Cambridge United came back from 3-0 to claim a point in a thrilling draw with Tamworth at the R Costings Abbey Stadium.
Martin Ling's men seemed to be down and out after three pieces of poor defending saw the visitors take a commanding lead. But after Robbie Willmott had reduced the arrears from the penalty spot, substitute Jordan Patrick cut in from the right flank to score a superb solo goal and make it 3-2. Then another substitute, Adam Marriott, netted his first goal of the season with a sublime chip from the edge of the box to level the scores.
It was harem-scarum at both ends in the final minutes, but United were unable to find a fourth and are left to reflect on what remains a momentous comeback.
The U's were without injured captain Paul Carden, but started brightly before Tamworth hit the front against the run of play. United half cleared a left wing corner, but when the ball was delivered into the box for a second time Danny Naisbitt made an unconvincing punch, deflecting the ball back across his own goal to the unmarked Danny Thomas, who had time and space to rifle a shot into the empty net.
It was a goal that rocked United's confidence, and they allowed the visitors to score a simple second in the 30th minute. Stefan Oakes long free kick drifted in towards the far post, where Kyle Perry beat Josh Coulson and nodded the ball past Naisbitt from six yards.
Martin Ling switched to a 4-4-2 formation at half time, and United improved a little after the break, with Simon Russell seeing a shot cleared from near the goalline by Richard Tait, and Danny Wright volleying wide from inside the six yard box. But when a goal finally came, it was the visitors who got it, Coulson failing to cut out a long ball, allowing Thomas a free run on goal. The winger kept his cool to beat Naisbitt with a finish high into the net.
Jordan Patrick joined the action shortly afterwards, and he was involved as Willmott netted his fifth of the season from the penalty spot. Patrick and Kevin Roberts worked an opening down the right, with the latter crossing for Wayne Gray, whose knock down found Wright, who saw his goalbound shot blocked by the hand of Aaron Mitchell. The referee pointed to the spot, and Willmott dispatched the penalty to the keeper's left.
And the comeback was on eight minutes later, as Patrick recieved a pass from fellow-sub Marriott, slalomed in from the right touchline before beating Atkins with a vicious low shot in at the near post.
Tamworth were rattled, and it was left to Marriott to put the icing on the cake 60 seconds later. The young striker controlled the ball on the edge of the area, shuffled past one challenge before dinking a delicious chip over Atkins and into the net, despite the efforts of the defender on the line.
Both sides had chances in a frantic finish to the match, with Patrick being denied by Atkins, but in the end a draw was probably a fair result.
Man of the Match: Jordan Patrick. Changed the game after coming on as a second half substitute, and what a way to score your first goal for the club.
FULL TIME CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3 - 3 TAMWORTH
16.53: There goes the full-time whistle, United with an amazing comeback to take a point when they looked down and out. Superb goals from substitutes Patrick and Marriott have sent the home crowd home happy.
16.52: Last minute of stoppage time and it's a corner to the U's. In it comes and it's headed clear, that should be that. Here's one last chance for Partridge to lift the ball forward but it's through to Atkins.
16.48: United corner on the right, but it's clear and Tamworth can break, there's a lot of space for Wilkinson and he spoons his shot wide. Four minutes to be added.
16.47: Marriott and Patrick combine again, the former feeding the latter, who sees his shot parried away by Atkins.
16.45: United work it patiently into the area, where Gray controls with his back to goal but can't get his shot in and Tamworth survive.
16.42: This game is so open now, a cross from Bradley zips across the United box before being cleared, and play is straight up the other end with Willmott attacking the Lambs backline, and delivers low and just too far for Marriott.
16.41: Willmott with the cross that's just to high for Wayne Gray. The attendance at the Abbey is 2,809, with 66 away supporters.
16.38: The Abbey is rocking now, United need to keep calm though. Tamworth to make a change, with Perry departing to be replaced by Bojang.
16.36: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 3 - 3 TAMWORTH. Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable. The ball drops to Adam Marriott on the edge of the box, who keeps his cool, checks past a defender and aims a delicious chip over the keeper which the defender on the line can only help on it's way into the net. Fantastic stuff from United's young subs.
16.33: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 3 TAMWORTH. Get in there, fantastic strike from Jordan Patrick, who receives Marriott's pass wide on the right then weaves into the area before planting a shot in at the near post. Fifteen minutes to go and, unbelievably, United are back in this.
16.32: Tamworth eating the clock up with aplomb at the moment, going down all over the show and winning time-wasting free kicks. Marriott comes on for Jennings as United go for broke, switching to 3-4-3.
