Nationwide League Division Two - Tuesday 7th March, 2000
Cambridge
United (4-4-2): Marshall, Chenery, Eustace, McNeil, Joseph;
Mustoe (Mackenzie 51'), Wanless (c), Ashbee, Youngs; Benjamin, Taylor
(Preece 90'). Bristol
City : Mercer, Bell, Carey, Millen, Hill, Holland (Burns
82'), Murray, Hewlett, Thorpe, Beadle, Tinnion (Brown 80'). Referee: Steve Baines (Chesterfield) Shots
on target: Cambridge 10 Bristol City 4 |
Tom Youngs took advantage of a place in the starting line-up to put United ahead after just five minutes and United eventually ran out 3-0 winners against a City side who had assembled a 15-match unbeaten run before the weekend. Results elsewhere mean the U's move out of the bottom four ahead of the weekend's vital relegation clash at Scunthorpe. Roy McFarland was forced into changes for tonight's game. With Clive Wilson and now Tom Cowan injured, central defender Marc Joseph came in to play in an unfamiliar position at left-back, while in midfield Tom Youngs replaced John Hansen who was on the bench alongside recent signing Zema Abbey. The game kicked off in mild, dry conditions. United made a bright start and took an early lead moments after they had failed to take advantage of a Neil Mustoe free kick. His fifth minute curler was inches over Trevor Benjamin's head and was held by goalkeeper Billy Mercer, but as the minute hand ticked onto five minutes the U's scored. Ian Ashbee's cross was headed on and down by Benjamin to Tom Youngs who was unchallenged four yards out and stabbed the ball home. In the 11th minute Paul Holland slipped the ball through to Thorpe who had beaten the offside trap, he hit it early from just inside the penalty area but Shaun Marshall made a smart save low down to his right. Three minutes later Youngs found Mustoe overlapping on the right who set up John Taylor at the edge of the box for a rasping volley which was well held by the keeper. United kept the pressure on with a 17th minute Mustoe corner that found Scott Eustace, but his good header was well held by Mercer under pressure from Taylor on the line. It was City's turn to give us a scare in the 21st minute when a deep free kick by Carey from just inside our half ricocheted off Paul Wanless and flew just past the post. From the resulting corner taken by Tinnion, the ball flicked of Ben Chenery and was headed off the line by Marc Joseph. Two minutes later Mustoe set Benjamin away, he lumbered clear of the offside trap and his cross was put behind for a corner. United then forced a series of four or five corners ending up with Mustoe's flag kick which was met by Wanless who threw himself at the ball at the far post, bringing an amazing point black block from Mercer. After 28 minutes Eustace pumped a free kick into the box and Benjamin tried an extravagant overhead kick which looped a couple of yards wide, then the visitors had a spell where they tried to break away but failed to beat the offside trap. United were again on the offensive in the 41st minute when a Martin McNeil free kick was brought down by Benjamin into the path of Taylor who set up Wanless 20 yards out, and the captain's first time shot was held by the keeper. The half ended with neither side looking particularly sound in defence and United needing a goal to settle everyone's nerves. (Half time 1-0) The second half was much more lively and after just 39 seconds Ian Ashbee broke a tackle and found Youngs just inside the area, but he trod on the ball and the momentum was lost as he was forced wide. Then in the 49th minute Taylor's neat flick sent the ball clear for Benjamin to chase but Mercer was out bravely to claim the ball just in front of him, suffering a boot in the face and needing treatment as a result. United suffered a potential blow when the excellent Neil Mustoe went off - presumably injured - to be replaced in the 51st minute by Neil Mackenzie and in that same minute Hewlett's dangerous inswinging cross had to be put behind by Wanless for a corner. Just a minute later the match reached a key moment when City wasted their best chance to level when Hewlett looked to have fouled Mackenzie to get his cross in which Shaun Marshall spilled at the feet of Peter Beadle, but the striker hoofed the ball over from about six yards. Moments later City enjoyed a let off when the referee missed a clear backpass from one of their players which was picked up by Mercer but then the momentum switched back to United. In the 55th minute Ashbee broke up a City move and found Benjamin whose presence had created havoc in the City side all night. His sweeping pass sent Neil Mackenzie bursting forward and the substitute worked a