football rambles

 Boxing day morning saw Ely take on Soham in the Fen Derby in front of a bumper crowd of nearly 300. Although they are fairly close to each other in the league, Ely have seen a number of departures and changes, so Soham went into the game as heavy favourites. Soham were also missing players, but it never really looked in doubt from the start. Sam Mulready opened the scoring for the visitors after they had had most of the pressure on 19 minutes. Ryan Sharman doubled the lead just before the break, but at this point Ely hadn't really got into the Soham half. Ely came out stronger in the second half and had most of the play in Soham's half, but never really caused any serious trouble for the Greens. On 86 minutes Luke Brown put the result beyond doubt as Soham caught Ely on the break and made it 3-0.

 A very cold day at the Abbey saw  the struggling Us take on table-topping Plymouth in a game that everyone thought was going to be an easy win for the visitors.  However, it was Cambridge who probably feel the most disappointed with the result. A result that sees them stay just out of the relegation places and sees Argyle slip to second as Ipswich beat Posh. This was a really good performance by the Us and in the second half Knibbs really should have put the ball in the back of the net and Sam Smith probably should have scored too. The Us had the better chances, but as has been so often in the last few months failed to convert the chances into goals. Not a bad result all in all, but a massive disappointment to see Cambridge draw yet another blank. 

 On Saturday we visited the Walks for a game between Kings Lynn and Hereford in the National League North. On paper it looked like it should be an easy win for the Linnets. However, they didn't have things all of their own way. Herford came quickly out of the blocks and Lynn didn't look like they knew what had hit them. They took the lead on 16 minutes through a Tyrone Barnett goal. After this Lynn grew into the game and created a few chances. Josh Coulson probably should have buried one to put them on level terms. That's not to say Hereford didn't also create chances. Christian Oxlade Chamberlain was pretty busy at right back with Hereford preferring to attack down this side. Nevertheless, despite being behind at halftime, you felt that King's Lynn had more to offer and that the game was far from over Lynn came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and it felt like things were going to change. Ken Charles eventually got the equaliser on 62 minutes. A Jorda

 This game was what looked like a six-pointer and unfortunately, Cambridge drew another blank. The Us continue their slide down the table and continue to fire blanks in front of goal. There aren't really any positives to take from this game - the fifth in a row that they have failed to score in. The defence looks solid enough, but the midfield lacks creativity despite there being a number of forwards who have proved that they can score at this level. Ironside and Sam Smith both look short on form or idea on how to get the ball in the back of the net though. Cambridge have a game in the FA Cup against Grimsby on Saturday, but I'll miss that as I'll be in London. The next league game is pretty imperative that they get something from when they travel to Forest Green. After that it's a tricky home fixture against league leaders Plymouth before touch away trips to Sheffield Wednesday and Derby. Things could get worse before they get better. 

 Another day another 0-0 draw... On Tuesday we went to see Cambridge take on Curzon Ashton in the FA Cup first round replay. The previous game between the two had finished 0-0 and then we witnessed Cambridge draw 0-0 on Saturday. However, our hopes that Cambridge would defeat a team in the 6th level of football and finally score some goals were swiftly dismissed. The game 3 days earlier against Bolton had been an entertaining affair, but this wasn't. Cambridge dominated possession, but on the very rare occasion Curzon managed an attack they actually looked more like scoring. Cambridge passed the ball sideways until they eventually got in the position to send in an ineffective cross and that was about it. In previous posts, I have called for the inclusion of Saikou Janneh and Sam Smith when they have been left out, but on this performance I can see why neither of them are starting league games.  18 shots and 8 on target, but none of them looked like going in. At least they finally p

 There was a big crowd at the Abbey on Saturday and a big result was needed, as the Us have really been sliding down the table recently. They didn't get a much needed win, but this was a far more tenacious performance and spirited affair than many recent games have been. As far as 0-0 draws go this was an entertaining affair with both teams registering a fair number of shots, but neither goalkeeper being unduly bothered. Harvey Knibbs should probably have given the Us the lead early in the second half, but on balance a draw was probably a fair result in what was quite a bad tempered affair. Tempers really did spill over when Kyle Dempsey was given his marching orders on 75 minutes and Wanderers were reduced to 10 men. Cambridge were unable to make the most of their advantage though and the game finished in a stalemate. A result that doesn't really help either team, as Bolton are now just out of the playoff positions and Cambridge are 3 places and 6 points above the relegation z

