Richard Payne, a 4th Year PhD (Chemistry) student at Downing College, came on as a substitute to score the only goal eleven minutes from time.

It was a tremendous end-to-end game, featuring two very evenly-matched sides and played out in conditions that veered from blue sky and sunshine to grey sky and driving rain - and back again.

Supporters of the two famous old teams packed the Riverside Stand, and one section of the Stevenage Road Stand, and saw their favourites introduced before the kick-off to FA Vice-Chairman Ray Kiddell and the legendary Jimmy Hill.

Both sides tore into each other from the start and 'keepers Tom Savill (Cambridge) and Nik Baker (Oxford) were constantly in action. Cambridge striker Mikey Adams, in his 4th Year at St John's, showed pace and trickery but found Baker to be his equal.

At the other end Vincent Vitale and Paul Kaliszewski, both North Americans, were also lively in attack and it was a major surprise that half-time came with the game still goalless.

Neither team really deserved to lose and the decisive goal arrived when the lottery of kicks from the penalty mark was starting to be contemplated.

With 79 minutes showing on the electronic scoreboard, Cambridge's Payne, wearing No.12, chased an apparently lost cause as the ball skidded through to Baker, advancing towards the edge of his box.

But the 'keeper, and two defenders close by, seemed to leave it to each other and Payne stretched to poke the ball home.

Cambridge had won the Varsity fixture for the first time for five years and delighted skipper Alex Mugan received the CB Fry Trophy from Mr Kiddell.