one-two with Ashbee and had just started to collect the ball when play was stopped as Ashbee had been fouled. From the free kick Benjamin's 20 yard shot was saved low down. Ashbee was involved again after 63 minutes when Millen missed a through ball and Ash's clever shot on the turn was saved with difficulty by Mercer. There were vain appeals for a United penalty two minutes later when Hill clearly took Benjamin's legs from under him in the area but play was waved on. The U's were in charge and playing well but still needing a goal to provide an extra cushion of comfort, and it nearly came in the 69th minute. John Taylor supplied Youngs who cut inside to get the ball onto his right foot, but slid the ball just the wrong side of the near post. Neil Mackenzie had looked very good since coming off the bench for Mustoe and in the 73rd minute he and Benjamin worked a neat one-two on the edge of the area, but a defender nipped in to prevent Mackenzie making any further progress. A minute later Bristol City provided arguably the move of the match when their swift interplay put Bell into the area and his rising shot flew just over the bar. The needed cushion arrived in the 76th minute when a deep free kick came to Taylor on the edge of the area, he laid the ball off for Mackenzie who jinked to set up Tom Youngs cutting into the area and the youngster got the ball onto his right foot and slid a precision finish into the bottom corner. Wilting Bristol City made two changes in the 80th and 82nd minutes to try to shake things up but the U's were enjoying the feeling of a two goal lead in front of their home crowd and the confidence and relief flowing through the players was epitomised by Marc Joseph with four minutes left. The centre-half filling in as an emergency left-back galloped forward, played a one-two with Taylor and was poised to shoot at goal until a City defender got a touch to the ball. Moments later the evening was complete when Taylor turned brilliantly in the area and fell over as he was challenged, it looked like a penalty but while everyone looked at the referee Trevor Benjamin stepped in to thump the ball home from about six yards on the angle. Cambridge comfortably wound down the final minutes while City were restricted to a long-range effort by Hill in the 90th minute that flew over the bar. David Preece replaced Taylor in the 90th minute and the veteran striker left the field to a loud ovation after his fourth and age-defying consecutive start. Preece's influence on the field was largely restricted to shepherding the victorious players towards the home terrace at the final whistle, and the team gladly celebrated with the fans after an excellent home win. As reporter Mark Johnson said in summary, "It was a superb win, and if Bristol City scared us in the Worthington Cup early this season we laid that ghost to rest with this win against a side who were in great form until last weekend." Trevor Benjamin was the sponsor's Man of the Match but Mark chose Paul Wanless: "Although Tom Youngs will take the glory for the goals, the match was won - as most matches are - in midfield and Paul Wanless was there and took on even more responsibility after Neil Mustoe left the field injured." However he reserved a mention for substitute Neil Mackenzie who "looked really good after coming on, put his foot in and made some good passes." Results elsewhere tonight see Cambridge move out of the relegation zone and up to 20th on goal difference. Now can the City Council follow this by approving the club's plans to redevelop the Abbey Stadium tomorrow morning? This web site will be updated as soon as the news comes through.
TONIGHT'S RESULTS
Brentford 0-2 Wrexham 4,055
Bristol Rovers 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers 8,053
Burnley 0-2 Luton Town 12,080
Cambridge United 3-0 Bristol City 3,505
Cardiff City 1-2 AFC Bournemouth 4,389
Gillingham 0-1 Notts County 6,915
Millwall 1-2 Scunthorpe United 8,772
Oxford United 1-3 Reading 7,638
Preston North End 2-3 Colchester United 11,323
Wigan Athletic 5-1 Blackpool 6,451
BOTTOM OF DIVISION TWO
17 Wrexham 34 10 10 14 37 49 -12 40
18 Reading 34 9 12 13 44 53 -9 39
19 Scunthorpe United 34 8 11 15 33 51 -18 35
20 Cambridge United 34 7 10 17 42 50 -8 31
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21 Blackpool 35 7 10 18 37 60 -23 31
22 Oxford United 34 8 7 19 29 55 -26 31
23 Cardiff City 34 5 14 15 32 47 -15 29
24 Chesterfield 33 5 10 18 21 42 -21 25
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Rookie striker Tom Youngs hit two goals to boost to Cambridge United's bid to avoid relegation as they beat Bristol City 3-0.
