The Student still struggles to accept second-best

The crown jewel of the capital’s student journalism year saw The Student and The Journal do battle on the Meadows last Friday lunchtime, in a game of football that was ‘friendly’ in name only. The Journal strode to victory with a performance which can only be described as emphatic and the scoreline – in no way flattering – secured some serious bragging rights for the victorious publication.

After a tardy arrival, The Student were slow out of the blocks and were made to pay. The Journal wasted no time in taking the lead through Sean Gibson, but The Student in fact mustered an immediate reply. A hopeful punt upfield from The Student’s goalkeeper was disregarded by players of both teams alike, with the wind playing the most crucial role in eventually carrying the ball over the line. The Journal’s players were not deterred, though, and fired several more warning shots before Gibson nutmegged the keeper to make it 2-1. As they continued to swarm forward, The Journal added a third and fourth before the break, utilising a style of ‘total football’ that belied the bobbly playing surface. The Student were so bamboozled that they even put the third one in themselves.

Any hopes of a revival were snuffed out within minutes of the restart as The Journal’s Jamie Timson skilfully steered home a cross with his groin. The Student were visibly demoralised, finally tightening up their defence at the expense of sending aimless long balls forward. The Journal lapped these up though, dealing with them as assuredly as what little else The Student had thrown their way. Editor Marcus Kernohan made sure The Journal’s work ethic didn’t wane – getting thoroughly stuck-in in the second half – and it wasn’t long before Michael Mawdsley added a sixth to complete the rout. The Student left the Meadows shell-shocked, offering only vague promises to return stronger next year. A triumphant day from start to finish for The Journal, with their team’s only quandary being whether or not to buy themselves a trophy.