Centaurs Varsity
The salubrious surrounds of Upton Park may be denied them but the Centaurs produced a performance that brimmed with enough bombast to ensure that the occasion might not be the only thing motivating the Oxford blues to excel against Cambridge in the senior Varsity showdown. The Centaurs easily overpowered the Cambridge Falcons and not even the most partisan of observers could condemn the score-line as flattering.
Centaur pressure almost was immediate. Tom Brown, the Oxford number 9 who would later go on to grab a brace started threateningly, shooting wide after a free kick, and almost chasing down a loose ball after a brave Tavares interception. At the back Captain Coles was dealing with everything assuredly, serenely untroubled by the one-dimensional running of Cambridge forward McInnes. Indeed, rarely during the match did the Cambridge forward line get in behind the Oxford defence who could invariably rely on their midfield to swarm quickly to their aid.
As the half matured so did the forward partnership of Forrest and Brown. On 15 minutes Forrest ran in behind the hapless Cambridge left back and delivered a ball that was met by Brown, a certain goal thwarted by a last ditch interception. Soon, it was Brown's turn to repay the favour. Having dropped deep he played in Forrest but a slightly heavy touch allowed a lunging challenge. It was almost inevitable that a goal would come from this source and on 40 minutes a perceptive header from Forrest found Brown who bundled his way through and prodded home. Oxford tails were up and a flowing four man move drew a save from the Cambridge keeper. However, Cambridge had the last word of the first half, McInnes spinning his marker and shooting wide. Oxford could not sit on their laurels.
The second half provided a spectacle with more errors as indecisive defending from both sides allowed scrappy half chances but also moments of real quality. Balls had been whizzing into the Cambridge area from Tavares in particular and it was his cross that led to the 2nd goal. The loose ball fell to Brown who unleashed an arching volley into that curved into the bottom corner. Cambridge missed a golden chance to restore pride after their forward lunged over the ball hilariously from all of a yard out and were promptly punished. Substitute wheeler won the ball on the left flank setting Brown away. Brown jinked and swivelled beating the last defender but meeting the sprawling frame of the goalie. The loose ball fell to Wheeler who thumped it home to complete the win.
3rd Apr 2004