The 20-year-old hit man got his team off to a great start in the fifth minute when he rammed in a close-range shot after Trevor Benjamin headed down an Ian Ashbee cross. He then put Cambridge firmly in control in the 76th minute when he ran on to a pass from Neil Mackenzie to slide a shot inside the far post.
Cambridge had the game wrapped but made absolutely sure in the 87th minute when Benjamin finished off a move started by John Taylor.
Bristol were left to wonder what might have been if Tony Thorpe had taken his 16th-minute chance and if Mickey Bell had not hammered a shot inches over the crossbar from a good position in the 74th minute.
But Cambridge, inspired by skipper Paul Wanless, could have had other goals, with Bristol goalkeeper Billy Mercer making good saves from Wanless and Scott Eustace.
(c) Copyright Press Association Ltd 2000
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Rookie striker Tom Youngs gave depleted Cambridge United a massive boost in their relegation battle with a vital early goal and a second which put the result beyond doubt with a quarter of an hour to go.
In between, both sides could have had more goals in a hard-fought and open encounter, but Cambridge had the edge because of the midfield strength of skipper Paul Wanless and Ian Ashbee. Twice before in recent weeks the East Anglians had disappointed their home fans by losing after good away performances, but this time they always looked as though they had the upper hand.
Bristol coach David Burnside put his team's defeat down to Cambridge's "physical approach". He said: "They bullied us out of it. They are an average team and it was a very disappointing result for us." But Cambridge centre-half Scott Eustace retorted: "That's rubbish. You always have to win the battle in a game. But we played so much good football we could easily have doubled our score."
Youngs fired Cambridge in front in the fifth minute after Trevor Benjamin headed down an Ashbee cross. And after missing two other good chances, got the vital second goal when he ran on to a Neil MacKenzie pass.
Bristol, who had not seemed to have recovered from a 4-1 beating at Millwall on Saturday were a dejected side before Benjamin grabbed Cambridge's third in the 87th minute. Bristol were left to wonder what might have been if topscorer Tony Thorpe had done better with an 11th-minute chance when he rammed a shot straight at goalkeeper Shaun Marshall.
But his Bristol counterpart Billy Mercer was much busier, making brilliant saves from powerful headers by Eustace and Wanless in the first half and then from shots by Youngs and Benjamin in the second.
Said Cambridge manager Roy McFarland: "I am not interested in what Bristol said, we outplayed them and fully deserved the win. We had four players out injured and lost another when Neil Mustoe limped off early in the second half, but we still had too much fight and flair for them."
McFarland had to rearrange the side who were unlucky not to win at Brentford on Saturday, using three centre-halves in his back four, when Tom Cowan failed a pre-match fitness test on an ankle injury. But Marc Joseph did well out of position as did Youngs, operating on the wrong side of the attack as far as he was concerned.
City were an occasional threat on the counter-attack, but were not able to win enough ball to produce the kind of football which knocked Cambridge out of the Worthington Cup earlier in the season.
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IT was "all right" on the night at last at the Abbey as a couple of square pegs slipped smoothly into round holes in Cambridge United's injury-hit line up. Manager Roy McFarland gambled on playing right-sided centre-back Marc Joseph at left-back, and right-footed striker Tom Youngs at left midfield. It looked risky, but paid off so handsomely that Joseph played a full part in keeping a clean sheet, making a vital goalline clearance, plus contibuting to a goal, and Youngs was the shooting star of a victory which lifted United out of the relegation zone for the first time since October. His first strike after only five minutes gave his side just the start they needed to quell jangling nerves as they bidded to avoid a third consecutive home defeat after a good away display. And his second after 70 more minutes of full-blooded football, dominated by stronger and much more committed United, saved his team-mates and the fans from the jitters in the last quarter-of-an-hour. City, who still stick in United's mind as the team who outclassed them at Ashton Gate in the Worthington Cup early in the season, were a thoroughly beaten and dejected team some time before Trevor Benjamin's 87th minute goal made it 3-0, a scoreline which fully and accurately reflected the overall play. It could have been a much bigger win, but for the understandable difficulty Youngs had at times, running in on his wrong side. There were opportunities for the rapidly developing Mildenhall player to double his score, but he needed just a fraction too much time to set up shots in the 46th and 69th minutes. And it might well have been over as a real