Magdalen steal Catz' cream
A vocal crowd of around 300 people at Iffley Road saw college football supremos Magdalen complete the 'double-double' with a deserved yet narrow win over a St. Catherine's team cheered on by a posse of enthusiastic supporters.
The underdogs came out fighting and made a bright start, creating a couple of decent chances and maintaining good possession in midfield. Magdalen, however, could not be pinned down for long and gradually started to take a firm grip on the game. Catz' keeper Pemberton had already saved from Green before a fine volley lashed in by Richard Hooks gave Magdalen the lead. Catz tried to get back on level terms quickly, but their passionate display seemed to prove too much for the referee who kept a tight control on the game. Late on in the first half the referee penalised a St. Catherines' defender for a shove in the box, only for Pemberton to keep his team in the game by turning aside Free's spot-kick.
Magdalen kept their territorial superiority in the second half, but with the Catz back line of Light, Hicks, Rieser and Wright coping well with their raids and Pemberton continuing his strong performance, the Manor Road outfit stayed in the hunt. On the hour persistance was rewarded when Blues striker Durnford curled home a delicious 25-yard free kick to equalise and precipitate his side's best spell, during which Kieran Grehan was unlucky not to poach a winner. Magdalen captain Hayter was to have the final say, however, thrashing home a superb volley on 80 minutes to cap an action-packed display and earn his college a well-merited win. Catz deserved the ovation from their fans at the end, though, and on this form must be seen as being amongst the leading contenders for the Premier Division title next year. Magdalen, however, remain the side that everyone wants to, and will have to, beat.
2nd May 2002