| Cambridge United | 1-0 | Leyton Orient |
| Wanless 47' | ||
| Att: 4,808 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Kyd, Taylor, Butler, Beall.
Subs not used: Benjamin, Marc Joseph, Rees.
Ref: K A Leach (Wolverhampton).
[Terry Wilby's match report] [My summary of media reports]
Terry Wilby's match report:
When our strikers realise where the goal is we will score a hat-full. Orient for a change tried to play a bit of football in the first half. The best chance they made came from a cut back cross which the forward skied over from outside the area. Other chances they had were down to Scott Barrett, a cross from the bye line skimmed the crossbar and went safely out, then he came half way towards collecting a through ball at the edge of the penalty area, hesitated as usual before retreating by which time the forward had passed, luckily there was a good tackle from (I think) Jamie Campbell.
Our few shots were long range from Martin Butler, apart from that we did nothing.
In the second half we started with much more urgency, winning a corner in the first minute. From it we scored, Paul Wanless getting his head to the cross around the 6 yard line and put the ball between the 'keeper and post where there was no defender.
15 minutes later their 'keeper made a good double save from Michael Kyd, saving the first shot then diving at his feet a couple of yards out. Kyd had other good chances, the best followed Billy Beall bring the ball out of defence, drew the defenders before laying it off to Shaggy, continued his run for the return but let it run on to Kyd who put it wide from about 8 yards. Towards the end Kyd made a good run to the bye line, then along it towards goal, but instead of laying the ball back to Shaggy or Butler tried a rising shot which went over the goal. Shaggy was not happy!
Barrett had only a couple of easy crosses to deal with, Orient were no threat, although with only 1 goal there was always the worry that some-one would cock-up and allow the equaliser.
Orient resorted to their normal aggressive game in the second half, which resulted in a couple of bookings. There was a mild fracas towards the end, lenient refereeing meant they had no-one sent off. They also used all 3 substitutes (including Tony Richards who was as ineffectual for them as he had been for us), we used none. I thought Kyd, who doesn't seem to be back to full fitness yet, could have been replaced by Benjamin in the second half.
As a team we played well enough in the end, but we need to get things sorted out from the first minute. Wanless did a lot of running as always and scored, the defence looked reasonably sound with Ashbee in particular having a good game, Beall was outstanding in midfield and is my MoM. The strikers didn't really start until the second half, and looked as if they had never played together before.
Ratings: Barrett 4, Chenery 6, Wilson 6, Ashbee 7, Foster 6, Campbell 7, Wanless 7, Kyd 5, Taylor 6, Butler 6, Beall 8.
Summary of media reports:
There was just one change to United's starting line-up, Michael Kyd replacing Trevor Benjamin in attack. United's form has improved of late but the visitors came looking for their fifth straight win, although you would never have guessed from the first half.
The teams cancelled eachother out during an unexciting first period, passing the ball around to little effect. Then Orient reverted to the long ball game Tommy Taylor has persisted with since joining them just over a year ago, and any aerial threat was easily snuffed out by United's central defenders. Colin Simpson was denied by Barrett early on and later sent a shot high and almost out of the ground. Meanwhile the recalled Michael Kyd kept the O's defence on their toes with his pace and movement, and Martin Butler skied a shot high over the O's bar. Shortly after Simpson wasted a chance in front of United's goal, Kyd made a promising weaving run but was denied by a timely challenge from Channing. In the final minutes of the half the impressive Ian Ashbee made a vital interception to deny Orient a clear shot at goal.
The game exploded after half-time when United started brightly and went ahead within two minutes of the restart. Paul Wilson took the first corner kick of the game and Paul Wanless outjumped the massed O's defence to power a brave header inside the near post, his fifth goal of the season.
The Orient players began to lose their composure and Warren and Joseph were booked for fouls, while United enjoyed plenty of good possession but were unable to round off the sometimes excellent approach play. However Jamie Campbell was a rock at the heart of the defence and 'Billy' Beall once again ran his socks off in midfield. Kyd went on another run, shaking off three or four Orient players before shooting wide, and Beall had a firm shot deflected for a corner.
Orient then took off a defender to throw striker Carl Griffiths into the fray, and Kyd nearly capitalised minutes later but his shot was well saved by Hyde. At the other end Griffiths set up a rare chance for Simpson whose header was saved by Barrett.
Then with about ten minutes left the tempers boiled over. Justin Channing got into a spot of pushing and shoving with two United players and a brawl developed, with verbal exchanges still going on even when the match restarted. Shortly afterwards Michael Kyd was brought down when apparently clear on goal, but the already-booked Roger Joseph was very fortunate to escape a second booking, a lenient decision which intensified an already niggly atmosphere.
In the dying moments Inglethorpe went close for the O's while Kyd missed badly from close range, but United clinched their third consecutive home win in front of the Abbey's biggest League crowd of the season.
Many thanks to Terry for his report and ratings.
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