contest by half time if experienced goalkeeper Billy Mercer had not pulled off blinding pointblank saves from Paul Wanless and Scott Eustace at corner kicks in the 17th and 25th minutes. Not that Bristol coach David Burnside saw it anything like that way. A man who may just be a little concerned the three coach caretaker set-up might not be the City directors' choice for next season, he came out with some preposterous tosh. "I'm bitterly disapponted," he said. "Cambridge were nowhere near as good as Millwall who beat us on Saturday. We lost to a very average team who beat us up. "They didn't play better football than us. It was a physical confrontation, but we didn't turn up. We were bullied out of it." McFarland refused to react to the comments, but Eustace retorted: "That's rubbish. We outplayed as well as outfought them. When you're at the back and you can see your forwards like Trevor and Shaggy having so much of the ball, you know you're in charge." Burnside was wrong to say his men failed to turn up. They were in the game for the first quarter, Tony Thorpe wasting an 11th minute chance by firing straight at Shaun Marshall. And they almost equalised in the 21st minute when Joseph made a goalline clearance at a corner, after the ball ricochetted off Ben Chenery's head. But by that stage they were beginning to realise midfield was as inviting as a minefield, and they tip-toed out of the match as United gained firm control. The reason for McFarland's choice of Joseph as an unlikely left-back to replace the injured Tom Cowan was really made with midfield in mind. He did not want to remove play-anywhere man Ian Ashbee from alongside Wanless, where he did so well at Brentford. And again the teak-tough pairing were the heart and inspiration of a performance which raises real hopes of second division salvation. More injury trouble might have unsettled United six minutes into the second half when Neil Mustoe limped off, but they had such a grip in central midfield, substitute Neil Mackenzie was able to slot in and show the skills which prompted his £40,000 signing from Stoke this season. Burnside's accusation of bully boy tactics was shown up for the whining nonsense it was, by the fact that referee Steve Baines, a former player, did not hand out a single yellow card. But he joined the ranks of officials United would not want to see too often by his baffling interpretation of incidents which clearly warranted penalties. Benjamin may well have been playing for a spot kick in the 65th minute, but there was no doubt Matt Hill took his legs from under him, or that the same defender brought Taylor down in the move which led to the third goal. Robbed of two points at Brentford by another wretched decision, United had more than enough in hand this time, however, to insure them against the wildly inconsistent and generally poor quality refereeing teams have to endure in the lower divisions. Report © Cambridge Newspapers Ltd |
Interesting line-up in defence with 3 centre halves Eustace, McNeil, Joseph) and only 1 full back (Chenery). Possibly we could play 3-5-2, with Ashbee as the left wing-back. However it turned out that Joseph would play left full back with Ashbee in midfield in a 4-4-2 formation.
Starting line-up:
As I noticed at the game against Bristol City earlier in the season, they have a lot of height in their team. However in this game they looked most dangerous when they passed the ball around on the ground, and were relatively feeble with aerial balls despite trying a number of them. They also couldn't stop themselves being caught offside a number of times, especially in the first half.
We took the lead on 5 minutes, a long cross to the far post from our left was headed into the middle where Benjamin caused some confusion in the defence, eventually the ball popped out to Youngs a few yards from goal and he scored with ease. 5 minutes later City worked the ball through the middle to leave a forward with only Marshall to beat, but Marshall stood up and made a fine save to push the ball past the right hand post for a corner. We then had a period of pressure where Taylor had a shot saved, then from a corner Eustace (I think) had a header well saved.
City came back at us as we conceded a corner form a free kick, then Chenery almost scored an own goal from the corner with an angled header, but it was cleared off the line by Wanless (I think). Some good movement on our left set up Mustoe for a shot but he scuffed it wide, then we had 3 corners on the trot, the last resulted somehow in the ball being cleared off their goal line. From a free kick Benjamin tried an over head kick which went the wrong side of the post, and Wanless had a shot well saved.
In the first minute of the second half Youngs had time to shoot but dallied, cut inside and the chance was gone. Mustoe picked up a knock and was replaced by Mackenzie after 5 minutes. He was into the action straight away as he was held back as he tried to close down their player, the cross came in, Marshall made a flying dive to push the ball away but only onto the foot of a forward who blazed over.
