Jumped up Varsity and the Case of the Dutch Groundhoppers





On Thursday I went to the match between Cambridge United and Oxford United in the Conference. The game was on Setanta and the Press were sponsoring the game, so I managed to get cheap tickets for the South Stand rather than the Newmarket Road End where I usually go when visiting the Abbey.

It was a little strange sitting with people who are more interested in drinking coffee than watching football and at the other extreme we also had a run in with the Dutch groundhoppers, who actually seemed quite cool for groundhoppers and were visiting the game after being at Blackburn v Bolton the previous night. The Brazilian drummers gave the whole evening quite a csmopolitan feel, but the football and the weather was about as far as you could get from the Maracana.

Oxford who had won their previous five matches started quickly and Adam Murray's goal on 9 minutes for the visitors was his 3rd shot on target.

The Us tried to respond, but weren't using the width of the pitch unlike their opponents. The second part of the first half was dominated by Cambridge, but Oxford defended in numbers and it didn't like they would be beaten. Cambridge must have been happy to see Scott Rendell return, but he was unable to penetrate the Oxford defence, especially as he was followed around wherever he went by 2 defenders.

Oxford had a chance to extend their lead just before half time when Danny Potter saved from Nelthorpe. Cambridge responded with an attack of their own when Robbie Willmott's cross was glanced just wide by Scott Rendell.

The Us came out fighting in the second half and both Willmott and Dan Gleeson squandered good chancs early on. Rendell also came close again with a header on 51 minutes, but Oxford keeper, Billy Tunley was equal to the shot. Oxford then ran up the other end and top scorer James Constable cleverly beat the offside trap, but again Danny Potter kept the Us in the game.

For the next 10 minutes most of the play took place in the middle of the pitch and the referee did his best to ruin the match with a couple of questionable free kicks and yellow cards being dished out. However all that was forgotten on 72 minutes when Cambridge captain Paul Carden hit his first goal for the club. It was probably goal of the season as well. He hit the ball from over 20 yards and it flew in the top right hand corner of the net.

Tempers flared in the last 20 minutes and the referee nearly lost control on more than one ocassion, but the game finished 1-1, which was probably a fair result.

Below the pictures of the clubs' badges are Andy Murray in blue putting Oxford ahead and Paul Carden celebrating his goal

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