Last week over 1200 U’s fans made the trip to Sheffield and a similar number at the weekend went to East London. This week only around half that number came to the Abbey to see the young Brighton players. I guess the Cardigan Carl (any relation to Badders?) trophy doesn’t have the same pull!
U’s starting line up: Breeze in goal, back 4 of Perry, Bauer, Heffernan, Curtis. Hoddle and McLoughlin in front of the defence, Stead, Bangura-Williams and Heath in the middle with Efobi up front
Briggs, Appere, Moxon, Bennett, Bradshaw, Moxon, McConnell and McDougald on the bench.
Not much happened early on, I think the first free kick came after 19 minutes (to Brighton), they also won the first corner on 24 minutes then had the first shot at goal on 26, which looped to Breeze.
U’s won a corner on 28 which set up BHA for a quick break and the shot was blocked.
Our former player George Munday looked dangerous at times (especially when he fouled Heffernan), and had a shot saved easily by Breeze.
On 37 minutes Stead chased a ball into their penalty area, the ball bounced up and defender Barclay decided to pat the ball away with his hand for an obvious penalty, and a red card. Barclay is a 30 year old U21 player who should know better! Heath sent the keeper the wrong way to open the scoring. 1-0 on 38.
Losing a player really hurt BHA, and a few minutes later and the score doubled, RBW got the ball on our right side, took it forward to the bye line before cutting back for a curling shot into the far side of the goal. 2-0 on 43 minutes.
A couple more chances came and went, Hoddle having a shot hit the post.
Half time: 2-0
Bradshaw and McConnell came on to replace Bauer and RBW at the start of the second half, and we went to a back 3 and continued to put pressure on BHA, and within a few minutes after a series of corners the ball was cut back for Efobi to score. 3-0 on 48.
3 became 4 soon after when a good run by Heath set up Stead to score from close in on 53 minutes.
Another short corner set up a cross which was headed in by a defender, although the ball might have brushed a hair or 2 of Efobi on the way in on 64 minutes.
The scoring was completed on 68 when Stead tapped in a cross. 6-0.
Mcloughlin, Efobi and Stead were replaced by Moxon, McDougald and Appere on 69 minutes, and U’s continued to press and have shots saved/blocked or go just wide.
BHA did manage a breakaway when Munday got free just before the end with a run down our left, his shot saved by Breeze.
Final score: 6-0.
Three wins so we top the table which guarantees a home tie in the next round. Gillingham are second and still have to play Northampton. Gillingham are likely to go through unless they lose by a lot of goals.
Against 11 I think we would have won by a goal or 2, being 2-0 up at half time was really the end of the game. But it allowed fringe players to get some game time, and build the confidence of others.
Efobi had a great debut with a goal, and shows lots of promise, hopefully BHA will not want to buy him!
Stead shows he has the rare ability to be in the right place at the right time to score, lets hope he is fit enough for our first team soon.
It is always difficult to know how good any player is when they are playing a young opposition team. it was refreshing to see players rotating into different positions, at one time Heffernan was right full back with Hoddle centre back!
Next is a second cup match as U’s go to Bristol Rovers on Friday night in the FA Cup, I hope we saved a few goals for that game!