The referee then made one of a number of odd decisions. A cross came towards a defender just outside the penalty area, with no United players close, he tapped the ball back first time to the keeper who then picked the ball up. It was not a miskick, and I think it should have been a free kick to us but nothing was given. We did win a free kick a few yards outside their penalty area, and the usual routine gave Benjamin a shot which was saved.
Joseph pushed forward whenever possible, he even had a shot from around 20 yards which went over by quite a distance. Ashbee almost capitalised on some sloppy defending as he found himself alone in their penalty area, but the keeper pulled off a good save. Benjamin got held back but still got possession in their penalty area, he took the ball towards the bye line before being hacked down from behind but again the referee gave nothing.
From a corner Ashbee had a shooting chance but put it over, then Youngs found himself in a similar position to the first minute again dallied, cut inside the defender but this time got a in shot which went a foot the wrong side of the near post. Mackenzie worked an opening and he too failed to get a shot in when well placed. City then had a spell of good passing which resulted in a shot going over the bar. From a free kick Taylor back headed to Benjamin who passed sideways to Mackenzie who passed on a gain to Youngs who this time got a shot on target and into the far corner of the net to make it 2-0.
Joseph was involved in a quick break from defence, feeding the ball to Taylor who played it back for Joseph to shoot but the ball was deflected for a corner. The goal he scored recently for the reserves has obviously given him an appetite for scoring! From a long throw Taylor turned in the box and was brought down, while he appealed for a penalty Benjamin seized on the loose ball and scored from a tight angle to make it 3-0 after 41 minutes. Preece came on for Taylor in injury time.
We played pretty well, made a lot of chances and forced some good saves from their 'keeper and scored 3 goals. What more could we want? My answer is the same sort of performance at our remaining games, certainly if we can win our remaining 6 home games and pick up a few points away we will not be relegated. Perhaps we should re-arrange more games to be played in the evening as we seem to do better!
Our defence looked solid to aerial attacks, but the centre halves looked slow to turn and follow the runner through the middle but got sorted out for the second half. Ashbee had a fine game in midfield, Benjamin was always a handful in attack. Taylor seemed to tire in the second half, I would have given Abbey a run out when we got 3-0 up. Youngs could have had a hat trick by the time he scored his second goal. There seemed to be a reluctance to have a shot from outside the penalty area, I suppose fear of being off target is the main reason. As long as we keep making chances we will score goals and win games. If only we could turn a higher percentage of chances into goals!
Terry
Wilby |
Earlier in the season Bristol City looked like a side who were going to take the league by storm. Certainly when they came to Cambridge in the League Cup, United were second best in every department. That night I thought Cambridge were outclassed for the only time this campaign despite all the struggles. Now it is not so clear cut. City are only mid-table and have been spluttering and inconsistent of late. Tonight yet again there are injury problems for Roy McFarland. Tom Cowan and Jason Kavanagh, the two full backs, are both out and rather than move Ian Ashbee to the left back position, McFarland takes a brave chance and decides to play Marc Joseph there. Tom Youngs plays on the left-hand side of midfield, and the poor old bones of John Taylor have to be dragged out for the fourth match running to play up front with Trevor Benjamin.
There has been news this week of another change in personnel at United, with Commercial Manager Carla Frediani leaving it join Portsmouth to head up their commercial activities. The news that Cambridge United are really waiting for is going to come tomorrow. The planning committee are to cast judgement on the revised plans for the rebuilding of the Abbey which have at last got the thumbs up from the allotment holders. After the past antics of the politicians, no one is taking anything for granted despite the optimistic hints.
United kick-off towards the allotments end with quite a strong wind in their faces. Soon Trevor Benjamin is tripped and when Neil Mustoe curls in the free-kick, it is only just too high for the on-rushing Benjamin. But just as they did at Brentford, United - desperate to win this one - get off to a dream start. Ben Chenery wins on the right and Ian Ashbee picks it up to knock the cross in. Trevor Benjamin heads down under pressure and Tom Youngs is in to pick up the bits and poke from five yards. "The U's are staying up"!" announce the Newmarket Road end but there's a long way to go in this game. Soon after the goal a cross from the left bounces over Marc Joseph's head and Tom Youngs is back helping at the other end up to clear for a corner. When this is punched by Shaun Marshall, Tony Thorpe relieves the pressure by belting a shot into the car park. On 10 minutes Thorpe gets another opportunity when a through ball goes straight through what has often been the soft underbelly of the United defence - straight down the middle. With the fans hearts in their mouths, Shaun Marshall narrows the angle and makes a great flying save.
