Cambridge United: Van Heusden, Chenery, Duncan, Eustace, Wilson; Ashbee, Mustoe (Graham 90'), Russell; Kyd (Taylor 85'), Butler, Benjamin.
Bristol City: Phillips, Brennan, Taylor, Sebok, Carey, Mortimer, Hutchings (Pinamonte 68'), Tinnion, Murray (Goodridge 82'), Akinbiyi, Torpey (Doherty 68'). Referee: Paul Taylor (Waltham Cross) |
Bristol City are a BIG side, the smallest player must be over 6 foot tall. The front pairing of Akinbiyi and Torpey made Duncan and Eustace look like kids, and indeed for most of the first half that is exactly what the game seemed to be. We had no answer to the continual aerial bombardment and couldn't cover the flick-ons. As early as the 6th minute Van Heusden had to make a good save, a few minutes later a even better finger tip save to keep out a powerful shot (although the referee gave us a goal kick). Van Heusden saved a Torpey header, then Eustace had to be quick heading away a cross for a corner. From another corner City hit our post with a low shot, Akinbiyi headed just past the same post, and Hutchings missed an open goal as he failed to control the ball. Duncan missed a challenge, but recovered well with a good tackle. We couldn't seem to get the ball and keep possession for the first half an hour.
It wasn't until the 37th minute we managed a corner, from which Eustace headed over unchallenged. Soon after from a Kyd cross Benjamin headed over, and from a corner Butler (I think) headed onto the bar and over. the half finished with us beginning to play a little, and being thankful not to be losing by a hatful. Akinbiyi was caught offside on a number of occasions when the ball was played over the top.
The second half started with City having the first chance, but a weak shot was easily saved. We started to play the ball around on the ground, and chase to make things happen, and we scored when Kyd got possession, beat the defender and crossed hard from the bye line for Butler to chest in the ball from a couple of yards after 4 minutes.
The lead was short lived, a minute later a long crossfield ball was knocked into the middle of the goal at the second attempt for a tap in. Roy Mc. thought the player was offside, the second miskick was supposed to be a shot too.
I'm not sure why, but suddenly we seemed to have loads of time to play the ball around, even Chenery had a run into the City penalty area and despite being challenged by 3 defenders managed to keep possession and lay the ball back. Benjamin was causing them problems on the wing with his powerful running, he crossed well for Kyd to head over, then the roles were reversed when Benjamin was a foot short to get to a low cross from Kyd, the ball ran out to Russell who went past a couple of players before crossing to the near post where Benjamin got in a good headed which was pushed onto the post and away by the 'keeper.
Kyd was doing quite well. but needs more shooting practice as he failed to hit the target after a defence splitting pass from Mustoe.
38 minutes into the half Taylor came on for Kyd. Almost immediately Taylor got in an angled header from a corner that was headed in by Butler at the back post to give us the lead. Even a defender trying to handle on the line failed to stop the ball going in.
In the last minute of normal time City equalised, a near post corner looped in as Van Heusden failed to get to the ball through a crowd of players. City could have won the game in the final seconds when a player got free and hit the side netting with only van Heusden to beat. Graham came on for Mustoe for the last seconds.
If our first half was no football, the second half was total football, with the ball being moved around quickly to feet and the City players chasing shadows. On one occasion Benjamin beat his defender who then tried unsuccessfully to pull Benjamin back causing the linesman to flag but the referee played advantage only for the defender to get back and trip Benjamin as he went past him again. It looked to me to be a booking, but the lenient referee did nothing, and there were no bookings at all in the game.
Benjamin and Kyd got in a lot of good crosses, but they must both get closer in towards the goal when the other is crossing.
The lack of an aggressive header in defence is again my worry. Duncan and Eustace looked very uncomfortable except when the ball was on the ground. Chenery got caught out of position a few times and was slow getting back in the first half especially. Wilson had another good game, looking so composed when in possession even when a big player is chasing him. Russell, Ashbee and Mustoe combined well. Butler (when not being tripped or pushed by the big defenders) was a willing runner, holding the ball up well and laying it off nicely.
Bristol City are one of the favourites for automatic promotion after last seasons relegation, and are an extremely powerful side. After a slow start we took the game to them and looked the better footballing side. The return leg in two weeks time is not a foregone conclusion if we show the same attitude and skills.
Terry Wilby
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Roy McFarland's men must have felt like they had defied science during an opening 45 minutes of total and utter Bristol dominance. It took a series of good luck, bad finishing and at times some brave defending to prevent City from taking an unassailable lead.
United were quite simply being torn to shreds. Brian Tinnion was being allowed to terrorise the unsure defence, and alongside the highly rated Ade Akinbiyi created many gilt edged opportunities. Steve Torpey somehow managed to miss two point blank headers on 23 and 26 minutes respectively, and just before the half-hour mark watched one of his cracking volleys come back off the foot of the post.
