Date: Tuesday 15th July, 2008
Competition: Pre-season friendly
Weather: part cloudy
Goals:
City: Gash 18'
U's: Beesley 33'

It was honours even in the Cambridge derby after an entertaining pre-season match at Milton Road, but it would have been harsh for either side to lose on a night when football was the winner.

Starting line-ups:

Cambridge City:
Richard Wilmot, Nick Mountford (John Kyriacou 46'), Lee Chaffey, Neil Sharpe, Dave Theobald, Stephen Smith, Josh Simpson (Danny Spendlove 68'), Scott Neilson (Bourne 68'), Michael Gash (Roy Essandoah 46'), Drew Roberts (Neil Midgley 46'), Ashley Fuller (Mark E'Beyer 68').

Cambridge United (first half line-up)
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson (Pat Bexfield 71'), Matt Halliday (Josh Coulson 62'), Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin (Stephen Reed 62'); Andy Parkinson (Filino Jardin 62'), Paul Carden, Ben Farrell (Mark Convery 68'), Courtney Pitt; Lee McEvilly (Robbie Willmott 71'), Mark Beesley (Ramon Calliste 68').

Gary Brabin made three changes to the side that started at King's Lynn on Saturday, with Wayne Hatswell replacing Gavin Hoyte in defence, and Ben Farrell and Courtney Pitt starting in place of Stephen Reed and Mark Convery in midfield. Trialist Matt Halliday, a 21-year-old former Norwich defender, continued in the centre of defence.

City boss Gary Roberts named a side include no less than five former U's - Dave Theobald, Stephen Smith, Josh Simpson, Michael Gash and Ashley Fuller all wearing the black and amber earlier in their careers.

United fans were in fine voice at the beginning of the game, giving the air of a competitive rather than pre-season match. It was competitive on the pitch as well as a lively and entertaining half ensued, and the action was end to end at times.

City looked dangerous going forward but so did United, with Andy Parkinson (above) and Mark Beesley showing up particularly well, and the first half-chance arrived after seven minutes with Parkinson's through ball for Beesley but he couldn't quite bring the ball under control on the edge of the area.

The same two players combined down the right soon afterwards in a superb move, Beesley picking out Parkinson, but the winger's shot rebounded off a defender for a corner.

City were confined to their own half for a while and on 15 United went close when Wayne Hatswell met a corner kick with a downward header but the ball was blocked on the line, and as it looped back on the rebound he headed into the keeper's hands.

But after resisting the pressure City took the lead on 18 when Drew Roberts held off Hatswell in robust fashion and flicked the ball to Michael Gash whose first time shot from 18 yards emphatically beat Danny Potter.

United tried to hit back immediately and brilliant play by Parkinson found Beesley again, his neat step-over made room for a cross to the far post where Parkinson was stealing in but his shot was beaten away. On the half hour Gash was involved again when he controlled a deep cross on his knee but volleyed over, and on 33 United were level.

Beesley took a quick free kick just outside the area and played it short to Lee McEvilly, and he worked it on to Parkinson whose 15-yard shot was turned behind. From Pitt's resulting inswinging corner the keeper lost the ball under pressure from McEvilly and Hatswell's header looked goalbound but Beesley made sure, nodding home from inches out.

City then enjoyed a spell of pressure and on 39 minutes Dan Gleeson lost possession to Ashley Fuller as he tried to bring the ball out of defence, but the former U's winger hooked his shot wide.

United thought they had taken the lead as the half ended, Parkinson racing down the right and crossing for Beesley to tap home at close range, but the flag was already up to rule out the goal.

Half-time 1-1

While City made three substitutions at half-time, Gary Brabin lived up to his pre-match intention of giving players more minutes on the pitch and the same eleven resumed after the break. The quality of the game continued after the break although United's share of possession increased as the half wore on.

On 50 Beesley's quick feet fed the ball to Parkinson whose cross was cleared, and three minutes later City produced some good build-up play and Fuller found space for an audacious lob that drew a fingertip save from Potter to tip it over.

Two minutes later the lively Fuller was involved again, crossing to sub Essandoah who headed tamely wide. United were slightly on the back foot at this stage and Brabin freshened things up by sending on Stephen Reed, Josh Coulson and Dutch trialist Filino Jardin for Tonkin, Halliday and Parkinson respectively in the 62nd minute.

City also made three further substitutions six minutes later and their changes disrupted the pattern of the game more than United's, with the visitors regaining a foothold, enjoying more possession and looking more dangerous again.

Trialist Ramon Calliste (above) made a mazy run into the area in the 78th minute but slipped at the crucial moment and his shot ran wide, but a minute later he made another forward run, this time picking out Jardin cutting in from the right. The Dutchman's shot was blocked but only as far as Robbie Willmott, whose thunderous effort was also blocked.

United were looking the more likely to score and five minutes from the end Willmott met Courtney Pitt's cross from the left with a towering downward header, but it was parried and ran for Mark Convery whose shot curled inches over the bar. With time ticking away the last action of the match came as Reed's brilliant cross was met by Hatswell at the far post but his downward header drew another tremendous save from the City goalkeeper.

Full-time: 1-1

Att: 910

Ref: Mr Chris Francis (Little Downham)

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match: Mark Beesley - On a night of quality football he was still head and shoulders above everyone else. What a class player.

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