U’s valiant comeback against Chatham falls just short despite strong second half showing…
Ethan Scott’s U’s returned to league action on Sunday afternoon following our cup loss against Stevenage as we made the trip to Chatham Town.
Four changes from the cup fixture as Abbie Jackson, Olivia Cook, Ella Gambell and Renai Bennett all returned to the side.
Despite the changes, it was a similar start to last week’s loss against Stevenage for the U’s, as after 7 minutes, the hosts took the lead.
Good work down the left from our opponents created a perfect cutback that found forward Amelia Woodgate on the edge of the 6-yard box to slot home and make it 1-0.
Four minutes later, Woodgate would double the lead for the hosts.
Woodgate picked up on a loose ball before running through on goal, rounding Webb and slotting home into an empty net.
The U’s fought hard to get back into the game, in the 38th minute Bennett was close to finding the top corner but her effort from outside the box went narrowly wide of the upright.
A few more chances for the U’s before half-time as Gambell and Bell both shot agonisingly wide, but at the break we were left with a mountain to climb, 2-0.
After the break the U’s started in electrifying fashion, a dangerous cross down the left from Jeffery found Coupar on the edge, her outside of the boot effort was well saved by Thorne-Ford.
Chatham bounced back after the positive start to the second half by the U’s and Jackson had to be at her best to deny Chatham another with a last-ditch tackle.
The U’s were then denied a clear goalscoring opportunity after good work by Coupar to dispossess Wellington before being pulled to the ground by the centre back who was subsequently brandished a yellow card.
The resulting free-kick was well saved by Thorne-Ford who pushed the ball around the post for a corner.
However, from the resulting corner the U’s got back into the game, the delivery caused havoc for the Chats defence and Coupar was on hand to slot home from close range ro make it 2-1 and setup an entertaining final 15 minutes.
The U’s pushed for an equaliser, bringing on the likes of Norman, Shaw and Tomlinson to try and find the elusive goal, but unfortunately on the 93rd minute the hosts put the game to bed.
A long clearance from Chats was pounced on down the left, before Fordjour was teed up in the centre of goal to slow home and make it 3-1.
An encouraging performance from the U’s as we head into a massive game at the Cledara Abbey Stadium on Sunday September 20th against MK Dons.
Chatham Town: Thorne-Ford, O’Shea, Auguste, Perkins, Turner, Sharp (Russ, 84’), Woodgate (Fordjour, 90+1’), Iton (Charles, 68’), Jones (Woodgate, 87’), Keogh, Wellington
Subs Not Used: Jeffkins, Wright, Bramwell
Goalscorers: Amelia Woodgate (7’, 11’), Kara Sophia Priscilla Afua Fordjour (90+1’)
Cambridge United: Webb ©, Jeffery, Jackson (Beeson, 78’), Cook (Tomlinson, 62’), Miles (Edgar, 68’), Coupar, Bell, Jarvis, Gambell (Norman, 80’), Bennett (Shaw, 84’), Strauss
Subs Not Used: Dixon, Hacker
Goalscorers: Coupar (75’)
