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Cambridge United: (4-3-3) Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Preece, Beall (Taylor 78'), Butler, Kyd, Benjamin.
Subs: Wilson, Barnwell.
Peterborough United: Tyler, Linton, Drury (McMenamin 73'), Payne, Rennie, Edwards, Farrell, Castle, Carruthers (Green 85'), Quinn, Inman (De Souza 85').
Booked: Carruthers (foul 7'), Linton (foul 42').
Ref: W C Burns (Scarborough).
Shots On Target: Cambridge 3, Peterborough 3
[Keith Webb's match report] [Ben Mynott's ratings] [Terry Wilby's report and ratings] [My summary of media reports]
Keith Webb's match report:
What a great afternoon at the Abbey
Not only did we beat P*sh, but we did so deservedly and proved that there is very little between the top sides in this division and those that have struggled, like ourselves.
It was a cracking atmosphere, the best for years and the players got a sample of it when they came out to warm up 20 mins before the start. The Newmarket Road end was pretty full already and was making plenty of noise and I think that helped the players realize just how important this game was to us.
They responded brilliantly and whereas at London Road we gave P*sh the freedom of the pitch to play their neat football, today we completely closed them down and hassled them out of their game to the point where they started giving the ball away frequently in midfield. For me this was where we were at our strongest today with Ashbee, Beall and Preece putting in outstanding performances and giving us the edge throughout the match. At times we played some superb football, particularly in the second half when we managed to play our football in a forward fashion rather than the sometimes frustrating sideways mode.
The first half was pretty even and scoring chances were scarce although we did have a sweeping end to end move near the end of the first half which resulted in a cross skidding across the Boro goal with Kyd inches away from connecting.
The second half needed to be, and was, won in midfield as the pitch really started to cut up badly. Scott Barrett made a brilliant and crucial save at the feet of Carruthers early on and apart from some fairly desperate defending in the last few minutes our defence was in commanding mood. Quinn never got a look in the whole afternoon and resorted to diving to try and win free kicks, while Carruthers who looks a class player struggled to cope with the heavy pitch.
Beall and Preece were magnificent with their surging runs and Ashbee fought for every ball in the middle of the park, they linked well with Kyd and Butler, with Kyd in particular improving as the game went on. A couple of near misses from shots from Kyd were followed by the introduction of Taylor as RM sensed we'd gotten the upper and 'boro were there for the taking.
When Shaggy came on he was like a man possesed, being a veteran of many matches against the old enemy he injected some real fire into the attack and wound the crowd up another notch with his tireless and aggressive running. It was from his cushioned header that Kyd rifled in the winning goal and the whole place went mental, my wife was shopping at the Beehive Centre during the game and she heard the roar from there as she got into her car. The two minutes added on by the ref seemed to last an eternity but when he did blow for full time it was bedlam as the fans went wild and stayed behind to taunt the 'boro fans. I thought that it was a pretty poor turn out by them,even if it was 2 quid more, 1500 for a team from just up the road that is pushing for the play- offs seemed a bit of a sad turnout, and they wanted the Habbin too!
A thoroughly satisfying afternoon was made even better as I listened to the phone in on the way home. RM gave P*sh stainton a real broadside saying that he hoped that his successor was less biased towards P*sh and gave a bit more coverage to the U's. Then there were plenty of P*sh fans ringing in calling for Fry's head and finally braindead Moles got on and whinged about losing to non-league sides like Cambridge, how they would get more fans for their youth match next week than we will for our next home match and about getting drenched in 'Scumland' at our Shabby Stadium. How P*sh area big club that are not happy to stay in Div3, unlike us and a stadium like theirs with the support they get deserves a better standard of football than the non-league standard clubs they are forced to play against each week. Awww poor little man :)
Great stuff, hopefully his car will break down on the way home and he will get another soaking as his wends his miserable, deluded way home to his imaginary giant club with their make-believe world class stadium.
Come on you U's!
Keith
Ben Mynott's match ratings and comments:
I was a happy man yesterday! (and still am I guess). No time for a report, but quick ratings and performances:
Barrett - 7 Dealt reasonably well with all he had to. Chenery - 5 After being my player of the month in March, his form has dropped again slightly. Campbell - 7.5 Was definitely "up for it". Duncan - 7 Made up for his poor game at Hartlepool. Joseph - 7 One of his best games for us - but he still worries me! Beall - 8.5 Ran his little cotton socks off - a superb performance by Battling Billy. Not quite sure why he was taken off; perhaps RM thought he was tiring. Ashbee - 4 Not quite sure what one of the guys on the phone-in was on about saying he was superb and that he's found his position in midfield - what a joke!! He worked hard, admittedly, but was more of a liability and gave possession away for too cheaply far too often, sometimes in very dangerous positions. I much prefer him as a central defender; I'd like to see him and Duncan paired at the back. Preece - 9 How old? He had the energy, determination and stamina of a twenty year-old! Was everywhere, defending superbly and helping out in attack, as well as totally dominating midfield. My MoM. Benjamin - 6.5 A bit of a handful as always - big Des Linton clearly didn't enjoy marking him. However he never really threatened. Butler - 7 Worked hard as a target man, but didn't get much return. Dropped back to midfield when Shaggy came on. Kyd - 7.5 Just as it looked as though things weren't going his way he scored a cracker. Always dangerous, but 'Boro were quick to surround him whenever he got the ball. Could perhaps be accused of being a tad too greedy at times, but in the muddy conditions he had every right to try his luck at goal. Sub: Shaggy - 8.5 Class act. For the 15 minutes he was on the pitch, I don't think he had one bad touch. Won headers, layed the ball off well, kept possession, beat defenders, AND set up the goal! Must be staking a claim for a recall to the starting line-up.
