So after 21 years we finally get a Cambridgeshire derby in the league.
So many fans have not had the “pleasure” of visiting London Road, and since my last visit the away stand has been replaced with an identikit stand. There is a screen in the high in the middle which away fans can’t see, but to the left there is what looks like an afterthought of a big screen which is viewable by some away fans in the stand. Another oddity is I can’t think of another ground that has only one floodlight pylon! It is a useful beacon to find the ground, but what I assume was a police drone in the sky also helped find the way!
Since we last played fortunes have gone in opposite directions, but today we compete as equals, despite the Pish thinking they are a “big” club.
Mostly the same team that started at Wycombe, Mannion in goal, Williams and Okedina outside of Jones and Rossi, Digby and Simper in the middle with Brophy and Lankester (in place of Okenibirhie) wider, Ironside and Knibbs at the front. U’s attacked the away end in the first half.
Both sides were fired up, and a few “firm” challenges showed the referee was keen to let play go on.
First real chance fell to U’s, Lankester found space and crossing for Ironside, but he could only spoon the chance in the air for an easy catch by their keeper.
Away fans were searched before being let in, it seems the same didn’t apply to home fans as at least 1 flare was let off in the home stand!
Pish won a corner on 17 minutes, and from it they took the lead as the ball came off the head of Jones as he and Digby went for the same ball with no forward near, and dropped into the net at the far post. 1-0.
U’s pushed forward , but from our throw deep in their half we allowed Pish to break but the shot went wide.
Another good chance was made with a cross to the unmarked Brophy at the corner of the 6-yard box, but instead of volleying goalwards, or controlling and shooting he chose to pass across goal towards the marked Knibbs who was unable to get to the ball.
Knibbs had a good chance from an angled cross but put his header over the bar.
Pish had a lot of possession, and made some half chances which didn’t really trouble Mannion, and half time came with U’s a goal down.
Second half continued in the same manner, Pish passing the ball without going anywhere, and U’s being more direct.
Mark Bonner was the first to make changes with Tracey, O’Neil and Smith replacing Simper, Lankester and Brophy on 65 minutes.
Tracey had a good run which ended with him shooting high and wide, then Knibbs had probably the best chance when he got possession and had a clear run to their goal but the keeper got a hand to push the shot away.
Knibbs closed down their keeper as he cleared, the ball rebounding towards goal but just over the bar
Late on another goal bound shot hit one of our players and went out for a goal kick.
Pushing up left some space at the back, but Pish were unable to get shots on target to score, but got close when a shot hit the post and went away.
Final score: 1-0 to Pish.
Somehow we ended the game with 2 bookings to their 1. O’Neil got booked for retaliating after being manhandled, Jones was elbowed but the referee just gave a free kick, and in the first half a kick at Lankester was missed by the linesman who was a few yards away. Very much a “home” referee.
On exiting the ground I wonder if any local Health and Safety officers have ever been to the ground when there is a crowd. There are large (about 450mm diameter) concrete balls just outside the away exits which are visible if there are few people around, but in a crowd they are just a trip hazard, much like the shin height “barriers” around the old main stand area.
The police kept U’s fans back for quite a while which meant a bit of a trek around the ground as I couldn’t take the direct rout back to my car. It also gave time to local youths to get to balconies on the nearby highrise buildings to shout abuse.
Looking at the stats we had 4 shots on goal out of 10, to their 3 out of 19, and they had 59% possession. Not sure what McCann was seeing as he thought they were “Way above” us, most sane people would say a draw would have been a fair result. Unfortunately our inability to make the best of the chances we created let us down.
A few months rest before we meet again at the Abbey in April next year.
Terry