirmed.
Cambridge however had been threatening the Oxford goal too, with corners looking like the most likely chance of scoring. After a short period of pressure and a couple of corners whipped in by Pates Cambridge equalised through a goalmouth scramble, finally converted by Bokkerink. Claims of handball in the build-up were probably accurate, but dismissed by the dinosaur-onesie-clad referee.
With the scoreline 2-1 at halftime Cambridge still seemed well in the match, and, with large amounts of haribo provided by the girl’s team at the break, spirits were high. Immediately after the break Oxford’s strength in numbers nearly turned against them when they had to effectively field their second team in order to give everyone a game. A period of Cambridge dominance culminated in three good chances for Bokkerink in almost as many minutes, but he couldn’t keep his shots down.
Frightened into action, the Oxford first team re-emerged fully rested. By this time the Cambridge of midfield of Pates, McCormick, Cowton and Lawrence were tiring. Dickinson, owner of the least appropriate shirt name (Pollo en hijo), was somehow still all over the park. Maybe this is what happens if you don’t drink (a lesson to us all there…).
Oxford’s third (?) goal came as a result of this tiredness. With the Cambridge defence being pulled out of position, right back Northwood-Smith, attempting to track his winger, tripped over his own (admittedly quite long) legs, and promptly flattened his opponent in the box. The resulting penalty was converted without issue and Cambridge found themselves three down.
Throwing caution to the wind Cambridge attempted to claw their way back into the game, but even the ever reliable Hoggard couldn’t conjure up his usual magic – a late run from centre-back was cut short when he left the ball behind in the mud. Oxford exploited this recklessness with a further three goals, finally breaking the resilience of Gilbert, Hoggard, O’Malley and Northwood-Smith. However, none of the goals can currently be remembered, so they can’t have been that good…
The match ended 6-1, an unfair reflection of a game that Cambridge had dominated for periods. In situations such as this it is easy to reach for the Van Gaal excuse ‘everything was against us, the pitch, the fans and the referee’, but credit must go to Oxford’s superior finishing and higher overall energy levels. We shall look forward to the replay next year!
