It was certainly autumnal at the Abbey Stadium as the men in Amber prepared to take on the Chairboys of Wycombe Wanderers (WWFC) last night. Despite the rainy weather, the match being live on sky and several champions league games also on tv, a decent crowd of 5776 including around 445 from Buckinghamshire looked forward to the game. For the the U’s there were 3 changes with Sullay KaiKai, George Hoddle and Sam Curtis all starting. The bench also had a good look about it, but captain Dom Ball was not fit to play and there was still no Callum Stead.
United won the toss and kicked towards the south stand first. WWFC kicked off and immediately looked a useful outfit. After some initial free kicks for both sides, the visitors attacked the NRE with intent forcing a number of corners. From one, Morley crossed for Taylor to head over. More corners followed with United’s defence clearing the ball well. Zak Bradshaw had a sight of goal but his effort was cleared. Although in general, United were on the back foot, Ben Knight crossed for Pelly Mapanzu to head over. Harvie of WWFC raced down the wing and crossed for Wareham to fire at goal but the ball was cleared. Mapanzu set up KaiKai who had an effort blocked. Wareham of WWFC although a lively forward fouled Hoddle and Mapanzu in quick succession and should really have been booked.
KaiKai then set up Sam Curtis following a cross but his header was cleared. WWFC continued to play the ball around nicely and with the U’s looking a little lightweight in midfield were conceding possession too easily. This cropped up once too often when the impressive Onyedinma wrestled possession away from Kell Watts close to the goal line. He crossed for Wareham to turn his man by the penalty spot and fire in a shot in to the top left of goal for 0-1. It was well taken but I have to say it should have cleared before there was any danger. On the balance of play the visitors earned their reward. Half time quickly followed and the U’s had conceded first again and at a particularly poor time.
The second half started in heavy drizzle with the U’s looking to get back into the game. No 3 of WWFC Harvie was losing friends fast going down very easily following any challenge. United won a free kick on 51 but Wareham in a deliberate act stood on the ball and was booked. He can count himself lucky that the referee had overlooked his fouls in the first half. United won a free kick just outside the box at the NRE with KaiKai lashing in a shot from over 20 yards, visiting keeper Hazard pushed the ball wide at full stretch. WWFC then counter attacked and won a couple of corners, from the second, Wareham had his header blocked. As usual with teams winning away from home WWFC were starting to waste time. Even more annoying was the frequency of their players falling to the ground as if shot.
Morley then crossed for Onyedinma heading wide. On 59 United replaced Ahadme and Curtis with Shayne Lavery and Louis Appere. Straight away though poor marking led to a second goal as HagelskJaer crossed for the unmarked Wareham to volley high into goal for 0-2. United’s defence had gone AWOL. On 62 the visitors changed Morley with Scowen. Boyd-Munce then crossed for the unmarked Scowen to head over. Where were the defence once again. Harvie, guilty of some earlier blatant play acting was booked for fouling Knight. On 68 United replaced Hoddle and Mpanzu with Owen Moxon and Raees Bangura-Williams (BW). Boyd-Munce crossed once again for the impressive Wareham to head wide. At this stage on 70 United looked well out of the game.
On 74 WWFC replaced Boyd-Munce with Henderson. United had a half chance at the back post when the ball found Heffernan but he dragged his shot wide. The U’s were finally waking up and attacking in numbers with the visitors happy to defend in depth. Once again though the visitors did not win any favours by going down very easily as if badly injured then getting up once a free kick had been awarded. This reflects badly on the game. Then when all seemed lost, on 78 Ben Knight sent over a corner for Shayne Lavery to head home, the ball going in off the post for 1-2. The relief was palpable. United were now attacking in numbers having finally woken up. Knight had a good effort saved low down by Hazard, the visiting keeper was now a busy man. Harvie was up to his old tricks again on 84 by dropping to the ground after a challenge, soft to say the least, but BW of United was booked. Harvie was roundly booed around the stadium.
On 85 the visitors changed Wareham for Woodrow. Attacking once again in numbers, Knight fired in another effort saved low down by Hazard. Moments later BW set up KaiKai who had a great shot saved superbly by Hazard. Time was running out. Following yet another corner KaiKai shot wide. In a rare second half brake, the outstanding Onyedinma fired an effort just wide. 4 minutes of stoppage time were shown with the U’s fighting to get level. On 92 it came following a cross from Bennett which brought an own goal (an impressive header though) from Taylor for 2-2. United had fought back well and there was only time for a late booking for Henderson following a foul on Appere. Full time came at 2-2.
Once again it had been far from a decent performance but this United team doesn’t know when it’s beaten. A flat start to the game in which the U’s looked a little lightweight and missing skipper Dom Ball. Poor marking and decision making gave two goals away. However the never say die attitude came to the fore and the U’s were well on top at the end, even if it took an impressive own goal for the equaliser. Fourth place is a great position and maybe some more praise from radio C would not go amiss. The games are coming thick and fast now.
Star man – After such an underwhelming performance I found it hard to pick a man of the match. So instead the never say die attitude in the team wins the day.
Ref Watch – Andrew Humphries – 7, I thought he had quite a good game. He tried to keep the game flowing and kept up with play well. I thought he got the majority of decisions right. There were frustrating times in the game where WWFC took gamesmanship a step too far and I thought he could have put a stop to this.