Despite this lapse United look well up for this one and a lovely touch by Tom Youngs finds Neil Mustoe. He passes to John Taylor but his rasping shot was well saved by Billy Mercer, an experienced goalkeeper who is going to have a storming game. After 16 minutes Mustoe floats in another United corner and Scott Eustace is only denied by another excellent save from Mercer. United are looking very positive both an attack and defence. With 20 minutes gone a dangerous kick out downwind swirls into the United penalty area and the crowd gasp as Martin McNeil almost heads to his own net. When the corner comes over Marc Joseph is there to clear off the line. United put the pressure on as Carey plays Trevor Benjamin on side doing the Tony Adams Hand-In The-Air bit. His cross is blocked for a corner and two more followed in quick succession. When the third comes over, Paul Wanless rises at the back post, only to see his thundering header brilliantly saved at point blank range by Mercer. United just can't force in the rebound in the melee but this keeper is keeping Bristol in the game.
In midfield Wanless is yet again giving a monumental performance, every tackle getting the murmers of approval. He needs treatment for a bang on the head but yet again he is leading by example. A neat turn by Tinnion almost opens United up but Thorpe, who is spending a lot of his time yapping at the linesman about offside decisions he doesn't like, again blasts ball over the Newmarket Road end stand. The game has quietened down a bit and for the third time Bristol Rovers sent the ball into the car park, this time Keith Nolan with a typical centre-back snapshot. After their positive start United have lost their grip on a game and Bristol City are starting to take over. Five minutes before the break keeper Mercer keeps United out again, producing a flying catch from a fierce crack by Paul Wanless. When Bristol float the ball in, Shaun Eustace gets just enough head on it to stop Beadle getting a clear run on goal as a half draws to an end there. The sides going at half-time with both looking capable of winning the game.
The second half starts with Ian Ashbee immediately getting Tom Youngs in but he hesitates, looks up, has another touch, takes his time, takes an age, and is finally shutdown without ever getting the shot in. At least he has that happy knack of getting in the right place at the right time and unlike many of the United midfielders this season, he always looked likely to score. Bristol City are still looking pretty lively but again at the keeper is called into action, diving bravely at Trevor Benjamin's feet to save after a neat touch from Youngs. That was a good chance missed. Martin McNeil and Beadle are lectured by referee Steve Baines, an ex-player who had a very good first-half but unfortunately is going to have a dodgy second. The free kick is given to Bristol and looks dangerous until Captain Marvel Wanless produces some tremendous cover.
Five minutes into the half United suffer yet another bad injury blow. Neil Mustoe, who has come into form over the last month, limps out of the game with a hamstring injury. He is replaced by Neil Mackenzie and if he can produce some of the class that he definitely has, Cambridge might continue to open Bristol up. Almost immediately he is called on to defend and Cambridge have a let off as the referee plays it on after Mackenzie appears to have been a body checked. Shaun Marshall flies across his goal to catch the ball driven over from the byline but when he drops it, Beadle smashes the ball over the top. The ref, having made on mistake, seems to lose his concentration now. In a piece of muddled defending under pressure, Mercer gets away with picking up a blatant back pass. Somehow it missed by the referee and ignored by the linesman. After a good first half the ref seems to be losing it and Bristol City players are taking advantage, going down when ever touched, and doing it to good effect. Cambridge are now on the back foot but tonight they looked determined and break out once more. Mackenzie makes a fine 50 yards run dancing through a nasty challenge, but Mercer is there to collect. The referee now stops the game and gives the free-kick to United 35 yards out, having played the advantage that didn't materialise.
