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We were not allowed in the SBFC supporters club, so a trek across Roaring Meg shopping to the Harvester pub/restaurant for a beer. Service at the bar was slow. No, make that dead slow!

Starting line up:

Potter,

McAuley, Saah, Coulson, Tonkin,

Willmott, Ives, Reason, Pitt,

Crow, Holroyd.

Subs: Beesley, Parkinson, Coakley, Marriott, Hudson.

First real action came following a U's free kick which found Coulson at the back post, his cross into the danger area being cleared.

This was followed by a spot of pinball in our area following an SBFC free kick, the ball eventually cleared.

SBFC were putting on the pressure with a succession of corners, but U's had a good chance at the other end when Pitt crossed deep, Willmott came in at the back post and headed the ball down and it bounced up past Crow and Holroyd and away.

A good through ball looked to have put Pitt clear but the linesman had flagged for offside, probably for Crow or Holroyd coming back as I don't think Pitt was offside.

Long fouled to give U's a free kick that was cleared for a SBFC break, Potter did well to block a shot but the ball fell for a cross and a header home by Odebade from a couple of yards to give them the lead on 24 minutes. 0-1

Coulson was booked for a weak foul a minute later then followed a spell of SBFC pressure with corners a a headed across our goal and wide.

A brief spell of U's pressure won a free kick, Pitt put in a curling cross that Crow got a touch to which guided the ball in at the far post. 1-1 on 36 minutes.

More SBFC diving won them free kicks, but as half time approached they cleared a U's free kick and broke upfield, Boylan sidefooting the ball in at the near post. 1-2.

Almost immediately good work by Ives set up Holroyd to cross, Day got a weak punch and the ball fell to Willmott by with a gaping goal he blazed well wide.

Half time: 1-2.

SBFC shot wide in the opening minute, then then broke down our left and the ball was crossed deep to the back post, McAuley left it to go out but Odebade was behind and headed back across the face of goal where Beasley managed to stay on his feet to head in on the line. 1-3 after 49 minutes.

Beasley got a free kick for a theatrical dive soon after, the free kick headed wide. Another SBFC break, this time Potter blocked the shot for a corner.

U's gave the ball away when players had got forward, Saah got booked for a foul which stopped a SBFC break on 54.

U's win a free kick that Willmott gave straight to their keeper.

A ball into the middle of our penalty area should have been cleared but Boylan got a touch to put the ball wide of Potter and into the net. 1-4 on 61 minutes.

Willmott was replaced by Parkinson at the restart, and soon after Parkinson got into a good position but shot over.

A couple of corners to SBFC was followed by a couple for U's, the first headed just over, the second caused some panic in their penalty area as a couple of shots were blocked before the offside flag went up.

A low SBFC cross was cleared by Coulson who was clattered from behind by Boylan. Coulson didn't get any attention while Boylan was being booked but had to go off before the game restarted! Pitt was replaced by Coakley on 78 minutes.

Saah looked to take the ball out of defence but lost possession, in his attempt to get the ball back he fouled Long and got a second yellow so saw red to keep up the sequence of a player being sent off in games between the clubs. The free kick was headed wide.

Reason made a good tackle and won the ball but the referee booked him for a foul, Laird was also booked for his aggressive reaction.

Final score: 1-4.

Men against boys pretty well sums up the game. When the 2 teams lined up to shake hands at the start the SBFC players looked much bigger and taller. They were also much more athletic, closing down when they didn't have the ball and breaking with pace when they had possession. And they were able to con the referee, although not as bad as on Boxing Day, again they got away with some strong challenges where U's players got booked, as seen with Saah's second booking.

Our defence was young and out of sorts with too much waiting for someone else to clear the ball. Potter needed to up his game as the senior player but didn't seem to help the defence much.

In the middle Reason tried hard, Ives was knocked off the ball far too easily. As usual Crow only saw the ball near the half way line with his back to goal, Holroyd ran all over the place without getting a proper chance.

Again I think that our problem is with our wingers, they just don't do enough. They do not give us enough going forward to be able to negate their lack of defensive qualities. Neither is much good as a midfielder, so they are no help to Reason/Ives, yet they wander away from the touchlines and disappear into a black hole.

Parkinson actually beat a player and put over a couple of dangerous crosses in open play.

The next 4 weeks will define what the fans think of Martin Ling. He can't seem to get the best out of many in the current squad, and he has to get players out before he can bring anyone in. Can't see many of our players commanding a fee!

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