It was bitterly cold and very foggy as the men in Amber took on the Cod army at the Abbey stadium as Cambridge United played Fleetwood Town in the second round of the FA Cup. The two sides were out of form but the potential riches to be made in the third round when the Premier league and Championship sides enter keep us all dreaming.
A smaller crowd than usual 3387 including 103 from the north west made ready for the game. Those fans from Fleetwood deserve special mention for following their team, despite being near the bottom of the table and in the very cold weather. For the U’s Paul Digby and James Brophy returned.
Of course this was the first game played for over 200 games without Mark Bonner in charge. Barry Corr taking over as caretaker manager. Bonner will be missed, he was a real gentleman who had time for all. Football can be tough at times when results don’t go your way.
Fleetwood kicked off as the U’s kicked toward the South stand which held the faithful away fans. United were knocking the ball around nicely in the opening minutes with play interrupted by silly fouls. One such on 7 minutes cost the visitors dear as Elias Kachunga was hauled down for United to win a free kick just outside the area. Former Cod army player Danny Andrew curled a breathtaking shot into the far corner for United to go 1-0 up. It was a fine goal. Barely moments later and Sullay KaiKai cut in from the right and fired a shot from 10 yards which struck the post, Kachunga side footed the rebound in from 6 yards out for 2-0. We had barely finished celebrating when the visitors gave the ball away and despite Kachunga being fouled, the ball fell for Fejiri Okenabirhie to take the ball on and lash the ball wide of the keeper for 3-0. Yep and in 13 minutes.
Okenabirhie came off second best after a couple of late tackles, the visitors under pressure but dishing out some treatment. Broom for the visitors had Fleetwood’s first effort on 20 but it was cleared. Okenabirhie had suffered from some over robust play and had to be substituted as early as 22 minutes because of injury. Gassan Ahadme coming on. Patterson for the visitors had a half chance but it was too close to Jack Stevens. Sarpong-Wiredu shot wide as the visitors tried to get back in the game. The fog appeared to thicken at times as Sullay KaiKai danced into the area before being tripped by Sarpong-Wiredu. Ahadme stepped up to take the penalty but cheekily chipped it straight to the keeper. Give it up guys just try the Harry Kane method, it was a very poor attempt. Following some fine wing play the U’s got another free kick in a dangerous position. Andrew fired in a terrific effort tipped round at full length by the keeper. It really could have been 5 or 6 by now.
Kachunga fired high and wide before Lawal fired wide for the visitors. The U’s played some great football on the ground but were losing out in the physical stuff. Dolan then replaced Broom for the visitors. Big centre forward and former U Jayden Stockley was putting himself about but fired wide. Jubril Okedina was a little unlucky to be booked for getting his own back on the burly Stockley who had been giving as good as he got. With 6 minutes of stoppage time shown, United played the rest of the half out sensibly to go in 3 up and in charge. It could and should have been more.
The second half started as the U’s kicked off toward the NRE. Play continued to be interrupted by needless fouls particularly from the visitors. Kachunga had an effort which was well saved before Mayor for Fleetwood had a rare chance. Although United were generally on top the visitors had their moments but things were not happening for them. Rooney and Montgomery replaced Johnston and Lawal the visitors though did not really improve. James Brophy then raced into the area and his 15 yard shot cracked against the top of the crossbar, that was close. The visitors had Jack Marriott as well as Stockley in their forward line but it was just over the hour before Marriott was really involved, firing narrowly wide as the visitors fought to get back in the game. Stockley was then booked for yet another foul this one on George Thomas, he does push his luck.
Ahadme had an effort blocked before Thomas fired an effort wide as the U’s played on the deck and opened up the visitors again and again. Tshimanga then replaced Stockley before he got into more trouble. There were plenty of changes for the U’s as Andrew, Brophy, Kachunga and KaiKai were replaced in a matter of moments by Haunstrup, McConnell, Lankaster and Janneh. The U’s were able to see out the final minutes by adding a fourth as Digby made good progress into the box before squaring the ball for Ahadme to side foot home for inside the six yard box for 4-0. Moments later after a corner had been half cleared, Glenn McConnell lashed inches over when he should have scored. The referee blew moments later.
So on a cold and foggy afternoon we learned post Bonner that our lads can play, pass and hurt the opposition by playing football on the ground. United did well to shrug off the physical stuff and several players played their best game in ages. That last sentence is incredibly unfair to Mark Bonner who did so much for our club. My friends and I noticed more emphasis on ground play and less on the high ball stuff. Some players were also played in a different position which seemed to have a greater impact on the game. True Fleetwood were poor and bigger games await but this game would have done wonders for that little word confidence.