Varsity Victory To End Season
The Dark Blues’ football season came to a climax on March 11th as they met Cambridge in the 121st Varsity football match, played this year at the Abbey Stadium, home of Cambridge United.
Buoyed by the confidence of a better BUSA campaign in a higher division, the Light Blues came flying out of the blocks. Their tempo was vigorous and on more than one occasion they tested Oxford keeper Nik Baker from range in open play and referee Matt Messias awarded Cambridge a series of threatening early free-kicks. One of these set-pieces forced Baker into a superb double save, requiring Oxford skipper Mark Addley to make a goal-saving tackle in the ensuing melée.
Oxford were just beginning to settle when a clever Cambridge short corner led to the award of a penalty kick for the Light Blues. It was forward Alex Mugan who placed the ball down, only to see his side-footed effort magnificently saved by Baker diving away to his right.
The miss, 20 minutes in, was undoubtedly a turning point and seemed to sap Cambridge of belief. The halftime break did little for them and the Oxford strike pairing of James Forrest and Nat Armstrong began to look increasingly dangerous. The real breakthrough followed on the hour mark. A quickly-taken free kick from James Perkins was sprayed out right to Luther Sullivan, who used his pace and skill to leave three defenders trailing in his wake before cutting inside and curling an exquisite left-footed shot in off the far post from the right-hand corner of the box.
Having gained the advantage the Dark Blues continued to dominate possession, pinning Cambridge in their own half and forcing a series of corners and attacking throw-ins. The frustrated Cambridge forwards dropped deeper in search of the ball, only further diminishing their threat to a well-organised Oxford back-line. A glancing header from a corner and a free-kick that passed harmlessly wide were the best opportunities Cambridge could muster in the second period, whilst both Sullivan and Perkins came close to wrapping the match up for Oxford. The fresh legs of Vincent Vitale, Patrick Walker and Matt Rigby helped ensure Oxford got over the finish line safely and secured the 1-0 victory they ultimately deserved.
21st Apr 2005