| Cambridge United | 2-2 | Scunthorpe United |
| Benjamin 24', 41' | Forrester 52' | |
| Stamp 77' | ||
| Att: 2,423 |
Cambridge United: (4-3-3) Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Charles (Taylor 67'), Kyd (Butler 82'), Benjamin.
Sub Not Used: Preece.
Booked: Benjamin (82' foul).
Scunthorpe United: Clarke, Walsh, McAuley, Forrester, Wilcox, Hope, Walker, Harsley, Eyre. Ormondroyd (Stamp 57'), Calvo-Garcia (Marshall 76').
Subs: Shakespeare.
Booked: Walsh (41' foul), McAuley (51' foul).
Ref: A. P. D'Urso (Billericay).
Shots On Target: Cambridge 4, Scunthorpe 5
Corners: Cambridge 6, Scunthorpe 10
[Terry Wilby's match report] [My summary of media reports]
Terry Wilby's match report:
Another fairly good performance, 2 points lost rather than 1 gained.
In the first half we restricted them to 1 real chance which Barrett saved. This was despite his best efforts to half come, stop then get caught in between ball and goal a couple of times before. There were times when Chenery was trying to mark 2 players, their number 4 (Forrester) caused us a lot of problems. Duncan had a good game, his shot after 22 minutes was just wide. 2 minutes later Benjamin beat the 'keeper to a back pass, the 'keeper pulled him down just inside the penalty area, but got up again quickly to lob the ball into an empty net. I don't think the referee was going to give a penalty.
5 minutes from the end of the half Benjamin scored again when unmarked with a flying header from around 10 yards from a Chenery cross.
In the second half they moved up a gear, and put us under a lot of pressure, with loads of corners. If Benjamin had scored in the 47th minute with a shot that curled just wide it could have been a different game, as on 50 minutes Forrester ran from his own half and scored. 6' 4" beanpole Ormandroyd didn't look interested and caused us no problems, so was substituted. Shaggy came on after 65 minutes for Charles, 10 minutes later Forrester was substituted which was good for us, unfortunately his replacement scored immediately, sidefooting in a long cross. 10 minutes from the end Butler came on for Kyd.
A 2-2 draw was a fair result, although we could have won if Benjamin had been on target with a couple of good shooting chances towards the end. He seemed to have more confidence than in the past games he's played, and was getting good headers as well, so is my MoM. It seems peculiar that Benjamin should nominally play wide on the left with Charles in the middle, I would keep Benjamin as centre forward. Beall was good in midfield as was Ashbee. Kyd has at last regained his first touch, but struggled to beat the full back when on a run. Charles put himself about but had few chances.
About the biggest cheer was the regular result updates from Shrewsbury! (Shrews 4 P*sh 1) Oh happy days!
Ratings: Barrett 6, Chenery 6, Ashbee 7, Duncan 7, Joseph 6, Campbell 6, Wanless 6, Beall 7, Charles 6 (Taylor 6), Kyd 7 (Butler 5), Benjamin 8.
My summary:
Unsurprisingly Roy McFarland named the same side that won so well at Torquay last weekend. But there were three different faces on the bench, with Martin Butler, John Taylor and David Preece ready to return after injuries.
It was 'game of two halves' time this afternoon as for the second time this season United threw away a two goal lead against Scunthorpe. In November we led the Iron by 2-0 in a game that ended 3-3, but today it looked as though teenage striker Trevor Benjamin had set up victory with two first-half goals.
The game got off to a poor start but big Trevor, who never gives up on an apparently lost cause, got his reward in the 24th minute when he beat visiting 'keeper Tim Clarke to a sloppy backpass. They both went down in the box but the 19-year-old was the first to recover and he coolly slid a shot into the empty net from 12 yards.
Benjamin increased his tally to three goals in two games in the 41st minute. He timed his run perfectly into the box to receive Ben Chenery's right-wing cross, and rose unmarked to head home from eight yards out. Two minutes after the break he went close to completing the hat-trick that would surely have sealed the points with a 20-yard screamer that just scraped the bar.
However, from then onwards the game changed course as Scunthorpe's former Leeds United midfielder Jamie Forrester took charge. He raced from the half-way line to score a brilliant 52nd minute goal which lifted his team and United had to withstand a lot of pressure as Scunthorpe battered the United defence.
Forrester went off injured in the 76th minute but had the satisfaction of seeing his side grab a well-deserved equaliser a minute later. Substitute Darren Stamp volleyed home from ten yards after Chris Hope had headed down a right-wing free-kick, as Scunthorpe gave United the run around. Striker Martin Butler made a welcome return to action when he replaced Michael Kyd with eight minutes left, his first appearance of the year.
Although a draw was probably the fairest result, both sides had chances to snatch the points in the dying seconds. In the 90th minute Scott Barrett denied Lee Marshall a scoring chance by bravely diving at his feet, and then Benjamin could have notched his first hat trick in the final minute of stoppage time. 'Billy' Beall sent him clear but his shot across goal just scraped the far post.
This result probably ends talk of a late run into the play-off places by even the most optimistic supporters! But when taking into account the average age of today's starting eleven - just 22, and 21 without Scott Barrett - it is obvious that Roy McFarland is planning for the future and looking ahead to next season.
Many thanks to Terry for his report and ratings.
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