| Brighton | 0-2 | Cambridge United |
| Kyd 30' | ||
| Benjamin 37' | ||
| Att: 2,746 |
Cambridge United: (4-3-3) Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Charles (Butler 67'), Kyd, Benjamin.
Sub Not Used: Wilson, Hayes.
Booked: Joseph (90' foul).
Brighton & Hove Albion: Ormerod, Smith, Atkinson, Minton, Hobson, Johnson, Storer (Westcott 65'), Mayo, Armstrong, Hilton (Ansah 60'), Barnes.
Sub Not Used: Linger.
Ref: C. R. Wilkes (Gloucester).
Shots On Target: Brighton 7, Cambridge 7
Corners: Brighton 7, Cambridge 2
[Keith Webb's match report] [My summary of media reports]
Keith Webb's match report:
Another excellent away victory courtesy of a superb purple patch for the last 20 mins of the first half saw United's slow improvement continue. After an initially tentative start to the game we gradually took control and had we took our chances we could have gone in at the break 4 or 5 goals up and it would have been a fair reflection of the half. I think that is possibly the best spell of controlled and confident football that we have played for many weeks, indeed it was a shame that half time arrived as we were threatening to run riot and the Brighton defence was panicked into a host of errors as the U's tore them apart, chiefly by letting Big Trev loose with the ball. If anybody who didn't travel wants to see a contender for goal of the month then watch the local sports news on Monday as Benjamin's goal was as absolute thunderbolt.
We went ahead after a few near misses when Kyd pounced on a rebound to lash the ball in the net, after a couple more good chances went begging, Benjamin lashed home the second much to the delight of the U's fans. Even after that we could and should have had two more goals shortly before the break as Benjy had a couple more near misses, one that he headed powerfully at the keeper from a right wing cross, anything other than straight would have been a certain goal as the' keeper new nothing about it until it landed straight in his hands.
The second half was a bit of a disappointment in comparison as Brighton changed things about and grabbed the innitiative, the fact that we kept a clean sheet was due as much to Barrett making two superb saves to add to the brilliant save he made in the first half, as it was to dogged defending. To give Brighton credit they really tore into us from the start of the second half and we were under the cosh for much of the first 20 mins, we started to lose the plot a bit and looked shaky in defense at times with clearances being hoofed anywhere in panic when at times there was plenty of time to look up and pass the ball to slow things down and ease the pressure, something that will come with experience I hope.
Gradually though we did managed to get back into it and Kyd had another decent game, at times skipping past defenders as if they were not there but then spoiling it sometimes with a poor delivery when maybe a quick look up could have picked out a United player or even given him the confidence to press on and shoot.
All in all a good all-round team performance, if a little disappointing in the second half (innit nice to be able to be critical after an away win? :) )
MoM?..... Scott Barrett for 3 excellent saves...all good teams are based on a good keeper, now if he could only work on those crosses :)
Keith
Summary of media reports:
For the third successive game Roy McFarland had the luxury of sending out the same eleven and they maintained their recent improved form with the second successive away win. You wait six months for an away win and then two come along at once!
By way of contrast, struggling Brighton have now gone four games without a win since their victory over Chester in Brian Horton's first match in charge. They have also failed to score in all four games and this was their first 'home' defeat under the new manager.
United sealed the result with two goals before half-time. Slack defending allowed Michael Kyd to give the U's the lead after 30 minutes when a mix-up between Gary Hobson and Peter Smith allowed Trevor Benjamin to break through the defence. He poked the ball into the path of Kyd who converted the golden chance from eight yards.
Scott Barrett somehow kept out Brighton's best chance when he dived low to his left to prevent Ross Johnson converting Steve Barnes' accurate cross, preserving the lead as United pressed forward again.
Trevor Benjamin is on a hot run of form at the moment and seven minutes later he made sure of the points. Receiving the ball in the left hand corner of the box and with his back to goal, the powerful teenager took the ball on the turn and buried a spectacular left-foot volley into the top corner, giving the goalkeeper no chance. That was "Bruno"'s fourth goal in the last three games and the giant 19-year-old is brimming with confidence. He could possibly have added a couple more before the break but headed his best chance straight at the 'keeper.
On 40 minutes it might have been three and only a great saving tackle from Brighton skipper Hobson denied Lee Charles, while Michael Kyd had a shot cleared off the line.
The two goal lead was no more than United deserved but it was a different story after the break as Brighton set their stall out to attack and for long periods United's defence was under seige. However some solid defending and two excellent saves from Scott Barrett maintained the lead and ensured a fifth clean sheet in the last seven games. Michael Kyd led some enterprising raids on the break and United were comfortable winners at the final whistle, rising one place in the table to 16th.
Many thanks to Keith for his report.
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