After the Christmas break, BUCS football made its long awaited return this week. For those needing a recap of the events from last term, make sure you check out this article. This week’s action included games in the highest tier of women’s football, as well as the Men’s National Trophy, alongside much more. Let Freshered round up this week’s fixtures, telling you all you need to know about what the results mean for promotion and relegation.
Men’s National Trophy
The Men’s National Trophy consists of university teams in Tier One of the BUCS football structure, the second highest just below the Premier Tier. Teams have until the end of January to play their first round fixtures, meaning the draw for the second round is beginning to shape up nicely. There was only one game this week, which took place between Robert Gordon 1’s and Abertay 1’s.
The teams have faced off twice already this season in the Scottish Tier 1, with Abertay earning the victory both times. A dominant victory in the first game of the season handed Abertay a 5-0 victory, with Robert Gordon putting up a more spirited performance when the teams played again, but Abertay’s quality proved too much, with the game ending 3-2. And it was Abertay who made the 65 mile trip worth it in this Trophy fixture. Another close game saw the away side earn a 2-1 victory, sending Robert Gordon out of the cup, with Heriot-Watt 1’s awaiting Abertay in the next round.
Women’s Premier South
Monday’s second tier fixture between Hertfordshire 1’s and Bristol 1’s marked the start of BUCS football in 2022, proving to be a scrappy game with only one goal in it. Hertfordshire headed into the game in desperate need of a win, having only picked up one point out of seven games so far. This found themselves five points adrift at the bottom of the table, with their two games in hand, including this one, their only saving grace. Bristol themselves were also in some sort of trouble, sitting second bottom, with only two wins all season, with one against Hertfordshire.
In the end, the game ended the same way it did when the two teams played against each other earlier in the season. Bristol ran out 1-0 winners, adding to their relegation rivals troubles. Hertfordshire now find themselves eight points adrift, with their place in the relegation playoff now looking more certain. Bristol now sit in fourth on nine points, six courtesy of Hertfordshire, with another season in the Premier South looking even more likely.
Other Notable Results
BUCS Football was certainly back with a bang this week, with several results looking more like a cricket score than a football score.
In the South-Eastern Tier 4B, Essex Women’s 2’s scored 14 (yes, fourteen) goals in their game against UCL 3’s, which has to be the fixture of the week. Remarkably, despite this thrashing, Essex still only sit second in the league. UCL are yet to pick up a point, but sit second bottom thanks to King’s College 5’s sitting on -3 due to a walkover.
In the Women’s Northern Conference Cup, Sheffield Hallam 2’s made it through to the third round in emphatic fashion, defeating Manchester Met 2’s 12-0. This team definitely has an eye for goal this season, scoring eight or more goals in all but one of their fixtures.
The Edinburgh derby in Men’s Scottish Tier 6B definitely did not disappoint, producing ten goals in a thrilling draw. The 5-5 draw between Edinburgh 5’s and Edinburgh Napier 3’s certainly provided a lot of entertainment for those who turned up for that one.