| Scarborough | 1-0 | Cambridge United |
| Williams 71' | ||
| Att: 2,225 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees (Williamson 74), Kyd (Taylor 74), Butler, Preece.
Sub Not Used: Murphy.
[Fred Berry's match report] [The Abbey Rabbit's match report]
Fred Berry's match report:
A very encouraging performance in a match we really should have won. Scarboro' had the better of the opening minutes. Their player found himself with just Barrett to beat but for some strange reason crossed it, we cleared it. Barrett came out for a ball he was never going to get. Luckily the Boro' player hesitated with his shot and Marc Joseph was able to tackle.
Boro' claimed for a penalty when their player dived, the ref would have none of it. Butler and Kyd looked good up front, our best chance in the first half coming when Butler headed just wide from a corner.
In the second period we played well and should have beat Boro'. Marc Joseph and Colin Foster played very well in defence. Kyd finnaly broke through the Boro' defence but was harshly deemed offside. He also had a shot that was off target. Boro' started to panic whenever we put in a cross. On one time the ball was flicked on then half cleared by a Boro' player. Rees put it back in and Colin Foster shot but unluckily it hit the crossbar and went over. Another time there was a scramble and we should of hit the net but Boro' again cleared.
Suddenly against the run of play, a long ball was hit upfield by Boro'. Their player put in a cross, which Barrett should have claimed rather then staying on his line, which was met by a neat diving header 0-1.
We put up a lot of pressure and I thought we had done it in injury time when sub Shaggy managed to tussle through the defence. He was clear but at a very acute angle. His shot looked to be perfect but it hit the inside of the post and went back into the keepers hands!
Altogether a good display. Performance rating, 6.5/10.
RATINGS.
Barrett 6 A good save made up for a otherwise poor game. Chenery 7 Looked promising. Wilson 6.5 Steady. Marc Joseph 7 Sound performance by the youngster. Foster 8 *MOM* Please sign him Roy- a great defender. Campbell 6 Has played better. Wanless 6.5 Did not look match fit. Rees 6 Knows he can perform better. Kyd 7 Tried his hardest but could not find the breakthrough. Butler 7 As of Kyd. Preece 7 Some good passing. Subs. Taylor. Williamson. Both not on long enough to rate.
The Abbey Rabbit's match report:
Never mind the result as Scarborough make it eleven opening day fixtures on the bounce without defeat, this was a very encouraging display from United.
With Marc Joesph, Campbell and Colin Foster as the three centre-halves, and Chenery and Wilson at full back, the defence look solid if rather one paced - although the return of Matt Joseph should help. Preece and Rees absolutely ran midfield, whilst Butler and Kyddie up front chased everything.
In a fairly pedestrian first-half, no doubt due to the heat, United only looked flustered when they got themselves in trouble - Marc Joseph forgeting that Scotty couldn't pick the bal up from a throw-in, for instance. In fact Joseph lost concentration and often looked uncomfortable - primarily because he often had no one to mark. In a half of few chances, United came closest - Butler failed to connect woith a Foster near post flick-on and Kyddie having a point blank header turned-over the crossbar.
Second-half, United totaly dominated, although if I was to offer criticism, we never really looked like turning possession into chances (shades of last season). Chenery and Wilson often failed to push on (under orders from RM?) and Kyddie and Butler began to tire... However, Foster hit the crossbar with an exquisite turn and shot and we all felt the game would end goalless.
Then disaster. The entire defence went to sleep, allowing Scarborough to score with their only real chance... RM bought on Taylor and Williamson, but with only a quarter of an hour to go it was far to late(!). However, Shaggy did enough to suggest hat he should have been on earlier - indeed we nearly salvaged a much deserved point when his shot squirmed across the goal-line and hit the far post... But why did no one follow the shot in?
MoM was Colin Foster - He was absolutely majestic and a class above anyone else on the field. At this level we need experience and composure and he had it by the bucket load... We have to sign him on full-time!
My only concern was up-front... Butler is a goal-maker not a goal-taker and Kyddie allowed himself to get isolated... Also no width until we had to chase the game.
Many thanks to Fred and Steve for their match reports.
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