| Cambridge United | 2-2 | Chester City |
| Sinclair o.g. 5 | Rimmer 9 | |
| Barnwell 7 | Milner 45 | |
| Att: 3,044 |
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Vowden, Ashbee, Craddock, Raynor, Wanless, Hyde, Taylor, Barnwell (Kyd 78), Hayes.
Subs not used: Preece, Marc Joseph.
Booked: Vowden 16 (foul)
Terry Wilby's match report:
Colin Vowden replaced Danny G. at No. 3.
We had a dream start going 2-0 up in 7 minutes, I don't think Scott Barrett had even touched the ball. The first came from a corner to the far post headed back in, knocked out then shot back in by Ashbee and deflected in off the keeper. The second came from a through ball to Wanless, his shot was parried by the keeper, but Jamie Barnwell followed up to score easily.
The first to be conceded a few minutes later followed a long diagonal cross over Paul Raynors head to their winger who crossed to the far post. The ball was headed back across goal and the forward scored with a simple header from 6 yards with no defender around. A poor goal to concede.
The equaliser came in the last minute of the first half, a long through ball looked to have been dealt with by Matt Joseph at the edge of the penalty area, but he half fell under pressure and the forward lifted the ball over Barrett (who had come off his line expecting a back pass) into the empty net. Another poor goal to concede.
At the start of the second half John Taylor had a shot on the turn which hit the post ( I think the keeper just got a touch). Other chances went begging, a couple to Jamie who needs a bit more strength so as not to be knocked of the ball when chasing with a defender.
The last minute saw Michael Kyd (who had come on for Barnwell with about 10 minutes left) score with a header from a Micah cross, but the linesman put his flag up. The TV replay did not show if he was offside or not, from their body language the defender and keeper both thought it was a goal. That linesman obviously had the Helium filled flag, because he flagged a lot for us being offside, where as the other linesman flag was filled with lead because he couldn't lift it!
The whole team played pretty well, although there were times when we were slow to support the forwards, particularly a couple of times when Shaggy headed back into the centre but there was no-one there. The first half was fairly even, Chester playing with the wind, we had the better of the second half. I think Barrett only had 1 save to make.
Paul Raynor just gets my Man of the Match for a series of good crosses.
Ratings: Barrett 6 Joseph 6 Vowden 7 Ashbee 7 Craddock 7 Raynor 8 Wanless 7 Hyde 7 Taylor 7 Barnwell 7 Hayes 6 Subs: Kyd 7 Preece Not used Marc Joseph Not used
Fred Berry's report:
We started the match off superbly and after just 4 mins a cross came in from the right where I think Ashbee collected, he drilled in cross that ended back at his feet then tryed again and this time it came of a Chester player and ended up in the back of the net 1-0. We carried on the pressure and on 9 mins Wanless found himself one on one against the keeper, his shot came off the keeper and landed into Barnwells path he took the ball on and tapped it into a open net 2-0. Then on 14 mins we relaxed and a chester cross was met by a diving header into the back of the net 2-1. Chester carried on putting us under pressure and had a few half chances but rarely threatened until on 47 mins in the first half a long ball over the defence found there player one and one with Barret the Chester player hit a good lob over barret in to the net 2-2.
In the second half we probably just about had the better of the play. John Taylor hit a shot against the post and Raynor put a cross in across the face of goal which Barnwell just missed. Vowden had a very good game along with Joseph and Craddock, who needs Granville eh. Hyde was doing well being watched by Ron Atkinson and Ashbee looked good in his Midfield. Our main threat was Raynors right wing crosses and long throws. Craddock hit a free kick straight at the Chester wall. Sometimes we did mount a decent attack but only to be flagged by a cheating Mr Howells. Chester nearly had a goal when their player hit a shot which Scottie got a hand to, it seemed to be rolling to the back of the net until Craddock cleared it off the line. Then in the 91st minute another cross from the right (not sure who buy) was met with a majestic leap met buy a perfect header which went crack in the top corner from sub Kyd, that should have been 3-2 but Mr Howels flagged for a offside HE WAS 2 YARDS ONSIDE YOU DOPEY OLD MAN, YOU MUST OF HAD IT DOWN AS A SCORE DRAW ON YOUR COUPON YOU CHEAT. We where robbed of 3 points as for 1 min later the final whistle was blew. The linesman went of guarded by a steward to the chants fron the Corona end of "the linesman is a %^^&$%."
Oh well at least we can look at it as a point gained as the other results all went our way. I felt we deserved all 3 points but thats football.
Ratings.
As a new member of the net this is my first match report.
Well what a way to end a match! To sum up linesman Mr Howells as a cheating
£$*&* %%$*&&! is letting him off lightly, if you want to know what happened
that will come later in the report.
Barrett. 4.5 Not a good game had one of his occasional lapses (I think he is destined to
join Orient come the end of the season).
Joseph. 7 Another good game in the heart of the defence.
Vowden. 8 A great comeback did well. Gets my MoM.
Ashbee. 6.5 Looks a lot better in midfield, claimed a own goal.
Craddock. 7 Another good game, seemed to come forward a lot.
Raynor. 7 Looked to be playing as a attacking right back, put in several good crosses.
Wanless. 7. Not as brilliant as in the other games but still played bravely and determinedly.
Hyde. 7. Looked good again.
Taylor 7.5 Played with a lot of confidence, won all balls in the air and hit a post.
Barnwell. 7. Scored and looked fairly threatening.
Hayes. 6. Steady.
Subs.
Kyd 8. For the short time he was on was he was brilliant, held up the ball well
and scored a cracking goal that was ruled out by the cheating excuse for a linesman.
About time we should see him back in the squad.
The Abbey Rabbit summary:
The Chester equaliser is yet further proof in my eyes that Matty shouldn't play centre-half. He had to wait for the ball to come down so that he could control it, by which time their player was crawling all over him... Scotty went walk about... DAMN. Micah played as if he was in the shop window and I was a bit concerned about the way Raynor made an effort to go to the Habbin, Abbey and Main Stands to applaud the fans... or am I being paranoid? Finally, Wanless M-o-M (again)
I thought it was a cracking game! However, at 2-0 after only a few minutes we should really have killed them off. This inability is going to cost us I fear. Ashbee had his best game in a United shirt and looks far more comfortable in the centre of midfield. Vowden looked out of sorts - hardly surprising really and with him and Hayes playing down our left we always looked uncomdfortable when they attacked - their first goal for instance.
Many thanks to Terry Wilby for the usual excellent report, Steve Jillings of the Abbey Rabbit for his summary, and also to Fred Berry, who is just 15, for his first match report.
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