If this had been a boxing match, the referee would have awarded the bout to Cambridge City, such was the battering they handed out to their opponents. But as we all know, it’s goals that count and much to the frustration and dismay of the City faithful there was only one for the Lilywhites.

Tiverton made the long journey from the southwest with an away record that could best be described as moderate: just one draw and two goals to show for their efforts. Their strikers had endured a spell even drier than East Anglia in September, moving manager Martyn Rogers to shuffle his team around to allow veteran midfielder Mark Saunders to lead the attack in the place of suspended Dale Griffiths.

City also had to make a change in their selection when central defender Lee Chaffey called off with a virus. Without the suspended Dave Theobald to call upon, manager Gary Roberts pressed Steve Gentle into action in defence, giving Lee Clarke the chance to make his first start for the club.

The Lilywhites started the match with tremendous purpose, fashioning three chances in the first three minutes. First Neil Midgley laid off a pass to John Frendo who side footed his shot from outside the box straight into keeper Steve Book’s arms. A minute later, Frendo managed to shake off the close attentions of two defenders before turning in a threatening cross which was hooked away for a corner and lastly, the best of the three chances occurred when Tom Pepper’s ball to Midgley was knocked down to the incoming Clarke who thudded his shot against the bar with Book more than slightly foxed.

But as is so often the case, the game was turned around against the run of play on five minutes when the Yellows embarked on their only attack of the half. Working the ball down the left, Cleverly drove in a low shot that Zac Barrett could only push out into open play. Alex Faux was the grateful recipient of the loose ball, hammering into the net and opening the scoring for the visitors.

As it transpired, this was to be Tiverton’s last meaningful foray into the City half until the 50th minute, more of which later.

It wouldn’t be fair to say that City were stung into action because they merely carried on where they had been before the goal went in. Almost directly from the restart, Adrian Cambridge came close to scoring an equaliser of his own making when his left footer from distance crashed into the right hand post, the ball rebounding to safety.

A minute later, Frendo had the first of a number of penalty shouts when he bustled through the defence and appeared to be pulled back. However, neither referee Mr Mackay nor his adventurously coiffured assistant saw any misdemeanour and play continued.

12 minutes in and City were again on the attack, this time raiding down the left where Frendo, Clarke and James Krause were giving Mike Booth a torrid time. Fuller took the ball from Krause, slanting his shot across the goal and wide. But surely with such possession a goal would have to come?

Clarke’s effort was saved on 14,  Cambridge’s shot was curled wide a minute later and Krause’s cross which was intended for Midgley was headed out for a corner on 16.

While all this was happened, Tiverton’s contribution was, to put it kindly, limited. Indeed had Nathan Rudge not entered the book on 23, there would have been literally nothing to record on the visitors’ behalf.

City forced a succession of corners, none of which really threatened the Tiverton goal. Perhaps the swirling and somewhat unpredictable wind that was buffeting the pitch made it difficult for the City attackers to time their jumps but whatever the reason, City had endless possession and nothing to show for it.

To add to the home team’s frustration, a 29th minute appeal for a penalty when Robbie Nightingale’s shot appeared to be handled in the box was quickly waved away.

Ashley Fuller had his chances too, blasting wide wastefully on 32 minutes and then as half time approached, saw his effort deflected for a corner. When the half time whistle went Tiverton must have thought that Christmas had come very early indeed. One attack, one goal and a precious lead.

In many respect, the second half was a carbon copy for the first. (For those of you under forty, find a proper grown up and ask what carbon paper was used for.) As in the first half, Tiverton had their only proper chance five minutes in when Saunders found himself in plenty of space and with time to spare. Fortunately for City, his lack of a striker’s instinct meant that he hurried his shot, slapping it well wide when the goal beckoned.

As the half progressed and an equaliser eluded City, so the frustration crept in to the game. Possession was occasionally surrendered and patience began to become a little frayed as chances went begging. Clarke showed what force he can be when he wriggled through on 51 minutes, curling in a low shot which Book did well to cover. Then Laurie Stewart forced his way through, pulling the ball back only to see Book there again. Was Clarke’s shirt pulled on 57 minutes as he tried to find a way through the box? Referee Mackay didn’t think so and that was that.

With nothing to show for his team’s efforts Roberts decided to change the personnel and formation. Steve Gentle reverted to his usually role up front, leaving Matt Haniver (on for Tom Pepper), Krause and Stewart as a three man defence. Craig Radcliffe replaced Fuller on the left and off City went again.

Finally the pressure paid off. On 80 minutes City were awarded a free kick 25 yards out from goal. After a brief consultation, Cambridge stepped up and hit a sweet shot towards goal which John Frendo had the presence of mind to deflect into the top of the net. The scores level, City were keen to go in for the kill. A Radcliffe cross found Frendo who couldn’t get any power on his header on 85. On 89, a cross from the right eluded all the incoming City forwards and was scraped out for yet another corner – but still no goal. And would Mr Mackay point to the spot when Nightingale went down in time added on? No, not today.

The final result was one that for very different reasons both teams were happy – reluctantly in City’s case – to accept. On a luckless afternoon with 80 scoreless minutes a single point was better than a defeat – but with just a little more rub of the green City could have been out of sight before Tiverton had drawn breath.

In many ways an odd game but none the less entertaining for that.  City continue their unbeaten nine match start in the league and showed their determination not to lay down against an opposition that was prepared to defend deeply. As for Tiverton, they will be more than satisfied at their chance-to-goal conversion rate. Two chances, one goal. If City could have worked to the same formula, they could have reached double figures.

An apology. Last week John Frendo was credited for setting up Steve Gentle’s goal. It was of course Robbie Nightingale who initiated the move and supplied the final pass.