football rambles

On Sunday we went to the Unwin to see Cambridge Women take on Cheltenham in the Qualifying Round of the FA Women's Premier League Cup. Things couldn't have got off to a worse start when Cheltenham went ahead straight from kick off. The first half in general was equally balanced though and on 38 minutes Nuala Wayne scored an impressive goal to put the sides level. Cambridge started the second half out in impressive form and they were having more luck playing the ball out wide than they did trying to play it through the middle on 48 minutes they were awarded a penalty after a foul in the box and Laura Bright stepped up to put the home team in the lead. After this it was all Cambridge and Faith Hewitt some how got the ball over the line on 58 minutes. Cheltenham were chasing the game after this and despite some more good wing play from Cambridge the game finished 3-1. They have been handed a home tie against QPR in the next round.

This happened way back on March 16th. The reason that I have been so slow in posting anything is that I was in Poland for work. It seems so long ago now, it seemed a better idea to post a video of the goals rather than to try and write a report from memory that made any sense. So here are the 9 goals that Cambridge got against Fulbourn in the semi final of the Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup.

On Sunday Cambridge Women took on QPR Ladies. It looked like it was going to be a tough game for Cambridge, who hadn't shown great for lately came up against a team who were unbeaten in 11 games and had a chance to go top of the South East Combination. QPR did come out firing on all cylinders and the Cambridge goalkeeper did well to keep them out. However, on 30 minutes a goal line scramble saw Laura Cooper put the ball in the net to put the visitors 1-0 up, and that's how it stayed at half time. Cambridge looked a lot better in the second half as they pressed for an equaliser, but it wasn't to be. QPR also threatened on the counter attack, but in the second half the two teams cancelled each other out. It finished 1-0 to QPR and they stretched their unbeaten win to 12 and went to the top of the league.

At the end of last season it was rumoured that Cambridge Women wouldn't be coming back to the Unwin this season. There are probably rumours that I have deserted the place though, as I am having to miss the whole of preseason because of a variety of reasons and the start of the season for a holiday. I was there last Sunday to play in a charity match and both myself and the Cambridge Women's team were there today. It was Cambridge's first preseason game and they probably weren't too confident about facing Gillingham who are higher up in the Southern Premier League. And unusually the game was divided into 3 thirds of 30 minutes. For the first 15 minutes Cambridge looked the better of the sides and the Gillingham defence looked far from effective. At the other end the visitors did seem quite useful though and had the best of the opening chances with a couple of clever moves that just ended up going wide. At the same time Laura Baker looked like she had the beating ...

Chesham players close in on a Cambridge midfielder The view of the cathedral from the Unwin Ground.

Chesham on the attack. A battle in midfield. Chesham turn defence into attack.

Cambridge header Cambridge take a corner. Chesham play the ball out of defence, again!

The Cambridge winger loses her marker. Chesham's first attack of the game Chesham clear their lines.

Yesterday Cambridge Women took on Chesham United Women in what could be the last game at the Unwin for Cambridge in what was their last home game of the season. The game was given an extra point of interest in that Chesham could clinch the league. We had expected for the visitors to perhaps run riot, as Ipswich who had easily beaten Cambridge last week had recently had 8 smashed past them by Chesham. The game however was very easily balanced and for most of the game Cambridge probably shaded it. However Chesham's defence was especially impressive. The visitors finally got the break they needed when on 58 minutes they managed to lob the Cambridge goalkeeper with a cleverly worked move. They almost doubled their lead one minute later, but hit the crossbar. They should really have made it 2 on 74 minutes, but the centre forward just rolled it to the Cambridge keeper. Cambridge had most of the play, but Chesham always looked the most likely to score. They took their chance and thei...

The two teams battle it out in midfield. Cambridge get a cross in. Cambridge take a corner. The Cambridge goalkeeper gets caught in the clash that led to a lot of bad feeling between the benches.

The Ipswich Keeper comes to collect the ball early in the first half. Cambridge hit the post early on.

Ipswich clear early in the first half. Ipswich get to grips with Cambridge in midfield. Cambridge take a throw in the first half. A Cambridge player loses her footing.

Yesterday me and Nadiya went to watch Cambridge Women take on Ipswich in the South East Combination League. I hadn't been for a while, well since the weather had got bad! But the weather improved on Sunday, so I thought I'd give it another chance and it wasn't a bad game at all. It seemed clear from the start that Ipswich were the stronger team, however it was Cambridge who had the first chance and a cleverly weighted shot nearly caught the keeper out but hit the post. Ipswich soon took the lead on 14 minutes and the player who scored turned to provider with the next chance of the match. However, the goal that was scored on 26 after a fine cross was ruled offside. Ipswich had another good chance in the half, just before half time, but this time they hit the post. Cambridge had been trying to put the Ipswich goalie under pressure, as she seemed to flap a bit when the ball came to her and some of her kicking was suspect. Nevertheless, she proved to be a good shot stopper on...

One tell tale sign of when you are going to see one team absolutely trounce another one is by looking at them in the warm-up. The team that is going to score a hat full of goals tends to be doing a good mixture of exercise and skills practice, where as the team that is on a hiding to nothing tends to half heartedly kick the ball around. The reason that I have made this observation is that on Sunday I went to Cambridge Women V Norwich City Women in the South East Combination. It was the second game that I have seen Cambridge Women play and despite the heat yesterday, on neither occasion have either of the teams been out on the pitch warming up. Yesterday the first half hour was some of the most lacklustre football that I have seen and neither of the teams looked like they were ready to play. Finally on 34 minutes something happened when a Norwich player was left unmarked and they took the lead. Cambridge then also woke up and on 40 minutes should have put the ball in an open net, bu...

Cambridge Players just before kick off View of the game with the cathedral in the background. Cambridge corner in the first half. Another photo from the second half. Cambridge corner in the second half. This one went just over the bar.

Yesterday Cambridge Women took on Crystal Palace Women at the Unwin Ground. After losing the possibility to play at the Cambridge Stadium the women's football team decided to move to Ely and they played their first game there yesterday. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but the sun was shining and was in sharp contrast to the thunderstorms of the day before, but it was free to get in, so there can be no complaints there. Unfortunately there wasn't much of a crowd, but with it being a bank holiday weekend and there being a distinct lack of publicity maybe things will pick up on the attendance front as the season progresses. Both teams went into the game on the back of defeats. Cambridge had lost 4-2 to MK Dons previously and Palace had suffered a 9-1 defeat at the hands of Chesham, so it looked like we were going to be in for some goals. We weren't disappointed either as Cambridge took a 1-0 lead in the first minute after making the most of a poor clearance by the...