A mid-table clash between Cambridge United and Actonians ends in a draw, with the teams sharing the points.
The U’s faced close competition this week in Actonians, who sit just one spot ahead of them in the FAWNL South East Division 1.
Going into the game, Sean Greygoose made just one change to the starting XI with Lauren Cullum coming in for Josie Jarvis.
The U’s started the game dominantly, making Actonians work hard as they maintained possession in the final third.
In just the 2nd minute of the game, Mia Richards was brought down outside the box, giving Cambridge a free kick in a dangerous position. Stepping up to take it, captain Zoe Wood placed the ball effortlessly into the bottom left corner, handing the U’s an early 1-0 lead.
The two midfielders were almost involved in a second goal when Wood lofted a ball from deep towards the back post, only for Richards to come agonisingly close to getting the decisive touch for a tap-in.
Actonians’ first chance of the game came in the 10th minute when, after a well-crafted move, Abigail Kargbo found herself through on goal, only to see her effort safely held by Cambridge keeper Lauren Webb.
U’s skipper Wood was at the heart of Cambridge’s attacking play once again when, in the 15th minute, her teasing cross into the box was met by defender Lauren Rouse, who unleashed a striker’s style volley that flew just over the bar.
In the 22nd minute, Actonians were awarded a free kick just inside their attacking half, which captain Mara Bramwell thundered towards goal, but the attempt lifted just too high.
The game was tight with both teams having their fair share of chances, but it would ultimately be the U’s who would secure the second goal of the game.
In the 29th minute, Jade Bell’s shot struck the arm of a recovering defender, earning Cambridge a penalty. Zoe Wood stepped up to the spot but was unable to convert her second set piece of the game, hitting the post.
However, the clearance from the opportunity rolled out towards U’s midfielder Sammy Edgar, who, outside the box, rocketed a first-time shot into the roof of the net, well out of the keeper’s reach.
Trailing 2-0, Actonians started to pile on sustained pressure, moving the ball patiently as they looked for an opening.
That opening arrived in the 38th minute, when Katherine Turner collected the ball just outside the box and drilled her shot through a crowd of U’s defenders and past the keeper into the net.
With the goal, the first half ended, and the two sides went in 2-1 at the break.
Looking to commence their second half just as strongly as their first, Cambridge came out of the changing room with intensity.
Minutes after the restart, Mia Richards unleashed a long-range strike bound for the top right corner, but Actonians’ keeper Elisa Dogar did well to palm the attempt onto the crossbar.
Much like the first half, the contest remained evenly balanced, with both sides battling hard throughout.
In an effort to preserve their lead, in the 60th minute, Sean Greygoose introduced Molly Sutherland and Mollie Coupar in place of Sammy Edgar and Kim Farrow.
Actonians continued to push for an equaliser and came incredibly close in the 70th minute. Abigail Kargbo embarked on a mazy run through the U’s defence before attempting a chip that struck the crossbar. The rebound looked set to fall kindly for her, but brave defending from Lauren Rouse denied the follow-up.
However, in the 80th minute, the equaliser arrived. Jasmine Williamson was carrying the ball down the left wing and battling with U’s defender Lauren Cullum, who brought her down as she entered the penalty area, resulting in a penalty.
Kayra Karakus stepped up, calmly placing the ball left of a diving Webb, who guessed the wrong way.
Just seconds after finding the net, Karakus’ glory turned to disaster as she was sent off for lashing out at defender Abbie Jackson while attempting to retrieve the ball.
That proved to be the final chance of the game, with the match ending 2- 2, a fair result between two evenly contested sides.
The girls return to league action on Sunday, 21st December, at home to Fulham.
Match report by Molly Sutherland.
Cambridge United: Webb, Miles, Rouse, Jackson, Richards, Bell, Edgar (Sutherland, 60’), Cullum, Farrow (Coupar, 60’), Stephenson, Wood
Subs Not Used: Maving, Hayes, Docking, Mitchell
Goal scorers: Wood (3’), Edgar (29’)
Actonians: Dogor, Bramwell, Clement, Bishop G, Turner, Abour Kheir, Karakus, Cholakian, Williamson, Kargbo, Chaudhry
Subs Not Used: Diachenko, Fawcett
Goal scorers: Turner (38’), Karakus (80’)
