Match reports

180209-ReportCambridge

9th February

City picked up another valuable point on the road in a hard fought game at the home of the U’s. It was a game of relatively few chances and both sides will have been disappointed that they couldn’t force one of them home in front of the biggest crowd of the season to date at the Cambs Glass Abbey Stadium.

Backed by over 1,500 travelling Imps’, City had to be alert as the home side played a high pressing game from the off and they were to have the first efforts on goal, a shot from Jevani Brown went wide and then Barry Corr headed a right wing cross off target but neither had Ryan Allsop worried.

City looked threatening on the quick break, and maybe could have taken the lead through first Matt Green who was slid in cleverly by Sam Habergham but Cambridge managed to smother the striker’s attempts to score. Then Harry Anderson was left with his head in his hands as he couldn’t turn home what was a fantastic header back across goal, The U’s defender George Taft doing just enough to put off the Imps winger.

Matt Rhead was inches away from setting his strike partner Green free, but Bradley Halliday just did enough to get a toe on the ball to deny the City number ten a free run on goal. The home side then tried a fast attack of their own but clever defending from James Wilson denied Billy Waters who had initially appeared to get in behind the Imps defence,

City had the ball in the net with just under 15 minutes to go to the break, Rhead flicked to Green who in turn clipped to Anderson with an overhead kick, the winger put the ball past David Forde but his joy was shortlived as saw the assistant’s flag raised for offside. Rhead played a wonderful ball round the back of Taft for Green but the defender hauled back the striker before he could get in round the back as The Imps were taking control of the game heading into half time. Green was influential and really taking the game to the home side, initially doing well to win the ball back almost on the goal line, before playing back to Tom Pett but once again Taft threw himself in to block what looked like goal bound effort. Habergham marauded forward just as half time approached and played a deep ball to the back post, Rhead leapt to head but the angle was against him and he hit the side netting.

Half Time

Cambridge U 0 The Imps 0

Cambridge won an early corner in the second half but Rhead headed powerfully away, the ball rebounded back to the striker who evaded a challenge and headed forward and kept going before feeding to Green who much like in the first half was denied at the last, this time Halliday was the man in the way.

It continued to be a game with mini battles going on across the field, with Rhead and Taft clashing on the edge of the box. Cambridge won two corners in quick succession in what was a rare attack from the home side, an audacious flick at the near post from Barry Corr. The U’s got their first shot on target from substitute David Amoo which Allsop did well to save, Corr got in there at the back post onto the rebound, the fans were on their feet awaiting the finish but the assistant’s flag was up just as quick. Offside.

Scott Wharton made a vital touch after coming on to make his Imps’ debut, heading away a dangerous left wing cross with Corr and Uche Ikpeazu lurking at the back post.

The home side were having their first real purple patch of the game and when Brown played a dangerous ball down the right flank to Amoo, they almost took the lead, the sub picked out Corr and the striker headed on target but it was stopped by Allsop who made a fantastic save to keep the scores level as the game opened right up. Corr then was once again denied by the linesman’s flag, he headed home the cross but the striker adjudged to be in an offside position as he got onto the end of a Brown cross. Bostwick almost lashed home from outside the box but Greg Taylor got in the way with little more than ten minutes to go. The U’s were pushing for a late winner but they couldn’t force the ball home, Harrison Dunk fired off target from a good position on the left before the Imps had a chance in injury time. A free kick was half cleared, Alex Woodyard clipped it back into the danger area and Taft shanked his clearance into the air but Green couldn’t keep his close range header under the crossbar in what was to be the final goalmouth action of the game.

Full Time

Cambridge U 0 The Imps 0

Cambridge United

1 Davide FORDE

2 Bradley HALLIDAY

4 Gary DEEGAN

5 Greg TAYLOR

8 Billy WATERS

11 Harrison DUNK

12 George TAFT

17 Adam PHILLIPS

18 George MARIS