19/02/25: Kestrels 4-1 Wolverhampton I
After the complicated decision as to which pitch to play on was finally made, captain A. McDonald led his team out into the semifinal of their first ever BUCS cup run with high spirits. However, having immediately come under intense pressure from their very vocal, not very technical opposition, the first twenty minutes saw one big chance roll towards B. Lakämper’s goal after the other, leading to multiple corners, short-range finishes and a dangerously central free-kick. For some reason or another, the Kestrels emerged unscathed.
A few breakthroughs through B. Cohen’s and D. Watts’ impressive efforts on the right flank nevertheless appeared to disquiet Wolverhampton’s coach. Before a Kestrels corner kick, he called his team out for a talk - but after everyone was back on the pitch, J. Parish stuck his leg into the incoming corner and scored, inducing our evidently very elated manager to shout at the opposition’s bench: “Team talk for what?” A risky call in the author’s opinion, but as the game went back and forth Cambridge was able to carry the 1-0 through to half-time.
With the tireless R. Simpson, A. O’Donnell and J. Taylor having a much better grip on Wolverhampton’s midfield in the second half, the Kestrels were able to extend their lead to a comfortable 3-0. Fresh forces came off the bench and helped see the increasingly heated and aggressive game through to the end, although, with two minutes left on the clock Wolverhampton got the better end of a free-kick from the left sideline. But there was no going back, C. Mensah rewarding himself for a great substitution performance with a last-minute goal.
This win gives the Kestrels an incredible opportunity for their next three games: Varsity is around the corner, Birmingham waits in the cup final directly after, and with a win in their last league game promotion can be secured.
Goals: Jake Parish, Cephas Mensah, Ben Cohen, Own Goal
Assists: Ben Cohen, Roddy Simpson, Tobias Doye, Joe Tait
MoTM: Brian Lakämper
✍️ Brian Lakämper
