| Cambridge United | 1-3 | Lincoln City |
| Kyd 52 | Robertson 65 | |
| Craddock (o.g.) 73 | ||
| Stant 86 | ||
| Att: 3,656 |
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Wilson (Taylor 81), Ashbee (Preece 74), Craddock, Raynor, Wanless, Hyde, Kyd, Barnwell, Foster.
Sub not used: Beall.
Fred Berry's match report:
Oh dear. We have got to get a grip fast. Out of the play of places with
just a game in hand over Scarboro.
What is happening? Why are we incapable of keeping a lead? Something needs to be done soon. The first half was nothing superb, we only created a few chances and failed to put Lincoln under pressure. One or two crosses and corners were met but I do not think we had one shot on target to test John Vaughan. From the north terrace it is very hard to see exactly what is happening at the other end. Lincoln also did not have a great deal of chances. They had more play then United but failed to threaten Barrett. Ashbee and Wanless set up some good passes that were rarely capitalised on. Hyde was having a terrible game a few passes were all he could manage.
The second half was better, we went out fighting for 15 mins. A scramble in the box produced a penalty for us. It was Hyde Vs Vaughan the penalty was awful. It was so predictable Vaughan dived to his right were it was saved and cleared for a corner. The miss drained his confidence and he really had a bad game. 3mins later we did score a break down the right produced a ball to Kyd, he fired a shot into the bottom corner 1-0. Lincoln went for it and we YET AGAIN FELL APART. A goalmouth scramble from a corner produced Lincoln's first goal, the ball fell to a player to tap in from all of 3 yards pass a strecting Barret 1-1. The whole team then fell apart. Foster made a good run past a few players but selfishly fired a shot over the bar when there were better options. Kyd found himself in a good position but fired the ball over but I think he was offside anyway. On 73mins another scramble for the ball after a corner the ball came out to a Lincoln player who fired in through a crowded box. It took a deflection and was given as a Craddock own goal 1-2. A break down the wing saw a early cross and another goal for Lincoln 1-3. WE CANNOT DEFEND A LEAD.
Mcfarland has to sort it out in time for Cardiff to renew our fast fading promotion hopes. In truth we were rubbish. We have to beat Cardiff or stay down.
Ratings.
Barrett 6 did little.
Joseph 6 as above.
Wilson 6.5 did Ok on the wing, I think we should sign him.
Ashbee 6 set up a good pass or two played better then Hyde.
Craddock 6 scored a own goal (according to results on ceefax I thought that it was
just a deflection) but defended OK.
Raynor. 6 Did a few good balls in, needs an improvment on recent form.
Wanless. 6.5 Battled well.
Hyde. 3.5 A terrible game, a awful penalty and did little with the ball, needs to
put this match behind him.
Kyd 7 A goal and played Ok gets my MOM.
Barnwell 6 showed some pace did not get in the game.
Foster 6 Played OK. Won lots of balls in the air.
Subs.
Taylor
Preece. Not on long enough to rate.
We need to beat Cardiff or face staying down. It's a difficult match but I'll see the 100 ultra loyal down there to make some noise for the lads if we can.
Fred Berry.
Gareth Challis' report:
On probably hottest day this year, both sides were equally matched in the first half, neither producing much to shout about. Lincoln's most dangerous player (and probably their only player worth noting) was their right winger who was both fast and tricky to deal with. Other than that, the visitors were as unimpressive as any I've seen this year. Luckily for them, we helped them to victory.
The second half brought a little more action. John Vaughan got a good reception from the Newmarket Road End, which quickly turned to torrid abuse once the game restarted.
On 51 minutes, the U's gained a corner which was headed back down at the back post by Foster (?) ... a Lincoln player chested the ball down before attempting to clear. The U's faithful shouted 'penalty' and it was given !! We needed some luck, and finally we were getting some !! It was never a penalty, but I guess that doesn't matter as Micah passed the ball to Vaughan in the Lincoln goal. Just 60 seconds later and the U's did have the lead. Barnwell, Hyde and Kyd all went for a bouncing ball towards goal against 2 defenders ... 4 of them ended up in a heap on the floor while Kyd cooly blasted the ball past the 'keeper from an acute angle. A good goal, and hopefully the U's should start rolling. Wrongo.