16.28: Such a shame Tamworth got that third goal out of nowhere, because United have been brighter in this second period. Perry goes for goal from distance and clunks one well wide.
16.25: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 3 TAMWORTH Roberts and Patrick work the ball into the box, Gray nods it down, and Wright's shot is blocked by the outstretched arm of a defender, penalty! Willmott to take, and finds the net to the keeper's left. He went the right way did Atkins, but couldn't get there.
16.24: Tait slips over, giving Willmott a free run down the left, but in an encapsulation of United's match, he overruns the ball and it goes out for a goal kick.
16.21: Wright powers into the area and steers a cross low into the six yard box where a defender shins the ball inches past the post. Pushing in the area as Jennings corner comes in, and that's a free kick. First change for United, with JP replacing Stavrinou.
16.19: Jennings tries his luck from distance, and only lands a shot in the South Stand.
16.17: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 3 TAMWORTH. Unbelievable, woeful defending again, and United are dead and buried. Long ball forward completely missed by Coulson, and Thomas strolls through before finishing confidently high into the net.
16.16: This is much better from United, and now they've got another corner on their right. Jennings to take, we need to make this possession count, but that's no good, too much whip on the corner and Atkins takes an easy catch.
16.14: Panic stations in the Tamworth defence as Gray's cross is helped back into the dangerzone by Russell, and Wright's flick is put behind for a corner. Willmott's set piece is easily dealt with.
16.12: Unbelievable, glorious chance for Wright, who had been fouled near the touchline to win a free kick. The defence failed to deal with Willmott's set piece, and the striker, all alone six yards out, toe poked wide when it looked easier to score.
16.11: At last a bit on inspiration from Russell, who checks inside to latch onto a good pass from Willmott, and delivers a curling cross-cum-shot towards the far post which is nodded off the line by Tait with Gray closing in. Much better from United, perhaps that'll be a catalyst.
16.09: Stavrinou down recieving treatment, but he's been helped to his feet and appears to be ok to continue.
16.07: United launch a free kick into the box, but Tamworth deal with it despite the efforts of Coulson and Gray.
16.04: What does seem to have happened is that Wayne Gray has pushed on alongside Danny Wright, with Simon Russell going wide right in a 4-4-2 setup.
16.03: The team's are back, no changes as far as I can see. United need a come-back of Spurs-esque proportions here.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 2 TAMWORTH
15.49: There goes the half time whistle, United haven't been this bad at home for some time, Ling's men are second best all over the pitch. The U's have a lot to do to salvage anything from this game, perhaps the ever-thickening fog is our best hope.
15.47: Two minutes to be added and Tamworth have a free kick by the corner flag after a foul by Roberts. This could be dangerous. Oakes cross finds Perry, who fires over on the turn.
15.43: I'm not typing much at the moment because there's nothing much to talk about. In fact if anyone looks likely to score again, you'd have to say it's the visitors.
15.40: Wright looking a bit isolated at the moment, I wonder whether Ling will consider switching it to 4-4-2 at half time and bringing Platt or JP into the action. Clearly something needs to change.
15.37: Russell tries to get things going for United, and is chopped down by Wylde. Free kick to United, which Roberts delivers but Tamworth clear. Easily. And it's all too easy at the moment for the visitors.
15.34: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 2 TAMWORTH. I don't believe it, more atrocious defending from a set piece and Tamworth are in command. A straight forward ball into the far post, where Kyle Perry beats Josh Coulson all ends up and nods past the static Naisbitt from six yards.
15.33: YELLOW CARD. Jennings slides in on Bradley, clattering the Lambs man to the ground. Yellow card for intent more than anything else there I think, but a good position for the Lambs to deliver.
15.32: After four minutes of midfield nothing-ness, Tamworth come forward, working the ball infield from the right to find Smith, who curls a shot wide. Naisbitt had that covered.
15.28: Unsurprisingly Tamworth are happy to slow things down now, and as a result the game has lost a bit of it's flow. United need to better going forward, they look rattled at the moment.
15.24: Shame that for the U's, who had started well, they have a corner now though, with Roberts' cross having been blocked behind. Jennings to take from the U's right, right into the six yard box, the keeper doesn't get there, but neither do any of the inrushing amber shirts.
15.21: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 1 TAMWORTH. Tamworth have a corner now, and they're in front! United sort of deal with the initial cross, but it comes back in and Naisbitt misdirects a punch back across his own goal, and with defenders conspicuous by their absence, Danny Thomas has time to slot into the empty goal. That was a bit shambolic.
