| Plymouth Argyle | 0-0 | Cambridge United |
| Att: 4,793 |
United line-up: Barrett, Ashbee, Wilson, Chenery, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Preece, Kyd (Taylor 56), Butler, Beall.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Matt Joseph, Rees, Benjamin.
Booked: Foster, Campbell, Beall, Preece.
Ref: R J Harris (Oxford).
[Keith Webb's match report] [Ben Mynott's match report] [Fred Berry's match report]
Keith Webb's match report:
A better performance capped by a good result. I guess we went into this game as underdogs but there was no great gulf between the two sides. Indeed it was yet another match we should have won at a canter although this time it wasn't only poor finishing that contributed to our failure to score. The thickness of a post plus three excellent saves by Sheffield denied us a victory nobody could say we didn't deserve. Plymouth only rarely looked dangerous and apart from a golden opportunity in the first half when Corrazzin failed to score after being put clean through and a snap shot from Littlejohn (I think) that flashed inches wide, we looked rock solid at the back.
On the other hand the U's had two great scoring chances in the first half both of which fell to Martin Butler, the first a superb header after he ghosted in behind the Plymouth defence following a free kick with that effort going agonizingly wide. The second found the same player just inside the penalty area but he delayed far too long and squandered a great shooting chance.
In the second half United had several chances although it was difficult to see who they fell to in the murk, the closest being a blistering free kick from Preece (I think) that rattled the foot of Sheffield's left hand post and was then put out for a corner. That was probably the most balanced United team I have seen for a while, Ben Chenery had a fine game in place of the suspended Marc Joseph and Ian Ashbee was outstanding at right back. Fozzie marshalled the defence with the experience of a seasoned pro and Preece, Wanless and the tireless Billy Beall gave midfield a bit of extra bite especially in the second half.
Upfront Butler and Kyd ran their socks off and when Kyd went off injured Taylor came on and played an important part in the later stages. All in all a good performance and a result I would have settled for before I set off this morning. A slight disapointment was the number of U's fans who made the journey, about 100 I reckon, but full marks to those who travelled for getting behind the team especialy second half. I was impressed with the Argyle fans who, despite having a very poor season and turning in a poor performance were noisy throughout and got behind their team right to the final whistle. Something a lot of U's fans who go to home games seem to have forgotten how to do.
My m.o.m. Ian Ashbee...a solid performance with a never say die attitude.
Ben Mynott's match report:
A much improved performance. I, along with many others, believe that the principle reason was the absence of Jason Rees. A second possible reason was having 3 central defenders who could all pass the ball well - Marc Joseph was suspended so Ashbee took his place.
Plymouth can consider themselves a tad lucky to still be in the cup. Barrett didn't have a single save to make all game (at least I can't remember one!). Sheffield, on the other hand, pulled off some superb saves, including an amazing one-handed stop from Butler's downward header. In addition, Paul Wilson hit the post from a free-kick (all he did was hit it low and hard - the wall managed to jump over the ball) and Plymouth defenders scrambled the ball off the line twice. And sod's law, all this action was in the second half, when we were attacking the opposite end.
Earlier on, in the first half, Carlo wasted what was probably the best chance of the match; he was put clean through, decided to beat the defender (not sure who) three times when once would have sufficed, then, just eight yards out and with only Barrett to beat, he pulled his shot wide of Scott's near post. He even made the wrong choice in going for the near post as Barrett had it adequately covered.
Before this many Cambridge fans had given up on getting a result - the referee was diabolical. Cambridge had three blatant corners given as Argyle goal-kicks and had a half-decent penalty appeal turned down when Sheffield collided with Butler. It was the sort of situation where the ref gives either a corner or a penalty - so this ref gave a goal-kick!!! Notably we couldn't spot his football league badge - we suspect he was non-league and we could see why.
As the game progressed, Plymouth got worse and Cambridge improved. However it was Plymouth, being the home side, who were pushing for the goal as full-time approached. Having already kicked-off 5 minutes late, the ref managed to add a further 8 minutes of injury time to the second half - god knows where he got it all from. It was in the 6th minute of injury time that I was convinced it was curtains for United. The ref gave Plymouth a dubious free-kick on the edge of the area bang in the centre. Cambridge's wall was disorganised to say the least - a goal looked certain. However up stepped Mr Corazzin and instead of a delicate curling shot round the wall, he simply drove the ball into the wall and after a second of panic the ball was cleared.