United were being restricted to half chances, mainly created through the vision and control of former Spurs defender Clive Wilson who had another impressive game. Trevor Benjamin was causing the City defenders a few problems, and it was after he won a corner on 32 minutes that United created their best chance to take the lead. Alex Russell delivered a pinpoint ball onto the head of Scott Eustace, but the former Mansfield man could only power his attempt inches over the bar.
In general though United looked a jaded shadow of the side who competed so bravely at Bournemouth at the weekend, and the three pronged attack force of Butler, Benjamin and Kyd never really clicked into top gear…they were saving that for later.
At the other end the United defence was busy dealing with the pace of Akinbiyi who if it had not been for an exquisitely executed offside trap would have been in on goal on numerous occasions. Much to the delight of the home crowd the want-away striker seemed to be getting more and more frustrated with each offside decision, as he tried in vein to time his runs to perfection.
United came very close to snatching the lead moments before the half time whistle, as Martin Butler directed a header onto the top of the crossbar when it looked easier to score. The only scrap of consolation for the home team during the first half was that the score remained 0-0, but few in the crowd held much expectation that it would remain that way if the game continued in the same vein.
The second half was thankfully a different story all together, so much so that you even had to question if the same author was writing it. The United players who had looked a disjointed, timid mess in the opening 45 minutes, dug deep to produce a fluid display of attacking football to delight the home crowd, leaving them begging for more.
Martin Butler started to twist, turn and run at the City defenders whilst Benjamin and Kyd were busy rampaging down the left and right flanks respectively. Indeed this added enthusiasm and creation was rewarded just five minutes into the half as the lively Kyd skipped past a defender and delivered a cross which Butler chested home for his second goal of the season.
United had slipped into top gear, but sadly found reverse literally seconds later. Sloppy defending allowed Adi Akinbiyi to nip in behind the centre backs, and deliver a ball across the face of goal which Carl Hutchings stabbed home to level the tie.
This goal might well have broken the resolve of a lesser team, but United kept their heads down and got on with the task at hand. If the first half performance against Bournemouth saw United being compared to Brazil, then for the remainder of this game they were out of this World. They began to pass and move like I have seldom seen before, wearing down a Bristol City side who are widely renowned as one of the best sides in the division. Tony Pulis's men were being limited to pumping high balls out of defence, as they watched the white leather sphere dart around like a pinball…and resistance was futile.
Ben Chenery was adding his weight to the wave after wave of relentless attacks, and on 54 minutes went on a stunning run which took him inside the City penalty area. He laid the ball off to Kyd but the young striker could only hit a tame cross into the keepers' hands. Moments later Trevor Benjamin watched a terrific header graze the bar, as the United faithful sensed another goal was on the way. They were not the only ones who sensed it, as Bristol City began to play nine behind the ball in a desperate attempt to keep the rampaging U's at bay.
Remarkably they managed to do this until the 86th minute, when after relentless knocking, the Bristol City defence finally opened its doors. John Taylor had replaced Michael Kyd on 75 minutes and rose majestically at the far post moments later to drill a header towards the goal. A combination of Martin Butler and a City defender's hand appeared to push the ball over the line, but it would take a brave man to deny the Peter Pan of Cambridge United a goal that moves him to within touching distance of his century.
So that was that…or so we thought. Unfortunately there was still enough time for Bristol City to score their second goal of the match, and deflate the bubble which United's classy play had inflated during the second half onslaught. Tinnion placed a superb corner on the head of Paul Mortimer who had the simple task of nodding past the stranded Van Huesden.
It was a performance that was alarmingly similar to the one at Bournemouth on Saturday, with two sloppy goals undoing all the hard work at the other end. I am confident that in time the back four will gel together, and complete a team to be reckoned with.
United now face a stern test if they are to proceed in a competition which last season swept confidence and belief through the whole club. One thing is for sure though, if they play like they did in the second half tonight, they have a good chance of doing it.
Arjan Van Heusden - 70% (7) Ben Chenery - 81% (8) Ian Ashbee - 80% (8) Andy Duncan - 74% (7) Scott Eustace - 75% (7) Clive Wilson - 79% (8) Neil Mustoe - 74% (7) Michael Kyd - 75% (7) Martin Butler - 77% (8) Trevor Benjamin - 76% (8) Alex Russell - 73% (7) Subs used: John Taylor - 74% (7) Mark Graham - 70% (7)
Will Jones |
In a typical game of two halves United were lucky not to be swept away by Bristol City in the first half, but played some stunning football after the break to score twice. Unfortunately sloppy defending soon after each goal allowed the Robins to level the score.
