Cambridge United vs Plymouth Argyle (Division Two)

United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Preece (Benjamin 45'), Taylor, Kyd (Butler 105'), Beall.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Joseph, Rees.
Booked: Preece, Wanless, Benjamin, Campbell.
Ref: R J Harris (Oxford).

[Terry Wilby's match report] [Gareth Challis' match report]

Terry Wilby's match report:
In the first half we played absolutely appallingly, probably the worst individual performances all season. The only players who had any idea and showed any passion were Billy Beall and Ian Ashbee. Taylor never got the ball, Kyd couldn't control it, Wanless was in blue arsed fly mode, Wilson and Chenery were being run ragged by the wingers, Foster was being beaten in the air by Corazzin, Preece couldn't get anything going.

Plymouth scored after 20 minutes, a half cleared corner went to their right winger who wasn't closed down by Wilson, his cross into a group of players in the middle of the penalty area caused a looping header to the far corner out of Barrett's reach, possibly an own goal off Fosters head. We had a goal disallowed, Sheffield pushed out a shot from (I think) Beall, after a scramble it was put away but someone was offside. Preece and Wanless were both booked in the first half. Plymouth scored again just before half time, again a cross from our left was volleyed in nicely from 10 yards. A very good goal. It looked as if we could concede 5 or 6 goals!

In the second half Trevor Benjamin came on for Preece, and we played 3 at the front. "Bruno" is not that tall, but is very wide, and as a youngster has lots of enthusiasm, so much that he was booked almost immediately! We put in a lot of pressure, but couldn't score, Shaggy unable to react quick enough from 3 yards being the closest. We got 1 goal back 32 minutes into the half. Beall closed down their midfielder and got the ball, fed Benjamin who flicked the ball over the defender and laid it on to Beall who went into the penalty area and scored with a shot to the near post.

A couple of minutes later Kyd hit the post with a curling shot from just outside the area. Soon after Benjamin equalised when he closed down a back pass to Sheffield, the kick hit him and rebounded into the net. After many years of never getting the luck when the 'keeper kicks we had 2 more chances later on, one with Benjamin but the ball went high and wide, the other with Shaggy but Sheffield reacted quickly to push the ball away.

Into extra time, we continued to press and got a penalty which was put away by Wilson. Kyd was replaced by Butler for the last 15 minutes, during which Campbell got booked.

Barrett had a couple of good saves to make in the second half which kept us in the game, for some reason the Plymouth fans were chanting his name. Billy Beall is my MoM, he was everywhere, tackling, making things happen, and scored a goal.

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Gareth Challis' match report:
As classic matches go, this wasn't your England versus Holland Euro'96 match, but for the average Cambridge United fan this was definitely one game that will remain in the memories for some years to come.

The match had all the highs and lows you could expect in one match, with United trailing 0-2 at the interval despite not being particularly outplayed. The first half was scrappy to say the least, with one or two chances falling to United but as always, we didn't look as if we could finish off the job we had half started down in the West Country.

Plymouth grabbed the lead through an Robbie Mauge header on 21 minutes after a cross from the right. Foster was beaten to the ball by Mauge and Barrett was wrong footed as the ball found the net. A few minutes later, United had the ball in the net but the ref pulled the game up for what I assume was a foul on Sheffield. Plymouth then went close when a Corazzin header at the far post appeared to be looping in, but Barrett made an excellent save.

As half-time was approaching another cross from the right was met spectacularly by an unmarked Earl Jean flying volley straight into the corner of the U's goal from around 10 yards out. Barrett had no chance. 0-2 down at half time and the murmurs around the ground were discussing the 15th match without a win and some trying to remember the last time we had such a bad run. As the players trudged back for their half-time teamtalk, the moronic section of the Kop began to sing for McFarland's head, and singing "what a load of rubbish". We weren't that bad, certainly no worse than Plymouth. Two lapses let in two soft goals.

Discussing the tactics at half-time we suggested that McFarland should bring on Big Trev, shove him up front and make him hound anything in a green shirt. He must have heard. Preece was off and Benjamin was on. Big Trev gets a standing ovation whenever he plays nowadays and it won't be long before the t-shirts and tribute album are on sale in the club shop. You could just tell there was a very different air about the second half, and it seems that McFarland, for once, said something at half-time which made a difference.

The second half was very much a different story. United were on top right from the kick-off, although before the comeback there were two chances where the tide seemed to be turning away from us. First a low, hard cross from the right was missed by everyone, including Sheffield. The ball came to Taylor 6 yards out with what looked a simple tap-in chance. He scuffed it wide, but to be fair to him he didn't expect Sheff to miss it completely and the ball was going at a fair speed. 0-2 and missing reasonably good chances.

At the other end, a defensive mistake let in the Plymouth strike force but a superb double-save from Barrett kept us in the game. If we had gone 0-3 down, there would have been no coming back. The Plymouth fans started to sing "There's only one Scott Barrett" and mysteriously "Barrett for Barnet". They were quietened when United got their deserved first goal.

Benjamin showing class above his age, by holding the ball on the left, before slotting a perfectly weighted ball through to Billy Beall, who found himself in acres of space running at the goal. We all held our breath as he came into the box - at that stage I think it struck him that he was on his own here and there was no-one to pass to. His shot was hard and low to Sheffield's right. To his credit Sheff got his hand to the ball, but it crept over the line and into the net.

Within a minute, United could have had their second when Kyd unleashed a shot from 20 yards which ricocheted back off the post. Two minutes later United were level. The ball was bouncing through to the Plymouth 'keeper, Benjamin chasing it down. Sheff panicked and his clearance came off the bulky strikers chest and bounced back into the net. Mass hysteria in the Abbey ... surely we couldn't actually win this game ?

United pushed forward with tremendous backing from the faithful and could well have won it before 90 minutes was up. As it was, it went into extra-time. Jamie Campbell was brought down in a scrappy affair in the Plymouth box, and Wilson took a superb penalty, beating the outstretched 'keeper. The rest of extra-time was tense, but Plymouth never really looked threatening. Tiredness had set in to both teams, but it was United that looked as though they still had a few ounces of energy left.

There were one or two half chances towards the end for United, but the score remained 3 -2 and this match will go down alongside some of the greatest FA Cup games that the team have participated in.

As far as the team goes, everyone pulled together in the second half, with Chenery probably the only weak link in the team. He still doesn't look match fit and was slicing every kick he had. Why not place Matty ? If we need to sell him before the end of the season, why not parade his skills on the pitch. You never know, he may even enjoy playing with us again and may sign the contract.

Ratings :

G.

Many thanks to Terry and Gareth for their reports and ratings.

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