For some reason I'm putting studying ahead of footie tomorrow, so won't be making the long trek to St James' Park. I'll have to make do with Radio Cambs.. Let's hope I regret not going!
Ben.
Terry Wilby's match report and ratings:
The team was as expected with Preece coming in for the suspended Wanless. Lucky pints were consumed in the Supporters Club by Peter, Gilbert, DVS and myself, there was even some singing by a number of chaps who took to heart the idea of lucky pints by having loads! The atmosphere was superb, lots of singing but it was quite difficult to comply with "Sit down if you hate borough" on crowded terraces, but most people managed!
The rain came down at the start of the game, which reached me near the back of the Abbey by blowing under the roof so chants of "You're getting wet, so are we" were in order.
First real action came after 7 minutes, a Boring booking for a late challenge I think on Campbell. Soon after Butler "scored" but was offside. Barrett had to save a 25 yard shot at the second attempt after a cross-field pass from Chenery was intercepted. After 32 minutes Barrett almost scored when the wind carried his clearance over the goal at the first bounce, which must be his longest ever kick. There was another Boring booking for a late challenge from behind on Benjamin. On the stroke of half time a good run by Kyd gave Benjamin a shooting chance which he put wide of the far post.
The players took their time waking up for the second half, Barrett needing to save from Carruthers after 3 minutes. When we woke up we controlled the rest of the game, making a number of chances. Kyd had 2 attempts high and wide when a pass to a free player would have been a better option, then a low shot was saved at the foot of the post. These were just sighters as on 36 minutes he scored with a long shot into the far corner from a Shaggy knock back. There must have been a fortune in coins on the terrace floor from all the jumping up and down! Shaggy had come on for Billy Beall a few minutes before.
The last minutes took an age to go, the 2 minutes signalled by the referee turned into 3!
The first half was fairly even, we were better in the second, our midfield in particular stopping them doing anything. Butler is my MoM for his all round contribution, just ahead of Beall, Kyd (for scoring!) and Barrett, although there was no-one who didn't perform well.
Ratings: Barrett 8, Chenery 7, Ashbee 7, Duncan 8, Joseph 7, Campbell 8, Preece 8, Beall 8 (Taylor 8), Butler 9, Kyd 8, Benjamin 7.
My summary:
Today's match went ahead after an 11am pitch inspection and a further check by the referee at 1.30pm, just before the turnstiles opened. Roy McFarland made just the one enforced change to his side, bringing in player-coach David Preece for the suspended Paul Wanless.
The heavy pitch contributed to a patchy game but United started with purpose, cheered on by noisy supporters, and never allowed Peterborough to settle. The first half was typical of a derby game - combative, edgy and higher on tension than goalmouth incidents. Ashbee, Preece and Beall bossed the midfield while the defence was as solid as you would expect from a side with six clean sheets in the last nine matches. The first half produced few real chances although late in the half a flowing United move ended with the lively Michael Kyd inches from connecting with a low cross.
After the break the pitch was showing signs of punishment but United still managed to play neat, attractive football at times. 'Boro carved out an early chance when Martin Carruthers escaped Marc Joseph to get on the end of a Jimmy Quinn flick-on, but Scott Barrett was alert and as Carruthers hesitated he rushed out and saved bravely at the striker's feet.
Up front, Kyd, Butler and Benjamin caused all sorts of problems for the Posh defence but it was when John Taylor replaced 'Billy' Beall (78min) that things changed. 'Shaggy' has played in more of these games than the rest of the players on the pitch put together and he added the decisive bite and determination to United's attack, as well as raising the crowd again.
United had a chance seconds afterwards when Kyd burst through on the right to force a save from goalkeeper Mark Tyler. Then three minutes after coming on, Taylor headed the ball into Michael Kyd's path and the youngster made no mistake from the edge of the box, completely wrong-footing Tyler and sending a low shot skimming through the muddy penalty area and into the far corner.
The Abbey erupted and despite some desperate late pressure from Peterborough and two minutes of injury time, it was United's turn to celebrate a derby win while the Posh reflected on their fifth straight away defeat. The strains of "We'll Meet Again" could be heard from the PA system after the final whistle, an indication of which division we think Posh will be in next season!
Doncaster Rovers' defeat by Hull City today confirms their relegation from the Football League.
Many thanks to Keith and Ben for their report and ratings.
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