On 65 minutes a Lincoln corner was palmed straight to a Lincoln player who blasted the ball back across the area. It 'hit' Robertson and bounced into the 'net. I don't think Robertson knew too much about it. Just eight minutes later, we were behind. A mistake while we were attacking set the Imp's little right winger on a run. His cross into the centre was missed by the striker, but Craddock was on hand to turn the ball into his own net.
Paul Wilson was taken off injured. McFarland seemed to be bringing on Beall for him, but the crowd were calling for Shaggy. Roy changed his mind at the last minute. Does this make us the manager ?
With four minutes left, a scramble in the penalty area ended with the ball bouncing off a U's player to Stant who put the ball past Barrett.
An element of luck about all three of Lincoln's goals. If we can't put away teams like Barnet and Lincoln we won't go up. The worst part of the day was definitely falling out the play-off zone for the first time in months.
We need to win at least 4 of the remaining 6 to get a play-off place. It's looking a little more unlikely game by game.
For the second time in three days the U's performance decided the result without the opposition having to play anywhere near par. Fortunately I've lost count how many times this has happened this season.
Barrett 6 Joseph 6 Wilson 7 Ashbee 7 Craddock 6 Raynor 6 Wanless 7 *MoM* Hyde 6 Kyd 6 Barnwell 6 Foster 6 Subs : Taylor - for Wilson on 81 Preece 4 - on for Ashbee on 74
Terry Wilby's match report:
The side was the same as at Barnet except for Kyd starting in place of Taylor who was on the subs. bench with Beall and Preece.
Lincoln played exactly as expected, mostly big blokes in the middle at the front and back, with little nippy wingers. Channel balls followed by quick crosses into the penalty area didn't cause us any problems in the first half. Barrett got a knock to the face, there was some hope that Wanless might go in goal and then we might keep a clean sheet, but Barrett was able to continue. We had the better of the first half, creating a few chances, but not taking them.
In the second half we had a lot of early pressure which resulted in a penalty when the ball bounced up onto the defenders hand. A little harsh possibly, but then we haven't had much luck lately. John Vaughan ( who had a good reception from the Abbey) got booked for arguing. Micah took the kick which was saved easily as it was about 6 feet to Vaughan's left at a nice height. Soon after we scored when Kyd was put through on the left and scored from a tight angle, a nice goal. The pressure couldn't last, and Lincoln scored after a corner was flapped at by Barrett and the resulting shot deflected in. The corner shouldn't have been given as our defender was pushed as he shielded the ball out. Lincoln got a second after a misplaced pass from Ashbee close to their penalty area when we were attacking was played quickly to the winger who crossed for the attacker to miss but Craddock behind him put it in. I can't remember much about their third, I think it was a shot through a crowded area.
I think it was 1-1 when Wilson got a nasty injury which meant he was stretchered off, Taylor came on and Barnwell dropped back. Beall may have been due to come on but didn't seem ready. Preece came on for Ashbee.
We had chances again, but failed to take them, possibly the best when Kyd missed from 6 yards. It was quite surprising that the only player to run at the Lincoln defence and go past 3 players was Colin Foster, who tried a curling shot that went high and wide. Kyd gets my Man of the Match award scoring the goal.
So a typical Beck display, quick passes to space for runners. We tried to play passes to feet, but got closed down, we tried passes into space but didn't have the runners. Lincoln got away with a lot of niggly shirt pulling, they were also quite physical which the referee ignored. Incidentally the referee was pretty poor, he also changed his mind a couple of times, once for a corner to Lincoln, the other when he awarded us a free kick then changed it to Lincoln. The linesman also seemed fairly quick to raise his flag for offside, it must have been the Helium filled flag again.
All in all a bad Easter, we could have got 6 points, but ended up with none.
Listening to Roy Mc. on the radio on Monday, he thought we gave it away, and would have to get tougher mentally to cope with the pressure of being near the top. He said the crowd had supported them well despite losing. There were a few idiots calling for his head at the end, but not many. Maybe the players will relax now we are out of the play off zone, and start a late run. Most of the other results were in our favour.
Ratings: Barrett 5, Joseph 5, Wilson 6, Ashbee 5, Craddock 5, Raynor 6, Wanless 6, Hyde 6, Kyd 7 *MoM*, Barnwell 5, Foster 6. Subs: Preece 5, Taylor 5, Beall not used.
Terry Wilby.
Many thanks to Fred Berry, Gareth Challis and Terry Wilby for their match reports and ratings.
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I saw Stevie Claridge before the game at the Ice cream van, did he stay for the match?