A goal on his debut by on-loan striker Matt Nolan was not enough to secure all three points for Cambridge City on their travels, against highly placed Tiverton Town at Ladysmead. The visitors drafted in Nolan in preference to Darren Grieves up front, with Stuart Niven taking over from the suspended Robbie Nightingale in central midfield. The rest of the team was unchanged from the previous week

Lewis Baillie goes on a typically surging run forward

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The game began in dazzling late January sunshine and it was City that were quickly on the attack. With barely a minute on the clock, Lee Pluck lofted a free-kick deep into enemy territory. Tiverton, fresh from a disastrous midweek capitulation against Chippenham in the League Cup, showed early signs of panic in defence, presenting a decent shooting chance to Carl Williams on the edge of the box which the midfielder unfortunately dragged wide of the post.

The home side were visibly shaken by this as City went in search of an early breakthrough. On three minutes, Louis Riddle got down the left wing, crossed deep to the back post where the ball was collected by Nolan who intelligently layed it back for Williams to send in a pinpoint cross for Danny Bloomfield who rattled the crossbar with a powerful header. Tiverton were stung into action and made their first foray into the City half. A long clearance into the heart of the Lilywhites defence saw Lee Pluck slipped on the heavy surface allowing James Mudge a free run at goal and a shot which he hammered high over the bar.

Soon after, City squandered a gilt-edged chance to take the lead. Tiverton lost posession just inside their own half, quick as a flash, Stuart Niven found Bloomfield on the left with a delightfully weighted throughball. The striker scampered into the penalty area before shrewdly squaring for the unmarked Nolan, who had arrived in support. Disappointingly, with the goal gaping, Nolan could only plant his shot straight at the grateful home goalkeeper Stuart Fraser and the chance was gone.

Having spurned three good chances to put the game out of Tiverton’s reach in the opening minutes, City suddenly found themselves on the back foot as the home side attempted to take the game to them. Mudge scooped another chance over the bar in the 18th minute when well placed, before much vaunted new home signing Darren Edwards was allowed to run unchecked across the edge of the visitors’ penalty area. Luckily, at this early stage of the game, it was apparent that Tiverton had left their shooting boots at home as Edwards’ shot flew a yard wide.

New signing Matt Nolan tangles with Tiverton's Nathan Rudge

City finally made good their bright start as Nolan opened his account in the 22nd minute. Niven’s quickly taken freekick found the Peterborough loanee on the edge of the box and as the Tiverton defence stood and watched he evaded a half-hearted challenge from Jason Rees before calmly stroking the ball into the net. It was a reward for City’s early endeavours but the joy was to be short-lived. Within five minutes the home side were awarded a dubious penalty. Kevin Nancekevill meandered his way into the area, rode a couple of tackles, before tripping over the prone figure of Craig Pope. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot despite the protestations of the City players. Steve Winter converted the spotkick although Martin Davies was fingertips away from making the save.

Soon afterwards, home centre-back Nathan Rudge found his way into the referees notebook for a clattering challenge on Bloomfield which resulted in the City striker receiving lengthy treatment.

The start of the second-half saw Tiverton replace their ‘keeper, Ian Knott taking his place as the game got underway under a rapidly setting sun and lengthening shadows. It was Tiverton who carved out the first meaningful chance. David Steele played the ball up to Edwards and sprinted onto the end of a return pass. Unfortunately for the home faithful he ballooned his shot over the bar.

Most of City’s best work was coming down the left flank with Riddle and Lewis Baillie combining to great effect and on 64 minutes they produced a moment of real quality. Riddle produced some of his magic to bewilder Winter before crossing deep to the back post where Williams controlled, got the better of Steele and whipped in a pinpoint cross which the onrushing Baillie met with a spectacular diving header only to see his effort flash a yard over with Knott grasping thin air.

Craig Pope heads clear watched by Lee Pluck

The action switched quickly to the other end, Winter wasted another shooting chance, firing way off target. It was now end-to-end stuff, Riddle tried his luck from long range after being set up by Nolan, his shot although on target was comfortably saved by Fraser. Riddle continued to be at the heart of things. With a quarter of an hour remaining, his impudent backheal sent Nolan away down the left. Showing good skill, Nolan glided past three Tiverton defenders before sending in a flat cross to the near post where Williams was unable to force the ball home from close range.

City were now pressing for a winner with increased urgency. A minute later, a melee on the edge of the Tiverton box resulted in the ball breaking for Williams who clipped the ball first time a couple of inches over the bar. With both sides desperately seeking the decisive goal, the play became a little erratic. Baillie was booked for a desperate lunge and then Nolan joined him in the book, rather lucky to escape with a yellow card after appearing to kick out at Rudge as the pair tussled for possession on the touchline.

Gary Roberts introduced substitute Robbie Simpson as an extra striker and the youngster went close to wrapping up all three points four minutes from time. City took a corner quickly and Williams crossed for Simpson who whistled a shot full on the volley two yards wide with Knott at full stretch. An entertaining ninety minutes were brought to and end by the final whistle shortly afterwards.

City had to settle for a point from a game in which they had enough clear-cut chances to have won. However a point away from home against a good side such as Tiverton is very much a point gained.

Post match reaction