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Cambridge United: (4-3-3) Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Butler (Taylor 85'), Kyd, Benjamin.
Sub not used: Preece, Wilson.
Booked: Duncan (obstruction 33')
Notts County: Ward, Poric (Robinson 60'), Pearce, Redmile, Strodder, Dyer, Finnan (Diuk 66'), Hughes, Farrell, Jones, Robson (Jackson 78').
Booked: Redmile (foul 13'), Strodder (foul 20'), Farrell (dissent 26').
Ref: J P Robinson (Hull).
Shots On Target: Cambridge 10, Notts County 6
Corners: Cambridge 7, Notts County 7
[Terry Wilby's report and ratings] [My summary of media reports]
Terry Wilby's match report and ratings:
I didn't listen to Radio Cambs. in the morning, If I had I'd have known about the marches/demonstrations planned for Cambridge city centre. As it was I got stuck in traffic for a long time, saw lots of Police and assumed there must be a Royal visitor, but managed to get to the Supporters club in time for a quick drink.
This game was exciting all the way through, and a real credit to the division. County were hoping to get 100 points for the season, which meant they had to win. We had nothing to play for except pride.
County started the better, forcing an easy save from Barrett in the first minute. we soon got going, almost immediately Kyd's cross/shot was saved. On 6 minutes Benjamin muscled his way past 2 defenders from the left, his shot going just past the far post. Soon after an action replay forced a save at the second attempt when the 'keeper could not hold the shot. Benjamin was doing well whenever he got the ball, he went past a defender who dragged him back and so got booked.
We scored on 18 minutes, Beall had the ball on the edge of their area but was chopped down, the ball ran to Wanless who passed to Butler who was on-side inside the area and he scored. From a throw near our penalty area one of their players tussled with Beall and got booked. Pick on some-one your own size next time!
They equalised on 25 minutes, a poor clearance from Joseph was knocked back into our area, their forward lobbed Barrett who had no chance. Ex-boring player Sean Farrell was getting a bit of abuse from the crowd, he responded by posturing in front of the Abbey and got booked! 3 minutes later Wanless won the ball in midfield and advanced, Benjamin was to his left, Butler and Beall to the right, he passed to Beall who scored at the far post. On half an hour Benjamin had another shot partially saved, but couldn't get in for the rebound. 2 minutes later Duncan got booked for obstruction. In the last minute of the half Butler had a shot saved.
The second half continued much as the first, Kyd put a header over but was offside. County had a couple of thugs as central defenders who were continually pushing or pulling back. There was a clash of heads between the #4 and Benjamin, the defender coming off worst. Soon after a cross from Benjamin was grabbed low by the keeper as Butler came in. The keeper acted as if he'd been kicked in the head, but from where I stand Butler didn't touch him, and the referee didn't give a free kick.
Barrett had to make a save from Farrell, then Kyd had a shot well saved for a corner, and Duncan had a shot go just past from a Wanless knock down. They equalised again after 29 minutes, a long kick from their keeper was not cleared and the ball fell kindly for them to score. We kept pushing, Kyd headed into the keepers hands, then Beall had a superb flying header equalled by a superb save. 5 minutes from the end of normal time Shaggy came on for Butler, but we couldn't score a winning goal.
This was our best display for a long time, and against the division champions. We kept the ball, played a lot of good football and made a lot of chances. Against any other keeper in the division we would have won handsomely.
The whole team played well, just a couple of times the concentration went and we conceded goals. Billy Beall gets my MoM for yet another good performance in the middle, scored a goal and almost scored with a header. Hopefully he will realise that the prospects for next season are much better at the Abbey than at Orient. Benjamin had his best all round game for us, taking players on and beating them as well as winning balls in the air (extra points for laying out the thug defender!). Kyd tired in the second half, I would have taken him off for Shaggy.
The players threw shirts into the crowd before the game, the Moose threw sweets at half time. Needless to say I got nothing!
At the end of the game I decided not to join the queues of traffic, but had a quick look in B&Q, a look at the new shirt design in the club shop, and a drink in the supporters club. The new shirt is mainly amber/yellow with large black stripes down from the shoulders, almost under the arm. The crest is the same as at the moment. Orders are being taken in the shop, I don't know what price though. Traffic was still moving only very slowly an hour after the end of the game, I pity anyone going into Cambridge.
Ratings: Barrett 7, Chenery 7, Ashbee 8, Duncan 7, Joseph 6, Campbell 7, Wanless 8, Beall 9, Butler 8 (Taylor 7), Kyd 7, Benjamin 8.
My summary:
Once again Roy McFarland named an unchanged side and they signed off in front of the home fans with an outstanding performance against the Champions.
Goals from Martin Butler and 'Billy' Beall were cancelled out by clever strikes in each half from the division's leading scorer Gary Jones, but the U's could have gone on to win this match and were denied by a string of stunning saves from Darren Ward.
Adem Poric had a shot saved by Scott Barrett in the first minute but Martin Butler opened the scoring for the U's in the 19th minute. He took his time to finish with a low drive from 25 yards after some great interplay with lively midfielder Beall. But goalpoacher Jones equalised seven minutes later, seizing on a half chance and brilliantly lobbing a chip over Scott Barrett.
United continued to impress against easily the best side in the division, and 'Billy' Beall restored the lead shortly afterwards following an attacking run by skipper Paul Wanless. Butler left Wanless' cross and Beall cut in from the right to bury a low rasping drive in County's net, his first League goal of the season. Trevor Benjamin went close to scoring twice in the first half and Andy Duncan forced a good save from Ward just before the break.
United continued to play some great football in the second half while the visitors dug deep and showed how they have earned such a good away record, including more away wins than any other side in the country. Michael Kyd tormented them while Ward produced some outstanding saves, including a point-blank header from Paul Wanless midway through the half. So it was galling that after seeing countless chances saved at the other end, Jones was able to snatch a point for Notts with another good finish. He pounced on a weak defensive header by Andy Duncan, turned smartly and squeezed the equaliser home in the 75th minute.
Still United could have won the game 15 minutes from time when United skipper Paul Wanless provided Beall with a pinpoint pass and the midfielder powered in in a header from no more than six yards. But Ward produced a world class save, somehow tipping the ball away at full stretch.
United's performance deserved more than the single point and from that point of view it was an ultimately disappointing result, but it bodes so well for next season.
Elsewhere Macclesfield earned automatic promotion with their 3-2 win over former tenants Chester City while Peterborough's 3-1 defeat at Torquay ended their play-off hopes. "We'll Meet Again ...!"
Many thanks to Terry for his report and ratings.
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