| Cambridge United | 0-0 | Macclesfield Town |
| Att: 2,012 |
Cambridge United: Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Charles, Kyd, Barnwell (Benjamin 71').
Subs not used: Wilson, Hayes.
Macclesfield Town: Price, Tinson, McDonald, Payne, Howarth, Sodje, Askey (Power 81'), Wood, Chambers (Philliskirk 81'), Sorvel, Whittaker.
Sub not used: Edey.
Booked: Howarth (50' foul), Power (82' dissent)
Ref: M D Messias (York).
Shots On Target: Cambridge 3, Macclesfield 2
Corners: Cambridge 6, Macclesfield 3
[Keith Webb's match report] [Terry Wilby's match report] [My summary of media reports]
Keith Webb's match report:
Although last nights match was a bit like the Mansfield game in as much as it was tedious for long periods, I was reasonably immpressed with our overall display. We created several chances in the first half and should have gone in ahead at the interval, once again though we seemed to over-elaborate at times and I wish someone would take the responsibility and have a crack at goal instead of stringing six, seven or eight passes across the box and then messing up with an aimless cross. I also thought that we looked really solid in defense and kept wondering just how Macclesfield have managed to get to 3rd in the league as they seemed pretty ordinary.
Lee Charles looked sharp up front and is starting to build an understanding with Kydo, I reckon they could be a potent strike force. Kyd himself is slowly but surely getting some of his form back and seems to have that extra yard of pace again and the confidence to take players on. Jamie B on the other hand seemed to me to be very low key and missed our best chance in the first half when he failed to connect with a flicked on header from about 4 yards out.
On the down side I think that we have a lot of work to do from our set pieces, our corners are o.k. when hit to the near post but those that are put into the box are snapped up by defenders with ease as we just don't have anyone with the height up front to attack the ball. As for free kicks,they are a joke, in the second half in particular we wasted two consecutive free kicks where the ball was hoofed down the left hand channel where nobody was and then shortly after that we had a freekick on the right wing, just inside the Macclesfield half, which Campbell(?) just kicked straight to one of their players about 10 yards away which was pretty mind numbing...something for the training ground methinks.
On the whole though I think our improvement is continuing and I'm starting to feel a bit more optimistic about next term. If only we could score a few more goals....
Keith
Terry Wilby's match report:
From the start of the game we looked to play football, in the first minute a chance was headed off the line when a defender flicked on a cross. Kyd made a good chance when he crossed low from our right but it was claimed by the keeper. Kyd also had a shot just past, as did Wanless, and another shot was deflected. Barnwell missed the target with a header from 3 yards. It was 37 minutes until Barrett had a shot to save, which he did comfortably. Soon after Campbell came forward and had a shot saved by their 'keeper.
Early in the second half Kyd was crudely brought down on the touch-line, the defender lucky not to be sent off. Barnwell managed to miss the ball completely when a defender failed to cut out a cross, he should have either anticipated the possible miss or be challenging for the cross.
20 minutes from the end Benjamin came on for Barnwell, almost immediately the defenders found that he was less of a push-over than the other forwards! He had a good run where he beat a defender then had his shot blocked for a corner.
I thought it was one of our best performances for a long time, limiting them to just one shot which Barrett saved easily. Billy Beall was our best player. He got up and down the pitch supporting everywhere, tackled ferociously (only 1 free kick against him), was skilful when he had the ball, didn't give away possession, and was always looking for return passes.
Kyd again improved, running at and beating defenders. Charles looked strong, not getting knocked off the ball when in possession, and won the ball in the air a couple of times against Efe and his bandanna (formerly with Stevenage cheating bastards) Barnwell was our weakest player, he doesn't look up to standard. He is no good as a winger, even worse as a striker. The defence again looked solid, Duncan had a good game, as did Ashbee in the middle. Wanless put himself about a lot, but his distribution was not as good as it could have been.
As I said I thought it was a good performance, we are making some good chances, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before we give some-one a real hiding.
Ratings: Barrett 6, Chenery 7, Ashbee 8, Duncan 8, Joseph 6, Campbell 7, Wanless 6, Beall 9, Charles 7, Kyd 8, Barnwell 5 (Benjamin 6).
My summary:
The restoration of 'Billy' Beall to the starting line-up was the only change for the visit of third-placed Macclesfield. The youngster replaced player-coach David Preece who missed out with a toe infection, so Adie Hayes was promoted to the bench in place of Beall.
But even the all-action style of the diminutive Beall was not enough to transform this lack-lustre match. The standard of entertainment was poor with a swirling wind making conditions difficult and defences were on top throughout. Manchester United loanee Andy Duncan was particularly impressive for the U's whilst ex-Stevenage defender Efe Sodje was equally solid for the visitors.
However United did play good football with improved passing and movement, and Lee Charles and Michael Kyd showed signs that they could form a good partnership. Unfortunately the team's over-elaboration tended to nullify the attacking threat and Jamie Barnwell missed the best early chance when he failed to connect with a header from about four yards out. Jamie Campbell, playing at left-back, was probably United's most potent attacking force in the first 30 minutes, sending a couple of long-range chances wide.
United's best chance of the evening came after an hour when Lee Charles helped on a Michael Kyd cross from the right and Paul Wanless stole in, but goalkeeper Ryan Price saved bravely at his feet. Trevor Benjamin, who replaced Barnwell with 20 minutes left, charged about and had a couple of speculative efforts, and could have scored in the 78th minute. He burst powerfully into the box and beat the full-back, but defender Howarth stretched out a leg and managed to get enough of a touch to send the ball inches wide.
In front of the Abbey's lowest gate of the season the teams ground out a draw and United now face the tricky prospect of a trip to second-placed Torquay on Saturday. The only cheers of the evening were provided by the news that Peterborough lost again, away to Darlington.
Many thanks to Keith and Terry for their reports.
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