15.20: Good play from Russell, who intercepts a clearance and dances to the byline before his cross is blocked away for a corner. The ginger genius takes himself, and lays it off short to Willmott, whose cross finds the arms of Atkins.
15.18: Mitchell's back header falls short, but the big defender recovers will and improvises with a diving header back to Atkins with Wright in close attendance.
15.15: Wright fouled and Willmott has a chance to deliver a free kick from wide, but that's headed away at the near post.
15.14: Willmott off the pitch recieving treatment, and Tamworth are looking to take advantage of the massive gap on our left hand side, until Mackenzie uncharacteristically hits a pass straight out of play. Willmott back with us now.
15.10: Nice move from United, Russell spreading play to Gray, who delivers low but the keeper grabs ahead of Wright. Just. Tamworth are soon on the attack again though, and Roberts has to make a superb diving block to foil Thomas.
15.09: First chance for Tamworth to apply some pressure, they launch a free kick into the box but there's some pushing and it's a free kick United.
15.07: The U's keep the pressure on, Gray holding the ball up on the edge of the box and teeing up Wright, who drags his shot wide.
15.06: Willmott makes a good burst down the left, and delivers a deep cross which Gray heads back across goal but Wright can't get a shot in and Tamworth half clear the danger.
15.03: United's first attack breaks down, and Tamworth counter with left back Barrow, who strides forward but sees his shot deflected through to Naisbitt.
15.01: Minute's silence immaculately observed, it was also for remembrance day apparently. United kicking towards the NRE in the first half, and will get us underway.
14.56: The teams are out, it's not a pleasant day. We're going to have a minute's silence in memory of Paddy Sowden, legendary United coach from the Ron Atkinson era.
14.48: Could be interesting today with both teams playing similar formations, I think Tamworth will have Thomas and Bradley supporting Perry in the same way that Willmott and Gray support Wright for United.
Cambridge United: Danny Naisbitt, Kevin Roberts, James Jennings, Josh Coulson, Dave Partridge, Alex Stavrinou, Rory McAuley, Simon Russell, Robbie Willmott, Wayne Gray, Danny Wright. Subs: Simon Brown, Conal Platt, Sam Ives, Adam Marriott, Jordan Patrick.
Tamworth: Ross Atkins, Richard Tait, Scott Barrow, Michael Wylde, Aaron Mitchell, Jay Smith, Stefan Oakes, Neil Mackenzie, Danny Thomas, Kyle Perry, Daniel Bradley. Subs: Tom Marshall, Seb Lake-Gaskin, Jake Sheridan, Ben Wilkinson, Bakary Bojang.
14.25: TEAM NEWS: One change for United, with Paul Carden having failed to make the 15 as he continues his recovery from the persistant hamstring injury which has dogged him recently. Alex Stavrinou is his replacement, while Conal Platt is fit to take his place on the bench.
Tamworth have ex-U's man Neil Mackenzie in midfield, while new signing Bakory Bojang is among the substitutes. I'm always a bit wary when the opposition sign an unknown player with an exotic name, he could be the next Igor Latte-Yedo.
Martin Ling: "Since Fleetwood I've seen a real improvement in our play. The games we've got coming up in the next couple of weeks are both winnable on paper, but of course football isn't that easy. The unbeaten run has come to an end and now we have to start another one.
"I think three of the promotion spots are already gone. You've got AFC Wimbledon, Crawley, and Luton at the top of the league, and I think they'll be the top three come the end of the season. Beyond that there are two spaces up for grabs, and a lot of teams vying for those places, including ourselves."
Tamworth manager Des Lyttle (speaking to the Tamworth Herald): "They might be hurting from that [the Huddersfield match] or motivated by it but, however, they are feeling doesn't concern us We can't be worried about how they are feeling, we just have to focus on ourselves.
"Our performances in the league haven't been too bad. We are not too far away but need a little bit of luck here or there and just need to show that little bit of quality at key times."
14.00: Good afternoon everyone and welcome to this afternoon's Blue Square Bet premier encounter between Cambridge United and Tamworth. After Tuesday's FA Cup heartbreak, United are looking to put the Lambs to the slaughter this afternoon and pick up another three points in the Blue Square Bet premier.
Cambridge United: YOUR CITY - YOUR CLUB
Make Your Click Count For The U's - talk about it on the Message Board!
You are respectfully reminded that any article, as with all content on this website, unless otherwise stated, is subject to copyright © and the Official Cambridge United Website must be acknowledged as the original source including all quotes.
WJ151010 web@cambridge-united.co.uk
