Jockeys unseated by City double

Under beautiful blue skies, Cambridge City picked up all three points in their encounter with local rivals Newmarket Town. Both teams went into the fixture in less-than-ideal form, the Lilywhites were winless in four matches and scoring only once, while the visitors had lost three of their past four games. City were hoping to avenge their previous result against the Jockeys, with Newmarket prevailing 4-2 on a bitterly cold night in November.

Jack Thompson on his way to doubling City's lead - Photo: Ben Saich

The match got under way and it didn't take long for City to pose a threat to the Newmarket backline. It took just three minutes but Ramiah Mills was caught offside after a promising through ball by Jack Thompson.

Six minutes later, City were given a free-kick after Ben Robinson fouled Samrai Gebrai outside of the penalty area. As it was floated in, City's captain, Jayden Randell, popped up and flicked the ball agonisingly wide.

Gebrai was in again after 11 minutes, he beat the defence with a well-timed run, but James Young thwarted the young man's opportunity to break the deadlock.

After 16 minutes, the deadlock was broken. Newmarket had the ball comfortably in the back, but a mistake saw City pounce. The ball eventually found its way to Gebrai who fired home to give City the lead.

Newmarket then had a sustained amount of pressure for the next part of the match, which eventually culminated in a chance for James Moore. The no.7 lost the ball while on a promising run, but Efraim CO Romanos picked up the ball and saw his shot saved by the ever reliable James Philp.

Gebrai then had a chance to double his and his team's tally after 35 minutes. The City man had beaten the defence on the left-hand side but his drag-back was unsuccessful.

But, just a minute later, City did double their advantage. A slick move saw Jack Thompson on his own in the penalty area, and, with aplomb, slotted the ball through the legs of the Newmarket keeper to give City a deserved 2-0 lead.

Three minutes later, Gebrai had another chance to get his second goal of the game. It started with Junior Mubiayi on the right, who then crossed to Mills in the area. Mills then missed the ball and it fell kindly to Gebrai, but his shot flew over the crossbar.

Towards the end of the first half, Newmarket finished slightly stronger of the two. Firstly former Lilywhite Ally Conway, one of a few ex City players for the Jockeys, forced a save from Philp, and then thought he felt enough contact for a penalty but Oliver Sadd waved the appeal away. Then, four minutes later, they had another call for a penalty waved away after a handball claim.

 After holding the lead at half time, City went on the immediate attack in the second half. Alex Teniola, who took the no.9 shirt after George Smith had moved on, managed to get a shot away but it was saved by Young after a promising run down the right by Thompson.

After 55 minutes, Newmarket had their own opportunity to halve the deficit when they were awarded a free-kick after substitute Jacob Mingay was fouled outside the box. Josh Lee stood up to take it but sent the shot harmlessly over the bar.

Then Joe Robinson and Kacper Brzozowiec combined well to cross for the oncoming Mingay, the no.12 heading wide after 64 minutes.

Four minutes later, Will Gardner volleyed a ferocious shot wide after a mini goal scramble, and then Lee came down the right to lob the ball to Oscar Dean who's shot cleared the goal.

After City soaked up much of the pressure in the second half, they had their own opportunity after 75 minutes. Giani Ashley travelled with the ball down the right and had three players to aim for in the 18-yard area. The ball came to Mubiayi who, unfortunately, miss-timed his kick and volleyed straight into the ground, making it easy for Young to gather the ball.

Another couple of chances in the 82nd minute gave City's defence a good test. The first one eventually fell to Joe Robinson who shot over the bar, and the second one came from the left as Oscar Dean fired the ball goalwards. It was comfortably saved by Philp.

There were a few more chances left with full time fast approaching. The best chance came in injury time while City were looking for a third. Correy Davidson had been sent through and, as nobody else was in passing range, went for goal. James Young again providing the save.

After that, City held on for the win to grab their first win in five matches, and their 14th win in total. A result that sees the Lilywhites move up two places to 9th, largely thanks to Redbridge and Heybridge Swifts playing out a 3-3 draw on the same day.

Connor Taylor-Creek