The weather was improving and so we hoped would be the form of the men in amber who have endured a long, frustrating and injury hit season so far. Signs of improvement had been in short supply recently but a crowd of 7068 including over 1450 from south London looked forward to the game, it was warmer but there will still plenty of showers about. For the U’s Knibbs and Ironside were back in the team. Conor McGrandles on loan from visitors Charlton Athletic had to sit this one out. The visitors won the toss and kicked towards the NRE, Sam Smith getting the game underway.
The early pattern of play saw Charlton knocking the ball around confidently, just what you’d expect from a team winning 4-1 on their last away visit to Morecambe on Tuesday. Inness for the visitors flashed a header wide following a cross by Fraser. What you don’t need when facing a team high on confidence is a gift of a goal. I’m afraid the main stand assistant was caught dozing on 14 minutes when Rak-Sanyi beat the offside trap to play the ball into danger. Trouble was, he was about 3 yards offside but he advanced and crossed for Leaburn to fire home from 6 yards for 0-1. United protests led to nothing of course around a couple of thousand people either side of play let the assistant know their feelings. Would you believe the same assistant was caught flat footed moments later and the visitors escaped another clearly offside position. Nothing came of this move.
United were playing statues as the impressive visitors albeit with their good fortune ran the game. Ryan Bennett was booked for an innocuous foul on Leaburn. It was the sort you see so often, make the foul look worse, get the free kick and your opponent booked then suddenly you are OK. Morgan crossed the free kick and the impressive Rak-Sakyi slotted the ball into the corner with no defenders near him for 0-2. It was simply not good enough. Harvey Knibbs headed straight at the keeper on 30 minutes with the home teams first attempt. Half time of a very poor first half came at 0-2, the visitors well in control.
United rang the changes with Seddon replacing Morrison, Worman replacing Knibbs, who didn’t look fit and Tracey replacing Smith who had been ineffective. Charlton replaced Leaburn with Kanu. Clare for Charlton shot high and wide with the half’s first real chance. Ben Worman had an effort saved at full stretch following good play by Jack Lankester now emerging from the shadows. Inniss headed over for the visitors as the U’s were not picking up their men. Then the U’s had a chance from Lancaster’s corner, Ryan Bennett fired in a header saved by the fingertips of Henry, but there was no man in amber close enough to fire into the gaping net. Joe Ironside, still not winning his share of free kicks headed wide from a cross by the lively Worman.
Rak-Sakyi had an effort blocked but with Brophy pushed forward and Jones & Seddon impressing, the U’s had upped their game at last. Moments after Bennett had headed over from a corner, the U’s were back in the game. Following a corner from Lankester, the ball was flicked on by Ryan Bennett for Lloyd Jones to fire over the keeper but under the crossbar for 1-2. Sessegnon and Killkenney replaced Morgan and Thomas for Charlton. To give the U’s some credit they fought to get back into the game. Liam Bennett set up Tracey whose shot was blocked. Charlton then replaced Campbell with Payne. Joe Ironside set up Lankester but he was forced wide. Shilow Tracey having an increasing influence on the game had another effort charged down. Lankester then crossed for Ironside to head over, but time was running out.
Steve Seddon was booked for a foul on Kilkenny before George Williams replaced Brophy. Bonne then replaced probable man of the match Rak- Sakyi for the visitors on 90. Fraser had a breakaway effort tipped over by Mitov at the south stand end. Despite 5 minutes of stoppage time, the U’s fell to another home defeat. The blame lays mainly on a poor first half performance. Winger James Brophy was no match for talented winger Raj-Sakyi. The change in formation to a back 4 at half time was timely but the opening back 3 in the first half was not the best plan for such confident visitors. Midfield today blew hot and cold, Knibbs didn’t look fit and last seasons hit shots Smith and Ironside appear not to know each other anymore. So it’s 1 point from 12 which is heading us in one direction. The players are playing for their careers, we can only hope for better before we finally stand on the trapdoor….
Richard Stephen