Paul Wanless was missing from the team tonight, suffering with an infected blister, but Ian Ashbee was passed fit to start and Neil Mustoe came into the team in place of Wanless. Roy McFarland stuck with the 4-3-3 formation that was so successful last season and nearly paid dividends at Bournemouth on Saturday, so Butler, Benjamin and Kyd continued up front. The game kicked off under a grey, cloudy sky threatening drizzle.
Match report from Mark Johnson: It may be a day early but in the first half United were totally eclipsed by the visitors, and it was a mystery how City failed to wrap up the tie, never mind this first leg.
United had an early half-chance after just five minutes which Neil Mustoe failed to capitalise upon, and that was just about the last action in that half of the pitch until Scott Eustace powered a header over the bar 33 minutes later.
In between those chances, at the other end Steve Torpey wasted two headers from crosses by the excellent Brian Tinnion and Scott Murray hit a post. Meanwhile Ade Akinbiyi, described by Roy McFarland in today's Cambridge Evening News as "the player rated the best centre-forward in the second division", was caught offside a lot.
Our central defence gave cause for concern again as Duncan and Eustace were obviously uncomfortable with an almost constant aerial bombardment, but Martin Butler almost scored in the final minute of the half. However his header from Alex Russell's cross hit the bar and a frankly undeserved lead was not to be. In summary Clive Wilson had a good half, Benjamin was putting himself about as usual, but Butler and Kyd had not seen enough of the ball. (Half-time 0-0)
The Us looked much more convincing after the break and started brightly, playing some good football. A buccaneering run from Benjamin allowed Kyd to get the ball to the by-line, and he drilled a cross against Martin Butler's chest and into the net.
But almost before the Abbey celebrations had died, City were level. This time Akinbiyi got to the by-line, crossed the ball deep into the box and Carl Hutchings somehow diverted the ball over the line from close range.
In the 56th minute Trevor Benjamin, possibly remembering which competition this was and the glories of last season, beat his defender and floated a cross onto the head of Michael Kyd, but Kyddie's header flew past the top corner. Two minutes later Chenery fed the ball to Kyd who beat Brennan, and although his cross eluded Benjamin it found Russell on the left wing. The skillful midfielder took the ball forward and crossed it back to Benjamin whose shot on the turn was touched onto the post by Phillips.
United were a different side after the break and enjoyed more possession and created more chances. Michael Kyd looks almost back to his exciting best and he flashed a shot across the face of goal after 79 minutes, then in the 86th minute Cambridge took a lead that had looked well beyond them in the first half. A minute after replacing Kyd, John Taylor flicked a Russell cross goalwards and the ball appeared to be touched into the goal by Butler, but in the post-match interviews player-coach Taylor insisted that Butts did not touch the ball. Clarification follows as soon as possible, but Roy McFarland was content tonight to let the two players sort it out amongst themselves!
Mark Johnson summarised the game as the typical "game of two halves" and commented that Roy McFarland obviously earned his money at half-time tonight by the way his team were transformed. Mark's man of the match was Michael Kyd: "He just needs a goal".
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CAMBRIDGE United are proving a half decent team at second division level. All they have to do now is start playing during the other half. There was no need to trek all the way to Cornwall to witness an eclipse. There was one at the Abbey Stadium last night as United were blanked out by Bristol City for almost the full first 45 minutes. Somehow they survived intact, rousing themselves from their mystifying slumber to twice take the lead after the break - and lose it each time within minutes. Supporters reading about Roy McFarland's men "looking like Brazil" during the first half at Bournemouth on Saturday, must have thought the comparison was nuts as Bristol rarely let them get a sight of the ball. All was revealed in the second half however, as United shrugged off the shock of seeing Martin Butler's 50th minute goal immediately cancelled out by Carl Hutchings, to go on and batter Bristol. Trevor Benjamin spent much of the first half running into trouble, while Michael Kyd was equally ineffective on the right flank. No-one was getting the ball wide for the full-backs to support the strikers, leaving Butler a bemused spectator in the middle. No doubt this was "pointed out," over tea and biscuits by the manager during the interval, and soon City were having to pack their penalty area to hold out. Ben Chenery and Clive Wilson began getting good passes in acres of space to set-up powerful and pacy runs by Benjamin and Kyd, producing panic among the back-pedalling defenders. During the first half City logged half-a-dozen dangerous attacks before United's solitary strike, a Butler header bouncing off the crossbar from an Alex Russell corner. They were reduced to half that number, as United ran the game after the interval, and those were from isolated raids. There was no doubt United were fortunate not to be a couple of goals down at the break though. Goalkeeper Arjan Van Heusden positioned himself well to make a string of saves, but he was helped considerably by City failing to find the finish to match their penetrative play. Jim Brennan shaved the crossbar with a 20-yarder in the 10th minute, Steve Torpey headed straight at the