| Bristol Rovers | 1-0 | Cambridge United |
| Cureton 46' | ||
| Att: 2,386 |
United line-up: Barrett, Williamson, Hayes, Ashbee, Matt Joseph, Campbell, Rees, Youngs (Barnwell 61'), McCammon (Kyd 78'), Butler, Rodosthenous (Preece 45').
Booked: Ashbee (foul 51')
Ref: Mr Wilkes.
[Andy Fison's match report] [My summary] [Bristol Rovers' website reports]
Andy Fison's match report:
Here we go then, my first ever match report for Moose Net.
Well on a cold and damp Monday night a massive group of U's supporters (30) converged on the Memorial Ground, the home of the Gas. As there were so few expected we were lucky to be placed in the main stand, well actually they were giving away the players comp tickets so there were no problems in getting value for money. The match started off with both teams fielding side of youngsters and other non first team players. After about 3 minutes of pressure Rovers unleashed a rather useful looking shot from a dodgy backpass which Barrett saved with confidence.
Almost straight away we where pressuring the other end and managed to be given a free kick about 10 yards out from the area, this was rather unsurprisingly thrown away. Once again rovers took up the attack with Barrett saving the day again. Straight away we went on the attack which finished with a Martin Butler shot. The Rovers keeper Shane Higgs made a very shaky start and compounded his error with a miss kick which looked like going in, but just went wide for a U's corner, this was wellied well over everyone, oh well we must get better!! Unfortunately this was not the case when we took our next one with the same result. Adi was by this stage looking as if he could not be bothered in playing for one side or the other and McCammon was often caught wandering aimlessly offside.
In the 27 minute we received another free kick in a similar position from the first, also with about the same effectiveness. After this we carried on placing pressure upon the Rovers goal and were rewarded by a couple of corners, the second corner was the most useful when the still slightly dodgy Shane Higgs had to force it over the bar for yet another. By the 43 minute rovers where once again pressuring and a corner was only just scrabbled away.
During half time we helped ourselves to some excellent pasties and coffee, it seems that the team had been doing similar as Rovers scored one minute after the restart with a low driven shot by Jamie Cureton who was given the ball by Preece who was attempting a back pass. For the next 20 mins we had the Rovers under pressure but to no affect. We really did need a natural goal scorer up front. Unfortunately Ian Ashbee went in the refs. book under the section marked yellow for an innocuous offence, but hey that's football.
During the last 20 minutes Rovers had 3 good chances that went wide. Overall I saw much to be hopeful for, we were solid in the midfield and at the back but lacked a natural striker or imagination at the front. For me the Man of the Match must go to Scotty Barrett for some excellent saves which kept us well in the hunt. The few U's which went down saw plenty of passing football by the U's and an end to end game which tailed off towards the final whistle.
Ratings:
Barrett 8.5, Ashbee 6, Matt Joseph 7, Campbell 6, Williamson 6, Rodosthenous 6, Youngs 6, Rees 6, Hayes 3 in the first half 6 in the second, Butler 7, McCammon 6.
Subs
Preece for Rodosthenous (46 mins) 5, Barnwell for Youngs (61 mins) 6. Kyd for McCammon (78 mins) 7
Boring match facts (from Evening Post)
Shots (on target)
Bristol Rovers 14(6)
Cambridge United 4(2)
Corners
Rovers 5
Us 5
Fouls committed
Rovers 9
Us 10
Offsides
Rovers 5
Us 4
Cheers to everyone who made it
Andy
My summary:
Because match reports were so thin on the ground I have included a summary of the Abbey Update report:
United embarked upon round one of the Auto Windscreens Shield with an experimental line-up, Roy McFarland giving some of the fringe players a run out. Only Scott Barrett, Ian Ashbee and Jamie Campbell survived from Saturday's starting eleven, plus substitute Martin Butler who was restored to the starting line-up after scoring the vital late equaliser against Stevenage. Matt Joseph made a welcome return to the defence and Mark McCammon, Michael Rodosthenous and Tom Youngs made their first senior starts after one substitute appearance apiece.
Second Division Bristol Rovers also rested some of their regulars, although player-manager Ian Holloway manned the midfield, and ex-Spurs man Peter Beadle and ex-Norwich youngster Jamie Cureton were always going to be a handful upfront.
