The Weston Homes stadium in Peterborough played host to the first Cambridgeshire derby in over 20 years. As kick off approached the atmosphere was terrific as over 12500 fans including around 2300 from Cambridge got right behind their teams. Posh had recently been winning games and moving up the table and following a poor run of form those of us in amber were pleased to get back to winning ways at Wycombe on Tuesday.
Early stages of the game were end to end only punctuated by a number of posh players going down seemingly injured but soon getting back to their feet. A tactic that would repeat itself throughout the game. Joe Ironside fired in an early effort well saved by home keeper Bergstrom. Burrows of the home team fired a shot just wide after good work from Mason-Clark. Someone in the home stand then thought it a good idea to throw blue flares into the visiting fans enclosure. Not clever. Burrows had another effort blocked moments later, the ball coming off Zeno-Rossi for a corner. Burrows swung over the corner with Lloyd Jones and Paul Digby getting in a tangle with the ball going high into the net off Jones’s shoulder for 1-0.
As the home team sought further advantage Mason-Clark fired wide after being set up by Poku. The U’s were struggling in the middle and Burrows had another effort blocked. Kent had a header for the posh which was blocked, the U’s having to work hard to stay in touch. Butler had an effort saved at full stretch by Mannion as the hosts playing some good football were finding their men. However the U’s spurned a golden chance on 38 when Brophy who could have fired in an effort instead crossed for Knibbs to head over from 6 yards. Ironside was waiting just behind, it should have been the equaliser. Taylor had another effort for the home team, the U’s overworked defence clearing again.
Kent of posh became the first player to be booked for a late tackle on Lloyd Jones. Simper for United was booked moments later for fouling Fuchs. Poku for the hosts fired high and wide with a spectacular effort from outside the box. The half came to an end with the score 1-0 to the home tram, an unfortunate goal but the hosts had bossed the first half.
Both teams in the second half were playing towards their opposing fans. Lewis Simper for the U’s fired in the half’s first effort, posh’s defence blocking well. Jack Lankester then had an effort blocked, an encouraging start for the visitors. The lively Burrows fed by Taylor had another effort blocked for the home team. Before Mannion pulled off a terrific save to deny Mason-Clark. The alleged injury prone Clarke-Harris headed just over. As the hosts upped their game again Mason-Clark fired wide following a long pass. Like Knibbs in the first half he really should have scored. Taylor headed wide moments later before the same player shot wide.
The U’s then changed James Brophy, Lewis Simper and Jack Lankester with Shilow Tracey, Liam O’Neil and Sam Smith on 65. Shilow was in the game straight away but his effort was hurried and he fired over. Clarke-Harris then had a further effort blocked. Harvey Knibbs then robbed Kent on the half way line and fired in a shot from the edge of the box but it was saved by Bergstrom, again from such a good position it should have been 1-1. The U’s then found themselves on the receiving end of some debatable decisions, the main stand assistant flagged for an innocuous challenge by George Williams which saw the Cambridge man booked. Moments later as the visitors had more of the ball Paul Digby’s header was just to close to the keeper. Liam O’Neil was then harshly yellow carded for retaliation against Burrows who had blatently obstructed him on the half way line. Referee Oldham appeared to miss the first foul and the posh player disappeared into traffic.
Sam Smith had a snap shot saved before Clarke-Harris shot wide, the move following more good work on the break by Burrows. Kyprianou and Marriot replaced Clarke Harris and Burrows for the home team on 86. Then following a free kick, Cambridge fans were annoyed again following a clear foul on Jones by Marriott. Marriot went on hit the post with the follow up shot. It should have been a free kick though. Watts then replaced Mason Clark for the hosts. Moments later in stoppage time Knight replaced Butler. O’Neil had a final effort for the visitors but his effort went wide.
So the game finished 1-0 to posh, a team quite capable of playing good football but also appear to be good at ‘game management’ as I am informed. The U’s were lucky on occasions but missed a couple of golden chances to get a point following a lively end to end game. Disappointing to lose once again to an own goal after the same situation against Port Vale a couple weeks ago. Eight days now to the cup game at Curzon Ashton, I trust the injury situation will ease before then. The FA cup was very good to us last season.
Richard Stephen