United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Thompson (Turner 82), Craddock, Wanless, Raynor (Hayes 80), Hyde, Richards, Barnwell, Beall.

Mark Slater's report:
How bloody frustrating can you get ..... another game there for the taking and the lads lose their bottle. I wasn't going to write anything about the game but as Rob and myself were probably the only ones on the list who were there (didn't even see the soccer widow, but he was probably in the press box with MJ) it's only fair that I give you some sort of report.

Scunthorpe United 3 Cambridge 2 (HT 1-2)

The U's tore at the Iron from the kick off and made several very very good chances that a good striker (ie Scott McGleish) would have tucked away with ease. Matty Joseph was proving to be a real thorn down the right, getting to the bye-line on numerous occasions and putting quality crosses in.

Chance after chance went begging, the worst being from Micah Hyde when he was left unmarked on the 6 yard line with the keeper out of position and the goal gaping ... a simple side-foot shot would have sufficed but he tried to control the ball, and didn't. By the time he got a shot in the keeper was back and Micah shot wide. It looked as though it was going to be "one of those nights" but up popped Tommo to hit a bullet header straight at the keeper who could on parry it and Tommo followed up to hit the ball into the roof of the net.

Scunthorpe's only tactic appeared to be long balls to their lanky centre-forward, now where have I seen that before ?!?! and he was being superbly handled again by Tommo. The ref gave them a couple of free-kicks on the edge of the box within minutes (both very harsh decisions) but the first went into the wall and the second a gentle shot over the wall that Scotty had no trouble with.

Jamie Barnwell chased a ball out to the corner flag and despite the appeals for off-side and the linesman (sorry referee's assistant) pointing to the player keeping him on-side he hit a very hard low cross into the area. Richards dived for the ball along with one of their players and the ball ended up in the back of the net. It was up the other end so it wasn't possible to see who got the touch but teletext confirmed an own-goal. By this time we were coasting and had 3 points in the bag and flying up the league. However, a minute before half-time another long-ball to their centre-forward resulted in their first goal. He took the ball down on his chest, facing away from the goal and with Tommo behind him turned and hit a shot past a helpless (no, not hopeless.... at least not for this one. That comes later !!). It was actually a good goal but the timing was awful.

Well, 2-1 up at half-time and playing well everything looked set for a good second half. Needless to say, this became probably the most spineless U's play for years and years. As expected Scunthorpe had a go at us from the re-start and this went on and on ... we didn't get possession in their half for 10-15 mins ... that is kosher because we couldn't believe it. Eventually we won a corner and Paul Wanless has a free header from just outside the 6 yard box but hit it soft and wide. They went up the other end and scored. Then 10 mins from time a free-kick miles out on the right was hit into the area straight at Scotty and it somehow went straight through him into the net. Bloody disaster.

Overall the midfield was completely overrun and the defence couldn't really be blamed for the goals (apart from Scotty) ... in addition very few chances were created in the second half with our only other chance coming in the last minute from Barnwell. Our wing-backs (especially Matty) ran the show in the first half but were totally ineffective in the second and the team panicked .... this is where we need David Preece.

Performance ratings:

Barratt   4    That last goal was totally down to him.
Joseph    5    First half brilliant ... second useless.
Granville 4.5  OK defending ... nothing going forward
Craddock  5.5  Steady
Thompson  6    MoM ..even though we let 3 goals in he did a pretty good job
               on their forward and did score a goal.
Wanless   2    Did bugger all
Raynor    4    Moaned a lot !!!!
Richards  5    Tried hard
Hyde      4    Not his usual self
Barnwell  4    I'm not convinced about him ... fast but never looks like 
               scoring
Beall     5    Covered acres of ground but did nothing telling.

Subs:-
Turner    10   OK, only joking 4 ... only on for a few minutes and did
               little or nothing
Hayes     4    As Turner

Mark

Rob's match report:
I find it hard to write a match report but as I doubt if many off this list made it to the game I'll give it a go.......
Yet again it was a "game of two halfs". One good. One shit. First half I thought we played some great stuff and we could of been 2-up before we got our first goal. Scunthorpe showed very little, and in fact looked completely crap.

When we went 2-0 up we seemed to be cruising and from that position we SHOULD NOT lose. Of couse just before half-time they came forward and scored, their number 9 had his back to goal on the six yard box and had about half an hour to receive the ball at his feet, turn around, and shoot - totally unchallenged!

Second half Cambridge forgot to come out of the dressing room and Scunthorpe managed to score two crappy goals against a team consisting of 1 fat, short, useless goalkeeper and 10 bits of wood...........WHAT IS GOING ON?????? WHY CAN WE LOOK SO GOOD FOR 45MINS AND LOSE IT COMPLETELY?????? A GAME LASTS 90MINS BOYS!!!!!! LETS TRY AND PLAY FOR THAT AMOUNT OF TIME!!! GGRRRRRRR!!!!!!

I'm sorry but that is all I can bring my-self to write for the moment (until I cool down)

ROB

P.s. thanks again to Mark for the lift, a pint or 2 are coming your way next time I see you!

Grateful thanks to Mark Slater and Rob (the Badger) for their views (and their suffering in the cause of the U's!).

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