Even though it is way out Trevor Benjamin goes for the shot from distance and again Mercer goes down to collect. Matthew Hewlett has no fewer than three goes at Paul Wanless as the midfielder powers on with the ball, succeeding only in getting his boot off but even so Wanless gets the better of him. When the ball goes into touch the referee has a word in Hewlett's ear. On 63 minutes a great chance to Cambridge goes begging as the ball somehow goes right through the Bristol defence. Ian Ashbee is left with only the keeper to beat but is taken by surprise, and snatches at the shot which allows Mercer to save again. Two minutes later Cambridge United are denied appears to be a blatant penalty as Matthew Hill and Benjamin tangle in the box. Hill pulls Benjamin's shirt then pulls his arm. Despite the wrestling Trevor gets away and goes for the byline, only to have his legs whipped away from behind. Astonishingly the referee ignores the appeals for a penalty and gives a goal kick instead. Again it's another decision that looks blatantly wrong, with it looking for all the world that Hill has not even touched a ball in the challenge that has upended Benjamin.
The game is now swinging back to Cambridge United. Tom Youngs is got in again by John Taylor and again he wants too much time, finally side footing wide. The referee is treated to ironic cheers as he gives United a free-kick when Millen goes mountaineering over Benjamin but Ian Ashbee sends the ball high and wide from 40 yards out. That was a complete waste. United now look as if they are going to finish this game off. Trevor Benjamin works the ball on for Mackenzie but his first touch lets him down when he can see the whites of the defender's eyes. Bristol are not to be taken lightly though, and tremendous one touch football has United chasing shadows as they are carved open but Mickey Bell fires inches over the top. It is a warning that a 1-0 lead is not a comfortable one at any time and United take the hint. With a quarter of an hour to go, John Taylor flicks the ball on for Mackenzie to deftly lay it into the path of Youngs and at last he takes the opportunity with a low drive across the keeper to make it 2-0. Now you can see the confidence in United and when a swinging cross field ball by Bristol looks dangerous, it is calmly headed back to Shaun Marshall by Joseph. With ten minutes to go John Taylor is still on the pitch and looks absolutely cream crackered. He has flogged his guts out again and can hardly drag one leg in front of the other. A sympathetic voice from the stand shouts at the Cambridge bench "Give Shaggy a break" and with United 2-0 up, you can see the logic of that remark.
As Bristol try to get back in a game, McNeil producing an important header when a long ball is pumped in. Then a deep cross from the right seems to have eluded Shaun Marshall but he leans back and with one hand claws it down into his body to cheers of relief after some of his recent bouts of "dropsy". With five minutes ago John Taylor summons up enough energy to touch on for Marc Joseph, of all people, to get a shot in but it soars over the top. The old man is not to be denied. A minute later he turns in the box and dramatically tumbles. The appeals for a penalty are waved aside but as the defence fractionally hesitate, Trevor Benjamin slams it in to make it 3-0. "Now you're gonna believe us, the U's are staying up!"
As United win a corner in the 90th minute John Taylor, who has played the last 10 minutes with his face screwed up the in the agony of exhaustion, is finally pulled off to a standing ovation. There is still time for Cambridge to go close to landing the fourth when Mackenzie produces some brilliant close control, only for Trevor Benjamin to be shut down. To huge cheers the whistle goes and for the first time that since November Cambridge United are out of the relegation zone.
Tonight United have taken vital points that might, just might, save their skins. Tonight, unexpected wins by teams United are out to catch makes next Saturday's trip to play Scunny all the more important. Biffo Laws will be throwing tea cups at his players in training to get them up for this one. To stay up you have to beat fellow strugglers and this one looks like it might be a Battle Royal.
Graham Nurse |
I haven't posted in well over a week (due to spending a week in Scarborough and watching a Conference game where the standard was pretty impressive I have to say) so here are my views on tonight's performances:
Marshall: Best game in a long time, one very important save and generally decisive
Mackenzie: Excellent touches, good response from being dropped
I did think Bristol City were poor and not particularly 'up' for the match, and we could have been rueing several wasted shooting chances if they hadn't missed an open goal in the second half at 1-0.
Getting out of the bottom four is fantastic and is down largely to the one big factor in our favour that I have mentioned before - our vastly superior goal difference to our relegation rivals . . . the lager tasted sweet tonight! Anyone want to give me a cheapish lift to Scunthorpe ??
Luke Black |
Due to returning a loan car, I was in Cambridge early, in fact I was at the ground around 6:15pm to find it in darkness. I thought maybe the game had been postponed for some reason. Very few people in the supporters club too at that time, which makes getting a drink easy!