Just a little bit of history repeating
Jo Buick fl ies past St Anneʼs Cathy Hurst and Vic Crawford as she muscles her way out of Teddy Hall's half
New College and St Edmund Hall both booked their places in this season’s cuppers climax to set-up a repeat of last year’s dramatic fi nal when New clinched the cup on penalties. The holders sailed through into the last two with a clinical performance against an impressive Wolfson and St Antony’s outfi t.
Although the competition’s dark horses looked dangerous in possession, the reigning champions were able to add bite to their considerable bark to see off Wolfson/Antony’s unexpected challenge. Goals from Gemma Hobbs, Abi Don and Ceri Ross provided for a fi nal score that was perhaps a little harsh on the losers, though New certainly won’t mind as they prepare to launch a defence of their title.
Despite the comparatively meagre goal margin, Teddy Hall’s progression to their second consecutive fi nal was all the more impressive. Their game, against serial semi-fi nalists St Anne’s began slowly, with Hall entirely dominant yet unable to muster the incision necessary to carve out any chances.
Twenty minutes in, Mouche Pearce gave a glimpse of Hall’s potential with a jinking run down the left fl ank, and moments later lively striker Cressida Holmes- Smith’s speculative shot from outside the box by the touchline rattled against the cross-bar, a warning of what was to come. Teddy Hall captain Ruth Brooker, who had an outstanding game at sweeper, marshalled such a tight defence that Anne’s looked out of answers on how they might forge an opening.
Yet half an hour in, a swerving cross from Cathy Hurst drifted past a bemused back-line and towards the feet of Victoria Crawford. With the net at her mercy, Crawford lingered on the ball long enough for Hall somehow to scramble the ball out to touch.
This lapse in concentration was soon forgotten as Brooker established herself as the player of the match with a series of superbly timed tackles and perfectly placed long passes, allowing for Hall’s attacking trio of Jo Buick, Pearce and Holmes- Smith to run riot in the other half of the pitch. This immense pressure fi nally paid dividends when, ten minutes before the interval, Carina Dalton won the ball in the box and evaded a limp challenge to move one-on-one with the keeper.
Before she could get her shot off, a dreadful tackle from behind scythed her down, leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty that Anna Vannucci coolly converted to give Hall the lead they richly deserved. Anne’s furrowed brows only deepened as goalkeeper Ruth Ashman fl ashed at a freekick only to see the ball fall to Mouche Pearce.
Taking a moment to compose herself, Pearce struck a beautifully weighted chip over Ashman and into the back of the net via the left upright to double Hall’s lead going into the interval. At fi rst the break seemed to have little effect on a downtrodden Anne’s side. Consistent failure to clear their lines nearly cost them dearly as Dalton piled on the pressure with an early shot.
Wolfson/Anthonyʼs wince as New win another tough challenge
This at last prompted some form of response, with Margaret Murphy picking up her game with a threatening run that was denied reward only by Brooker’s typically committed block. Nonetheless, with the exception of the composed Hurst, St Anne’s lacked Hall’s talent in midfi eld and composure on the ball. Pearce and Buick both had spectacular efforts in the next few minutes, with Pearce’s ambitious half-volley saved and Buick’s back-heeled shot sneaking just wide of brilliance.
Mari Tomas also displayed her attacking prowess as she dribbled into the box and bamboozled the keeper, only to dally on the ball for long enough for a lastditch tackle to come to Anne’s rescue. Then from nowhere Anne’s clawed themselves back into to match. Sally Lambert received the ball in midfi eld and, short of options, tamely fi red in towards goal.
Hall’s substitute keeper Maddy Chandler, deputising in goal, was caught off-guard and unfortunately her fi rst touch was to pick the ball up from the back of the net. Despite this glimmer of hope, it was to be Anne’s only shot of the entire match. Even with the possibility of extra-time on the cards, Anne’s couldn’t get the ball from Hall. First Buick sliced open the defence once again with a mazy run and shot that nearly snuck in between the post and the generally steady keeper.
While Anne’s were still catching their collective breath Tomas drifted in from the right fl ank and snuck in behind the defence to deliver a curling effort that beat Ashman but crashed off the crossbar. Holmes-Smith was also denied late on, but Hall’s failure to extend their lead proved unimportant as the fi nal whistle confi rmed their hardearned place in the fi nal.
Regardless of Lambert’s goal, St Edmund Hall dominated the game from start to fi nish and the manner of their victory sends a strong message of intention to New before the season’s grand fi nale in two weeks time.
That game should be a fantastic spectacle, with no love lost between the two rival teams, a fact that Hall coach Andy Olsen was more than happy to remind The Oxford Student of after the match: “Anne’s gave us a steep challenge and we overcame it, and now we’re on course to get revenge for last year’s penalty shoot-out. New College beware.
23rd Feb 2006