| Cambridge United | 4-3 | Shrewsbury Town |
| Wanless 10', 61' | Evans 19' | |
| Butler 57' | Scott 52' | |
| Kyd 71' | Dempsey 88' | |
| Att: 2,585 | Naylor s.o. 75 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery (Matt Joseph 87), Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees (Preece 71), Kyd, Butler, Williamson (Taylor 40)
[Gareth Challis' match report] [Terry Wilby's match report]
Gareth Challis' match report:
Despite the score-line, this was quite a dull game. Not much entertainment value, but three points in the bag is the most important thing. The teams seemed to cancel each other out to some extent. United tried to play it on the ground, through the midfield, and the Shrews were quite happy to loft the ball over the defence and run after it. The little bald-git was quite impressive making some excellent turns and forced Barrett to make a couple of good saves.
When Shrewsbury realised our midfield were having an off day, they began to run riot, dominating dangerously for a couple of long periods in either half. The first goal came on 10 minutes after a long throw from Marc Joseph. A tad scrappy in the penalty box, before Wanless blasted the ball into the top of the net.
Evans equalized for the Shrews on 19 minutes with a blast from 30 yards that still would have gone in even without the deflection. The ball curled outwards and away from Barrett, crossing the line in the top corner of the goal. The U's fans were silenced as Shrewsbury started to take control of the match. The midfield went completely to pot, and Williamson was removed from the field of play and replaced with Taylor. Butler dropped back behind Kyd and Shaggy.
The second half started well. The first attack within 30 seconds of the restart led to a John Taylor diving header bringing an excellent save from the 'keeper. Butler's follow up for the 50-50 ball ended with the 'keeper needing attention from the 'Eddie Edwards' lookylikey physio ... Disaster then struck. The U's were looking good, but were not helped when a cross from the right found Scott in plenty of empty space and a mostly vacant net to head the ball into. United caught flat footed. 2-1 to Shrewsbury.
United were then kicked into action scoring three goals in 14 minutes, all of them from breakaways. First, a break on the right by Chenery. He crossed, the ball was headed on by Taylor to an unmarked Butler. He chested the ball down and struck the ball into the opposite corner of the 'net, giving the goalie no chance. We were back in it! Just four minutes later, Taylor who was having an inspired game, broke free of his marker and slipped the ball through for the ever-running Wanless who found himself in a striker's position. He calmly slotted the ball past the on-rushing 'keeper and the U's moved back into the lead.
On 71 minutes, goal number four. United broke away from a Shrewsbury attack, Butler finding himself in plenty of space. He seemed to be in two minds as the 'keeper and defender closed in on him, but he finally clipped the ball over them. The goalie got a hand to the ball, but it looped towards the goal and bounced on the line, before hitting the back of the net. Michael Kyd ran in and got a touch just as it went into the net, but I would say this was really Butler's goal.
The game wasn't finished there. Naylor was sent off for a second bookable offence after a very late challenge in a part of the field which seems like the Bermuda triangle. Last season, Robbie Turner, Dwayne Darby of Hull, and the Colchester guy were all sent off in the same part of the field. After that, we seemed to go to sleep. Well, at least Kyd and Taylor wanted to. Kyd was so tired by 80 minutes, that putting the one remaining sub up front wouldn't have been a bad idea. Matty Joseph may not be the best striker in the world, but he has pace and could have torn the Shrews defence apart (well, maybe !)
When United got the ball, they wanted to hold it by the corner flag just to time waste. Shewsbury brought tension to the Abbey scoring with two minutes left, and a minute later Barrett pulled out an excellent save to deny a fourth goal for the visitors. Could be much, much better. If all the players had played well, we would have won more comfortably.
Cambridge United : Barrett 6 - Maybe at fault on the second goal, but so were the defence Chenery 3 - 'Mare of a game. Wilson 6 Marc Joseph 5 Foster 6 Campbell 5 Wanless 7 Rees 5 Kyd 6 Butler 8 *MoM* Williamson 4 Subs : Taylor 7 - For Williamson, 40 mins Preece 6 - For Rees, 72 mins Matt Joseph - For Chenery 87 mins.
Terry Wilby's match report:
It was my first League game of the season, and at times I was really impressed with the team, but at others quite depressed that lessons from last season haven't been learnt. Shrewsbury were not a tall side, but we didn't make much use of a general height advantage.
We started off well, one touch passing to each other and moving forward. After 10 minutes we took the lead through Paul Wanless after confusion in the Shrewsbury defence from a corner. Up to the 15 minute mark Shrewsbury kindly kept giving us the ball, then they decided not too any more and played some nice passing moves themselves. Our midfield stopped chasing which allowed their number 10 space to unleash an unstoppable shot to the top corner from around 25 yards. This was the first of a number of attempts by the same player, luckily for us his aim was slightly off by a couple of yards. Williamson who didn't seem to be on the pace was substituted with Shaggy just before half time.
6 minutes into the second half Shrewsbury took the lead, a free header from around 8 yards following a good cross. Three centre halves and not one was near the player! Butler equalised after 57 minutes with a fine volley from about 15 yards near the corner of the penalty area following a long cross from our right. Wanless got his second from a pass from Shaggy, hitting an angled shot across the goalkeeper.
Following a quick break from defence by Shaggy who then passed to Campbell for a clear run into the penalty area, the keeper parried Campbell's shot which would have gone in but Kyd made sure from about 2 inches. Preece came on for Rees. After half an hour of the second half Shrewsbury lost their number 2 to a second bookable offence after a nasty late challenge on Kyd. Despite the extra man we defended too deep and let Shrewsbury attack us, and they scored after a goal mouth scramble to make it 4-3. Matt Joseph came on for the last 5 minutes in place of Chenery.
Although the 3 points was deserved, we didn't make enough of our pressure, particularly at corners. Foster would go forward with Wanless, but we messed about with short corners and didn't get a decent cross in. In open play any deep cross caused their defence problems. At times our midfield joined our defence, leaving the centre of the pitch clear for their midfield. I'm not surprised that Roy was disappointed with our performance, we should have scored more and conceded less, but the future does look fairly good.
Paul Wanless was my Man of the Match, 2 goals, lots of running, getting the ball, heading from crosses and passing well. We would struggle without him.
Ratings:
Barrett 6, Chenery 6 (Matt Joseph 5), Wilson 6, Marc Joseph 5, Foster 6, Campbell 6, Wanless 8, Rees 6 (Preece 6), Kyd 7, Butler 7, Williamson 4 (Taylor 7).
I don't think Colchester will give us the ball as much as Shrewsbury, and our defence may cope better with big forwards, but if we keep playing to our strengths we should win. And it didn't rain while I was selling Rabbits at the Cut Throat Lane turnstiles.
Terry.
Many thanks to Gareth and Terry for their match reports and ratings.
Back to Match fixtures, results and reports
Back to Cambridge United index