In the first half, both teams were obviously taking the game very seriously and largely cancelled eachother out, although youngster Mark McCammon and Martin Butler looked dangerous in attack. However everything changed seconds after the break. David Preece replaced Rodosthenous at half-time, and less than a minute after arriving on the pitch the player-coach directed a sloppy back-pass to Matt Joseph, Jamie Cureton nipped in and beat Scott Barrett to put Rovers a goal up.
On 51 minutes Mark McCammon had an opportunity to level the scores when he forced his way into the area but Rovers' defence pounced and the chance disappeared in a tangle of legs. Shortly afterwards Martin Butler was gifted a chance by the Rovers midfield, his shot rebounded to McCammon but again the chance was smothered.
United gave their second division opponents plenty to think about as they bravely chased the game, but even the introduction of the pacy Jamie Barnwell (fresh from his loan spell at Rushden and Diamonds) and Michael Kyd could not change the scoreline. Looking on the positive side, it was a good performance despite the unfortunate result, and the opportunity to look at some of the fringe players in a competitive environment will have been useful.
Bristol Rovers' website reports:
Match report from Pride of the West website:
Rovers had the majority of the first half and Julian Alsop soon had a opening after a cross by Pritchard. A goal line save denied Rovers on that occasion. Peter Beadle had a long range effort shortly afterwards but the Cambridge 'keeper saved well.
Alsop had a long range shot well wide of target and then set up Steve Parmenter who shot wide of the post. Jason Perry's back pass caused problems for Shane Higgs in the Rovers goal. Higgs' clearance sliced away for a Cambridge corner.
Josh Low set up Jamie Cureton who headed wide from six yards out and then Peter Beadle was tackled at the death by a Cambridge defender. Cureton had a good chance but shot wide as half-time drew closer. Cambridge came back at Rovers late on in the half and had a good effort following a corner, but Shane Higgs was alert to deny them. Then Ian Holloway made a timely tackle in the penalty area when a Cambridge goal looked odds on.
Forty seconds into the second half Jamie Cureton scored the goal which later proved to be the winner, he ran through on goal and slotted the ball past the Cambridge keeper. Cambridge had a good chance with a one-on-on when Butler was denied by good goalkeeping by Shane Higgs. Another good save by Higgs at the feet of Barnwell kept Rovers 1-0 up.
Rovers had chances through Barry Hayles, who came on as substitute, and Holloway also had an effort well saved.
Match report from Bristol Rovers On Line website:
Lets face it, no one seems to give a monkeys about this Shield thingy. It takes more stick then any other Cup Competition in England, but as you keep on winning and get through each round of the Shield, each match is a little more important than the previous one. And when you lose you think good, we can now concentrate on the League and proper Cup competitions. But as it is, we're through to the next round with just as much chance as most teams in this Shield to go on a bit of a run and to get to Wembley, which of course brings in the well needed revenue for the Club.
Good to see the youngsters come out for this one too. Not only do our young defenders need to get a feel for the first team with suspensions on the way, but as Ollie has said, players need a rest from time to time and this was definitely the best time to do it.
The changes saw Luke Basford and Mark Smith making their debuts in defence, with Alsop, Parmenter, Holloway, and Cureton all being re-called into action. Cambridge also left out many first teamers, including ex-Gas John Taylor. Rovers had the early spells of possession and the chances were there to give us an early lead. Free kicks soared in, Alsop's header was saved on the line, whilst Parmenter and Beadle also tested the goalie. But the best chance in the first half fell to Cureton. Another perfect cross from Josh Low gave Jamie a free header but he hit it wide from six yards.
Shane Higgs did well to foil some of the Cambridge attempts on goal, and Ollie backtracked to put in some fine last man tackles. Rovers had to wait for the second half to finally break the dead lock. A poor back pass put Cureton free and his pace set up a fine shot pass the keeper. 1-0 to Rovers, but the next 20 minutes was full of scrappy play that could have well seen Cambridge equalise. A mistake my Mark Smith let in Martin Butler on a one on one with Higgs, but Shane did superbly well to deny him. Then again Barnwell closed in, but Higgs bravely dove in to save. Holloway had a long range effort go wide, after Hayles came on as sub.
Many thanks to Andy Fison and the Bristol Rovers websites for their reports.
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