City 2 C.U.P. 1

Friendly: Sunday 16th May 2010

For the last match of the season, Boreham Wood were meant to travel to Milton Road to play the boys in a friendly, but Friday night they dropped out.

So after a few phone calls and with great assistance from Dave Cullum of Cambridge University Press, their under 18s stood in for the final fixture.

C.U.P. under 18s had finished 2nd in their league and had players with Kershaw experience. So not only were they decent players, they had the two year age advantage too.

We lined up as follows :
WRIGHT, YOUNGS, WYMAN, GUY (c), SAPSFORD, FLACK, BROWN, HOBSON, NICHOLSON, DARLING, POOLEY, subs: BRANDON, SPENCER, DRISCOLL, HOWARD.

The opening period of the game was frantic and any thoughts that this might be an end of season stroll were soon forgotten. Tackles were flying in with BROWN and HOBSON in central midfield working overtime to stop the visitors playing.

We were playing neat football and both DARLING and NICHOLSON went close. Our back four of YOUNGS, SAPSFORD, WYMAN and skipper for the day GUY were in commanding form as they snuffed out most things that came their way. Wright was collecting all high balls into the box and was at his best at the feet of the C.U.P. attackers.

We took the lead in the 25th minute when FLACK found BROWN whose inch perfect pass sent NICHOLSON away and his fine cross was volleyed home by DARLING at the far post. We continued to play the ball around well and POOLEY up front was winning lots in the air as well as bringing other players into the game. The visitors did have a flurry of corners at the end of the half but we held on and took a deserved lead in to the break.

H/T City 1 C.U.P. 0

We made three changes at the break with BRANDON replacing WRIGHT in goal and HOWARD on for HOBSON and also DRISCOLL on up front in place of POOLEY. The visitors obviously received a severe talking to at half-time as they came out all guns blazing. The first 15 minutes of the half we were under constant pressure and BRANDON was called on to make a couple of very smart saves. Unfortunately from a corner the equaliser was bundled home. The pressure kept increasing and we survived with a mixture of good defending and good fortune.

SPENCER replaced the tired WYMAN and POOLEY came on for DARLING. Another change saw HOBSON replace the excellent BROWN as City went 5 in midfield to try and stem the flow of attacks. This seemed to work as the boys got more into the game and from a neat move involving HOWARD and POOLEY, DRISCOLL hit a rocket that smacked against the bar and to safety.

The game was now going from end to end, and we grabbed the winner with 6 minutes remaining. A long ball forward by YOUNGS found POOLEY who turned his marker and unleashed a fantastic shot from 30 yards that flew into the net. A goal worthy of winning any game. The 'PRESS' continued to come forward and after a brilliant save from BRANDON and a goal line clearance by SPENCER they were awarded a penalty. Fortunately they hit the upright and we held on to secure a fine victory.

F/T City 2 C.U.P. U18s 1

Although this was a friendly it was a fine football match, with both sides getting the ball down and playing and giving as much as they possibly could. For the boys it was a great way to end the season.

Manager Simon Youngs commented “It was a good performance and a very physical battle and with most of these boys going into mens football next season it’s exactly what they needed”.

Cambridge City Boys Section