 I am not going to pretend to know much about rugby. I can follow it OK on TV, but rarely go to a live game. It was just this Saturday there was a train strike on and even if there hadn't been the only match on locally was Peterborough v Salford in the FA Cup, which if it wasn't for the strike I would have gone to. It finished 0-0 anyway and although the strike was cancelled at the last minute, I don't feel too upset about missing it. The other choice was Ely Reserves v Iselham in the cup, but I'd heard the Reserves had a depleted team and paying £3 for basically park football is a bit of a cheek. I have been catching a bit of rugby on TV lately and I have quite enjoyed the Gallagher Premiership and there have been some exciting games and finishes. For a while every time I watched a game there seemed to be far too much kicking and that had put me off. The game between Ely and Cantabs was entertaining enough, but the slippery conditions led to quite a few handling errors

 It's not often that I go to Peterborough and end up in the away end, but that's where we were on Saturday for the first Cambridgeshire Derby in 21 years. Peterborough entered the game as heavy favourites, as they will be looking to get promotion again, while Cambridge will be just hoping to stay up, and over recent weeks that has seemed a more difficult task than it was. That said, the occasion seemed to lift the fans and the away end was especially noisy as they did their best to raise the Cambridge team. Despite Cambridge's issues in defence, it is perhaps the forward line and lack of goals that might be of concern and Bonner can't seem to get Smith and Ironside firing in the same way they were. In fact Smith started on the bench after Harvey Knibbs impressed and got a goal in midweek. He really should have had a goal today too. The game itself was settled by a Lloyd Jones own goal on 18 minutes. Cambridge overall had better chances to score, but Posh definitely had

 I went to Birmingham for the weekend and visited the Villa game against what I thought was my better judgement, but this was one of the best games that I have seen in a very long time. After a 3-0 defeat to Fulham on Thursday Steven Gerrard and his poor tactics and team choices were long and over duly kicked out of the club. The game on Sunday saw Aaron Danks take over as interim and what a job he did. I optimistically predicted a 3-0 win before the game, but after just 14 minutes Villa were already 3-0 up. Brentford must have questioned their wisdom of swapping ends so that Villa were attacking the Holte End in the first half in front of an invigorated crowd and team. Leon Bailey opened the score with a  shot from distance in the second minute. In the 7th minute Bailey turned provider as he set up Danny Ings to make it 2-0. At this point Villa were attacking like mad and on 12 minutes Tyrone Mings was fouled in the box and Danny Ings got his second and Villa's third from the spot

 Last time I went to a Papa John's Trophy game, I vowed not to bother again, but here I was again. To be honest, it felt a bit more like a proper game, mainly because Ipswich brought over 1,200. They were already through to the next round so fair play to them. It was the first time in a while that I have seen Cambridge score in open play, so that also made it worthwhile. Both teams had fairly experimental teams out, so it was going to be hard to predict. At least I was given the chance to see if Janneh and Okedina would add anything to the first team. On this performance Okedina has, but Janneh is probably still best used as an impact sub, as doing it over 90 minutes looks like it could be an ask of him. Ipswich started off the more lively of the teams and Ibsen  Rossi and Greg Taylor were finding them difficult to handle in the opening encounters. That was all to change though when Kyle Edwards who was playing up front for Ipswich was controversially shown a red card for simulatio

 Another game, another defeat. That makes it four in a row for the Us. To be honest, apart from Bristol Rovers last week - who now seem to be showing signs of real improvement themselves - Cambridge probably didn't expect much. The other defeats came from Derby, Ipswich and now Sheffield Wednesday - probably the three biggest teams in the division. That said, what happened against Wednesday was a bit hard to take given that it was pretty much self-inflicted. Lee Gregory gave the Owls the lead after only 6 minutes when Greg Taylor basically assisted him by heading the ball into his path. This put Cambridge on the back foot early on and highlights the first problem.  Cambridge have struggled with the centre back position recently. Ibsen Rossi more or less handed Derby the win and I have really not been impressed from what I have seen of him. He was mugged off more than once by Arsenal's teenagers for example. Clearly Mark Bonner also has reservations as he has replaced him with G

