| Peterborough United | 1-0 | Cambridge United |
| Quinn 85' | ||
| Att: 10,791 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Benjamin, Taylor, Kyd (Butler 74'), Beall.
Subs not used: Marc Joseph, Rees.
Ref: A. N. Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield).
Because the match reports were a bit sketchy (disappointment is not the word!) I have included a summary of media reports before Keith and Steve's comments:
[Keith Webb's match report] [The Abbey Rabbit comment]
Peterborough proved one thing tonight that we already knew - they have more jam than Robertsons'. After a dreadful, dour game with few clear-cut chances the old war-horse Jimmy Quinn popped up to snatch the winner five minutes from time. Under different circumstances Quinn might have been starting a new job as player-coach at Bournemouth this week, but instead he grabbed his 17th goal of the season and gave P*sh their first derby win since about the turn of the century.
Despite the advance news put out by the club that there were injury worries over Paul Wanless, John Taylor and Trevor Benjamin, Roy McFarland named an unchanged team to face Peterborough, with the same three substitutes. The weather at London Road was chilly but the atmosphere was electric, and with neither set of fans hiding their mutual hatred of each other and the extra Police presence, the tension was almost tangible.
This was always going to be an edgy, even match - despite the fans extravagant claims beforehand - with Peterborough having drawn their last six League games and United mildly resurgent after two wins and five games unbeaten. Both sets of players were desperate not to lose and produced some dreadful football, although P*sh did have the ball in the net in the fourth minute but Martin Curruthers' strike was ruled out for offside. The home side had most of the possession but created little with it, while United managed a few breakaways but to no avail. The impressive Ian Ashbee produced a superb cross that was almost buried by Michael Kyd with home 'keeper Mark Tyler caught in two minds, then Trevor Benjamin evaded two challenges before firing goal-wards only to see Tyler turn it behind.
The second half followed a similar pattern. United managed a string of wasted corners while Peterborough's best chance came in the 53rd minute when Martin Carruthers shaped to shoot but fell victim to a well-timed challenge from Jamie Campbell. The crowd, which had been so noisy beforehand, were lulled into long periods of silence by the dour stuff on display. But with 84 minutes on the clock, and just as a point looked on the cards, our previously sound defence failed to pick up a loose ball and the veteran Quinn pounced to volley home from 18 yards to snatch all three points.
Having gone ahead P*sh then sat back, inviting United's shot-shy attack to come at them, and it nearly cost them the win as John Taylor had a clear chance but headed straight at the 'keeper in the last minute.
The crowd of 10,791 was the highest in the third division so far this season.
We blew it
For 75 mins we matched them in commitment if not in style and then decided that we'd done enough to earn a point and got punished. If only we'd not sat back and tried to defend so deep we may have got something out of the game. After we'd gone behind we played the way we should have approached the last part of the game - we went in search of a goal.
A little coaching for Trev Benjamin is needed to teach him that there is no need to burst the net with every shot.
All in all though it was an encouraging performance, one that maybe we were incapable of a month ago.
Keith
We sat back. I work with a Notts County fan who says thgat sitting back is the biggest mistake you can make against P*sh. Attack them and you're always likely to score.
I thought Trev Benjamin was our best attacking option - however he has absolutely no composure and he tired badly at the end. Kyddie and Shaggy were peripheral for most of the game.
I thought Wanless, Beall, Foster and especially Campbell were superb. However, the big differences between the side were that Quinn and Carruthers were a nuisance all evening. They also had defenders who got forward and they murdered us down the flanks. 38 yr old Quinn vs. 21 yr old Chenery. No contest - my money's on Quinn any day... b*st*rd!
We had no width - playing nearly everything through the middle second- half. Because Wilson and Chenery are a bit of a liability going forward that's why we played Trev and Kyddie wide - because they have got pace.
Sources close to the press box suggest 2,000 U's fans - brilliant turn-out!
Many thanks to Keith and Steve for their reports.
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