I was quite, okay very, happy with a 0-0 draw. Nobody expected anything out of the game, so thinking sensibly at least it's another game's gate to go in the coffers. And who knows, if we play like that again, have a bit of luck in front of goal (and don't play Rees again), we could be at home to Stevenage Borough on December the 6th.
Performances:
Barrett 7 Had little to do, but punched well on a few occasions and had a steady
boot as always.
Chenery 4 Hmmm. Diabolical in defence at times, making the wrong decision far too
often. Funnily enough it was the attacking part of his game, usually
his weakness, that was encouraging.
Wilson 6 Nothing great, but was unlucky with his free-kick.
Ashbee 8 My MoM. Had to do the work of two defenders thanks to Chenery, but coped
amazing well after a shaky start. He showed that he's got two cultured
feet, playing some superb balls on occasions turning defence into attack.
Could we finally be seeing the Ian Ashbee all the players claim they see
in training?
Foster 7 Calm and commanding as ever.
Campbell 5 Had a few nervy moments.
Preece 7 Battled his heart out in midfield, playing with the energy and enthusiasm
more like a boy of 18 than an aging man of thirtysomething. On the odd
occasion that he does play, Preece never usually lasts the whole match.
On Saturday, however, he kept fighting right til the final whistle,
despite receiving more knocks that the rest of his team put together. I
think he'll have been VERY sore today, and the chances of him starting on
Tuesday are small. PLEASE don't let that mean a return for donkey Rees!
Beall 7 Also battled his heart out and showed some much-missed attacking instinct.
It was nice to see him try the occasional long range shot; however his
efforts were blocked.
Wanless 7 His usual battling self. Didn't push forward quite as much as he has in
the past, leaving a lot of the attacking to Beall.
Butler 7.5 Had a superb first half, showing a great first touch almost every time he
received the ball. He tired towards the end though, and perhaps the
introduction of Benjamin might have been wise with 10 minutes to go.
Kyd 6.5 Still not back to his pre-injury self, but there were glimpses of it.
Sub:
Taylor 6.5 (for Kyd) Didn't really have much time to impress. After his performance
coming on at Macclesfield I thought he deserved to start.
Ben.
Fred Berry's match report:
A superb battling performance by the mighty U's earned them a reply and a good chance to progress into the second round against Stevenage or Carshalton.
If we had taken our chances we could have won this 3-0. The defence was sound and Foster and Ashbee (!!) were superb at the back, Foster's performances of late have led to believe me he is the best defender in the division and he certainly did not put a foot wrong in this match, always there at the back, so composed and always knew what he was doing. Ashbee too did not put a foot wrong all day.
Plymouth were limited to few chances against a 5 man defence including the return of Ben Chenery who had a good game to replacing Marc Joseph. The was one moment of scare when the very quiet Corrazzin weaved his way past 2 defenders but with only Barrett to beat dragged his shot wide.
We frustrated Plymouth well despite the good home support received. The 100-150 (where was everybody???) ultra faithful hardcore Utd fans done their bit as well. Our best chance fell to Butler but he waited for the ball to come down to him giving himself a awkward angle rather the heading the ball.
Minutes later Butler did head the ball, a superb diving header went inches wide, a cross from the left saw Chenery nearly reach the ball but a Plymouth defender just cleared the ball, for some strange reason the linesman gave a goal kick. The first half ended with a flurry of Utd corners but to no avail.
In the second half Plymouth rarely unsettled a superb Utd back 5, Foster or Ashbee always at the ball first, occasionly making some amazing tackles. Utd got a free kick on the edge of the box and Beall (who had a good game as well) hammered a low shot which deflected off the wall then slammed against the post!! Butler had chances too, his pace always threatening the Argyle defence.
Jon Sheffield (who got a fair amount of stick from the travelling CUFC supporters) made one superb save at full stretch he just got the ball away. The ref was content on adding on a lot of injury time making the CUFC fans ultra nervous, Plymouth not wanting a replay attacked the game and a free kick was blocked by the wall when we were dreading it would shake the net. The defence under severe pressure rightly hoofed the ball to the corner flag when they could.
Plymouth's last goal attempt was a Littlejohn shot which flew inches wide of the post. The final whistle came and the relieved Utd supporters gave the team a great ovation.
Ratings: BARRETT 6, ASHBEE 8.5!!, WILSON 7, CAMPBELL 7, CHENERY 8, FOSTER 10 MOM, PREECE 8, BEALL 8, WANLESS 8, KYD 6.5, BUTLER 7.
Fred.
Many thanks to Keith, Ben and Fred for their match reports.
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