 On Saturday we took the long trek across country from Ely to Bristol. Another weekend of train strikes and no other games that were remotely interesting anywhere that we could have got to led to us making this decision. That said, I had been planning one mental away trip and as this one was at least winnable on paper it seemed like worth going to. However, taking the coach did mean that we left at 7:30 am and got back at midnight. The Bristol Rovers ground is  worth a visit, if just because it is so weird. Understandably the one stand looks like a rugby stand given that for most of its history Memorial Stadium was the home of Bristol Rugby Club.  The stand opposite the away end at least resembles a traditional terrace To the left of the away end is something that looks more like a cricket pavilion And then you have the away stand and one next to the cricket pavilion that look like the type of temporary seating that you might see at a carnival or parade. As for the football, as I'v

 A train strike on Saturday saw us go down the road to Ely City rather than venture into Cambridge for the game against Derby and it wasn't a great experience.  Ipswich had 7 shots and scored 5, with Ely looking particularly weak on their left hand side. Ely scored late on, but it wasn't really enough to give the result a mark of respectability. 

 On Saturday we visited a new ground, but Enfield FC - not to be mixed up with the breakaway club Enfield Town play in Bishop Stortford rather than in Enfield, where they share Woodside Park with Bishop Stortford. With nothing much happening locally for us, it was a good opportunity to get to an FA Vase match at a new ground. In all honesty, it was a pretty one sided game and the Es were good for the win. They started off applying a lot of pressure on Hackney Wick and Dwade James gave the hosts the lead on 19 minutes after Ayo Odokuyo had done all of the hard work. It somehow remained 1-0 at half time despite all of Enfield's efforts. The second half carried on in much the same way the first had ended. On 48 minutes, Enfield got a deserved second when Grosvenor scored from a Warman free kick. A Cockman header made it 3-0 in stoppage time and despite the goal coming late 3-0 still flattered Hackney Wick.

 After the disappointment of the Ipswich away game being off last week this was probably as equally disappointing. Michael Duff out-though Mark Bonner in this game and hopefully this is a blip like the Lincoln at home last season rather than a sign of things to come. Barnsley were impressive in this game, but Cambridge offered very little going forward and even before the game, I thought that Joe Ironside would have been better off starting rather than Sam Smith given the way Barnsley were set up. However, even his introduction and Barnsley being down to 10 men after Liam Kiching was sent off wasn't enough to stem the tide.  Barnsley originally took the lead through Devante Cole and Robbie Cundy and James Norwood added to the issues after Ironside had been introduced and Barnsley were down to 10 men.  If Norwood can get his fitness and form back, it could be a good season for Barnsley. Cambridge need to have a bit of a rethink though after a couple of losses and some games against

 So this was the third trip in a week to the Abbey, as Cambridge took on Lincoln City. Last season, this fixture was one of the worst home games with Cambridge going down 5-1. Conversely the fixture away at Sincil Bank saw the Us win 1-0 with a last minute goal from Joe Ironside. It was Ironside who put the Imps under the cosh again. Ironside scored on 24 minutes and 27 minutes and it was a comfortable victory for Cambridge. A lot more comfortable than the Burton game. Despite only having 37% of possession and two shots on target, this felt like a really comfortable win.

This was my first trip to a Football League Trophy aka Papa John's Trophy game and it might well have been my last (can't completely rule out Ipswich at home in it though!). After the excitement of the game against Burton on Saturday, this was a bit of a lacklustre affair. Only a quarter of the ground - as expected - was open and there were a lot of part-timers taking their opportunity to see future Gooners in action. I can't say I knew any of the Arsenal players and Cambridge rang the changes to give some of the fringe players a go. I am really hoping that Rossi doesn't get near the first team any time soon, as he was turned inside out time and time again by the Arsenal attack.  Arsenal dominated most of the game and it was only the introduction of first team mainstays Ironside, May and Knibbs that really looked like creating anything, but at two down with 25 minutes left they were unable to change the U's fortunes. The damage had already been done though with two

 An early contender for match of the season. Saturday saw Burton Albion and their under-fire manager Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink visit the Abbey and despite a bright start things don't get back for the Brewers. They started off very strongly and set-up from kick-off with what looked like a fool-hardy 0-3-7 formation. We were laughing on the other side of our faces a few seconds later though when Gassan Ahadme put the visitors ahead on what was the first attack and with less than a minute on the clock.  As seems to often be the case with Burton though, they don't like to make things easy for themselves. On 10 minutes Johnny Smith was given his marching orders for an off the ball incident and despite being a goal up the Brewers were going to be playing with 10 men for 80 minutes. It seemed imperative that Cambridge put something on the board before the break and it was with some relief  when Sam Smith, who was looking to play Joe Ironside in somehow scored from a cross to give the Us