Would it, wouldn’t it thought everyone during the week as the weather was typically Januaryish with cold winds, frozen pitches and heavy rain the order of the week. Thankfully Ian Darler and his team put in their usual outstanding effort to make sure the pitch and surrounding areas were in great condition. United made 3 changes with James Gibbons, Pelly Ruddock Mapanzu and George Hoddle being recalled. Skipper Michael Morrison was also back on the bench. A slightly disappointing crowd of 6241 which included 1447 from Birmingham awaited proceedings.
In cool and somewhat foggy conditions, United kicked off towards the South Stand. An early free kick to the U’s found Ben Knight who shot wide from outside the box. With the U’s on the offensive, Liam Bennett then fired in an effort which was saved by visiting keeper James Beadle. The visitors though were knocking the ball around nicely and in No 9, Kyogo Furuhashi had a forward of real pace and quality. Moments later Ducksch set up Roberts whose effort was blocked. Despite the visiting championship team finding their men with several precise passes, it was the U’s who looked dangerous when attacking. Indeed on 30 minutes after the ball ping ponged in the visitors area, the ball fell nicely for Ben Knight but from 10 yards he fired over the crossbar. Kyogo lashed a shot across the face of United’s goal after being set up by Ducksch. Then it was United’s turn to get ping ponged in their own penalty area. As the ball was cleared twice once by keeper Eastwood, the ball fell to Wagner whose shot took a deflection off Jobe and lifted over the grounded Eastwood and Bennett on the goal line was only inches away from heading clear as the ball hit back of the net for 0-1.
You had the feeling it had been coming as the Blues had upped their game but the U’s were still giving a good account of themselves. The impressive blond haired pocket dynamo Kyogo weaved his way into the box before setting up Ducksch who fired in an effort saved by Eastwood. United then shot themselves in the foot as Ibsen-Rossi was caught in possession on the halfway line for Kyogo to race away at lightning speed, as keeper Eastwood tried to narrow the angle, the striker found the net with a precise shot from just inside the box for 0-2. 2 minutes of added time came to nothing as the visitors led by 2 goals with the U’s needing to really up their game.
Moments into the second half and Klarer set up Kyogo whose lofted effort struck the outside of the post, that was really close. United were steadily getting into the game with the atmosphere and fog lifting by the minute. James Brophy was set up by Luke Bennett but his shot was charged down. Louis Appere then set up Ben Knight who sidestepped a couple of defenders before firing into orbit, Ben did not have his shooting boots on today. Knight showing some tricky footwork soon after fired in another effort but Beadle made a comfortable save. Liam Bennett and James Gibbons were each having good games on each wing and looked the best bet for getting the U’s back into the game. Swung-Ho (Ed: Who?) set up Doyle for the visitors but his shot was too high.
James Brophy raced down the wing in front of the main stand and set up Knight, once again though the young striker shot high and wide. On 63 United changed Brophy and Ball for Shayne Lavery and Sullay KaiKai. The U’s were really in the game now and were pressing hard. As always though against a higher placed opposition you had to take care when losing the ball as Birmingham had the ability to break fast. Iwater crossed for Koumas to head at goal but it was well saved by Eastwood. Gibbons crossed for Lavery to head at goal but Beadle saved low down. Shane McLoughlin and Ben Purrington replaced Gibbons and Mapanzu on 74. City replaced the live wire Kyogo with Fujimoto on 76. On 77 Neumann replaced Robinson for City, who was injured. United then pressed the self destruct button when a loose cross field pass from Ibsen-Rossi found City’s Doyle who had an easy pass to Ducksch who sidefooted home from 10 yards for 0-3. It was very sloppy play and did not do justice for the U’s who had played well attacking the NRE in the second half.
Barely a moment later though and following some great wing play by Appere who beat a couple of defenders then as the ball rebounded to KaiKai, he sidefooted home from 6 yards for 1-3. In his eagerness to get involved Lavery was caught offside in quick succession but the U’s were still pressing. Referee Matt Corlett then booked George Hoddle on 88 for a trip on Koumas. I have no problem with this but several similar tackles earlier had not warranted a card. Then on 89 United were right back in the game as a free kick from the halfway line found Jobe around the 6 yard box, the ball was headed back to KaiKai who fired home a terrific volley from 12 yards for 2-3. Was it really game on. 5 minutes of stoppage time saw Ducksch shoot wide for City. Then Sampsted replaced Koumas also for City before Ben Purrington headed narrowly wide. The referee blew for full time on 95 which seemed a little early to me bearing in mind the late substitution and time wasting at a throw in. The U’s losing 2-3.
There is no doubt that United lost to a technically superior team who demonstrated great passing ability and some real pace. The U’s were undone by silly errors at the back, Ibsen-Rossi may have benefitted from a shout by a team mate but later on no player should play a blind pass into the danger area. Once again though United’s obvious shortage of a towering forward was noticeable. There was though lots that was pleasing on the eye as the U’s battled hard to get back into the game. Star man I thought was Liam Bennett for his around display. Zeno Ibsen-Rossi will learn from events today as I thought that he has played well recently. Overall not a bad effort from everyone just a little short on class the visitors showed today.
Ref Watch – Matt Corlett – 7. Overall a good performance in which he allowed the game to continue. Always in control with positioning, pace and whistle of good standard. Thought he could have played on a little longer after a late substitution and some blatant time wasting.