After an outstanding performance at Newport Pagnell last weekend, we turn our attention to the Cambridge Invitation Cup on Tuesday night when Kershaw League side Great Shelford are the visitors to Bridge Road. Our run in the competition took us as far as the semi-final stage last season and hopes are high that we can go one stage better this time around. However, Matt, Mark and the team are preparing for a difficult cup tie against a highly accomplished side with ideas of a giant-killing in mind.
Any thoughts that the side from Step 7 of the Non-League pyramid system will be easy meat for the Stutes can be firmly dismissed from the start. Great Shelford are currently top of the Kershaw Cambridgeshire League Premier Division with a record of six wins from seven games. They have won all five of their games on the road this season, scoring sixteen goals and conceding just three along the way. There can therefore be little doubt that we will have to be at our best if we are to get past the first hurdle in this season’s competition.
“It is a competition we want to go far in and win the trophy if we can” says Joints First Team Manager Mark Critoph. “In past seasons we have rested players in the Cambs Cup, but while we will make two or three changes for Tuesday night, we will go out with a strong team to win the game.”
The changes that Mark refers to could include a first start for striker Jordan Foster, who joined the Stutes from Isthmian League North side Newmarket Town last week. Another recent signing, Ben Smith is also likely to be available after representing Kings Lynn Under 23s on Saturday under his dual-registration arrangement with the Linnets.
Great Shelford could include former Histon youngster Jay Downham-Flood in their side. The Bridge Road academy player has scored three goals in Great Shelford’s colours this season and his speed and agility would no doubt cause problems for our defence should he make an appearance. Another former Stute to have turned out for Great Shelford this season is Buster Harradine, but at around twice Downham-Flood’s age, it would be an incredible act of human endurance if Buster were to play the whole 90 minutes.
We were matched with Great Shelford in the Cambs Invitation Cup on two previous occasions, winning both times by a 2-0 scoreline. The latest was in 2013 when Salim Relizani and Eugene Libertucci were our scorers. A similar result on Tuesday evening will be the first step towards claiming a trophy which we have not won since 2005.
Admission is at the reduced rate of £5 for adults and £3 for concessions with the bar open from 6.00pm for kick-off at 7.45pm. The game will be decided on the night with a penalty shootout after 90 minutes if necessary, so be prepared for a night of tension-filled, winner-takes-all cup action.