keeper from six yards in the 16th, Scott Murray slammed a 25th-minute drive against a post, Ade Akinbiyi headed wide four minutes later, then Murray lobbed a header into Van Heusden's hands in the 35th. Imagine their surprise then five minutes into the second half when they found themselves a goal down. When the equaliser took less than 60 seconds to achieve , it seemed City might pick up where they left off, but the pattern and mood of the game suddenly shifted as United attacked their favourite Newmarket Road end. Kyd went close in the 56th, and a couple of minutes later Benjamin swivelled on a Russell cross to hit an angled shot goalkeeper Steve Phillips had to palm against a post. City made substitutions which steadied them, seemingly settling for a 1-1 first leg score. But after a Kyd cross fizzed across the face of goal, inches away from Butler and Benjamin in the 79th minute, United kept up a spell of pressure producing an apparent winner with four minutes to go. City had to pile forward after that, and they won the last-gasp corner at which Van Heusden spoiled a good personal performance. "I should have stayed on the line or gone right through with my run out," he said. "I was stranded and I take the blame for that one." It not only gave City a morale-boosting draw, but two away goals to take into the return leg at Ashton Gate in a fortnight, a match in which United will have to repeat last season's heroics against the odds to stay in the competition. Report © Cambridge Newspapers Ltd |
NEW signing Paul Mortimer scored a timely first goal for Bristol City to salvage a draw in last night's Worthington Cup first round, first leg tie at the Abbey Stadium. Midfieldman Mortimer, signed on a free transfer from Charlton last month, headed home a corner from Brian Tinnion at the near post in injury-time to make City favourites to go through in the second leg in two weeks’time. City manager Tony Pulis had mixed emotions after a dramatic finale. "I thought going forward we looked impressive at times, but defensively we’re still in need of sorting things out," he said. "Cambridge are a good side and caused us quite a few problems - and it sets up a cracking tie for the second leg. But I still know that changes need to be made before I can even begin to feel satisfied." After the sorry events at Reading on Saturday, City played some neat football and twice fought back to equalise. As expected, full-back Gerard Lavin was left out of the side following his dismissal at the Madejski Stadium. City vice-chairman John Laycock said before the match: "Gerard was suspended for tonight's game and I would imagine he would be suspended against Bournemouth on Saturday too. We didn't see a video as we'd hoped today and we've yet to hear what the police have to say." Pulis drafted Hungarian international Vilmos Sebok into the back four alongside Shaun Taylor while Louis Carey moved to right-back in place of Lavin. Striker Steve Torpey returned to partner Ade Akinbiyi up front while Scott Murray made a comeback on the right in place of Greg Goodridge. After a quiet start, City stepped up a gear when Tinnion's cross fell kindly for Torpey, who was not quite able to squeeze the ball in under pressure at the back post. And when Akinbiyi knocked the ball down into the path of Jim Brennan, the Canadian unleashed a ferocious shot which just cleared the crossbar. On 16 minutes, a cracking move ended with Tinnion's wicked cross being headed firmly but straight at keeper Arjan Van Heusden by Torpey. There was a scare for City in the 38th minute when Scott Eustace powered a free header just over. And on the stroke of half-time Martin Butler went even closer, his header hitting the bar and sailing behind. The start of the second half could not have been more dramatic. Michael Kyd powered down the right and his pull-back was perfect for Butler to drive into an empty net on 50 minutes. Almost straight from the restart, City were level when Tinnion’s cross reached Akinbiyi. The striker miscued his first effort and sliced his second, but Carl Hutchings followed up to bundle the ball over the line. City keeper Steve Phillips then superbly touched Trevor Benjamin's shot onto his post as Cambridge fired in a salvo of shots. City made a double substitution in the 68th minute, striker Lorenzo Pinamonte replacing Torpey and Tommy Doherty, back from suspension, switching with Hutchings. But there were anxious moments at the back as Kyd jinked his way towards goal and drove the ball a whisker wide of the far post. On came City's third sub, Goodridge for Murray, while John Taylor trotted on in place of Kyd. And former Bristol Rovers' striker Taylor was soon celebrating. He flicked on Alex Russell's corner and Butler glanced his header into the net. But Mortimer soon made it 2-2 and Pinamonte could even have snatched a winner. Report © Bristol Evening Post & Press Ltd |
A second half display of attacking wizardry from Cambridge United threatened to eclipse a Bristol City side who should have had the game sewn up, stuffed and on the shelf before the interval.
Man of the match: Ben Chenery displayed what he is capable of when at the top of his form. Fine defending, brave and committed tackling, awareness and competence on the ball and confidence when going forward culminated to produce one of his best performances in a United shirt. Lets hope this standard can be maintained for the rest of the season.
However there was late disappointment as City equalised a minute into stoppage time, Paul Mortimer meeting Tinnion's corner with a cushioned header. The visitors almost scored again a moment later as substitute Pinamonte ran clear but fired into the side-netting when it looked easier to score and with Akinbiyi unmarked in the middle.