Oriel’s Erin Robinson scored a vital 71st minute goal for the Oxford Women’s Blues in the Varsity Football Match against Cambridge, which took place on 13th March at Cambridge’s Abbey Stadium, to level the score at 2-2 and take the match to penalties.
Following on from their impressive 3-0 win in 2021, the Dark Blues took an early 1-0 lead in the match before Cambridge equalised in the 20th minute. The teams were well-matched and traded attacks in the first half, heading into half-time at 1-1.
Cambridge started brightly in the second half, scoring in the 47th minute to take a 2-1 lead, after which they enjoyed some sustained possession and it looked as though they might hold on for victory. After a nervous period for the Dark Blues, Oriel’s Erin Robinson was on hand to take advantage of a defensive mistake from the Light Blues, scoring the equaliser in the 71st minute to roars of approval from the Oxford supporters.
Both sides put on strong defensive displays for the final 20 minutes of the match, with the score remaining at 2-2 until the final whistle. Facing up to the prospect of a tense penalty shootout to decide the victor, the Dark Blues held their nerve to net all of their penalty attempts, with goalkeeper Emmie Halfpenny also making two saves to secure the victory for Oxford. The final score was 2-2 (4-1 to Oxford on penalties).
This victory was a memorable way for Erin to end her OUAFC career. During her time here Erin successfully campaigned for equal status for the Oxford Women’s and Men’s teams and oversaw the merging of the Oxford University Men’s and Women’s football clubs, subsequently serving as the first President of the joint clubs in the 2020-21 season.