A first half brace from the impressive Danny Wright handed Cambridge United a comfortable 4-2 win at Woodside Park this afternoon. Wright's brace came either side of an Adam Miller tap-in as the U's were 3-0 up within half an hour. The home side rallied, however, as the lively Salapatas pulled one back before Robbie Willmott re-established United's three goal lead. A late Scott Shulton goal added respectability to the scoreline for the hosts, but in truth United were never troubled as they strolled to a second successive pre-season win.
The game started in adverse conditions as a torrential downpour continued throughout the first half. This did not add to the quality of the tie, but did make for a more competitive fixture as both sides struggled to gain full control of the game. Adam Miller almost gave United the lead after just four minutes as he curled an effort narrowly wide of Nicky Morgan's right hand post.
Under heavy conditions the game became attritional, with both sides trading possession at will. And it wasn't until Danny Wright's 18th minute goal that a glimmer of class was shown. Adam Marriott showed his strength on the ball as he evaded a couple of challenges on the edge of the hosts' 18-yard box before pulling the ball back for Danny Wright to sweep the ball into the bottom corner. It was a good finish from the big striker, as he showed the composure to place his finish rather than opting for power.
United's second followed shortly after, but not before the back four were caught napping by a dangerously fligted ball into their box. The U's rearguard committed the cardinal sin of allowing the ball to bounce as a Bishop's Stortford striker read the play well and alsmost converted. Simon Brown was left stranded as the ball skidded off the slick surface and went just past his top left corner.
The vistors' repsonse was immediate, however. Conal Platt found the run of the effective Simon Russell who drew the 'keeper towards him before squaring the ball to Adam Miller for a simple back post tap-in for United's second goal in four minutes.
Two goals to the good, United did not rest on their laurels. They committed more to their attack threat, looking an incisive and dangerous side buoyed by the confidence of a two goal lead.
The U's added their third goal within half an hour, as Danny Wright latched on to Adam Marriott's pinpoint left-footed cross. Simon Russell was the architect of the move as he conjured a wonderful ball to play Marriott in behind the home side's defences. Wright showed his aniticpation and bravery as he intercepted the CRC striker's centre to put United comfortably ahead.
As United relaxed into a controlled and disciplined approach to see out the first half, a mistake from centre back Dave Partridge gifted the home side a glimmer of hope in the match. The former Welsh international found himself as the last line of defence, and allowed the ball skid past him off the greasy surface and brought down his man as a result. From the subsequent free kick, Simon Brown was forced into an acrobatic near post save as Shulton struck only for the rebound to fall to Nick Salapatas to rifle the ball in low past the recovering U's 'keeper.
United had to wait until the 72nd minute to restore their three goal lead, but came close prior to that through a Jennings one on one effort and attempted acrobatics from Simon Russell whose overhead kick did not find its mark. Wright came the closest when he flicked an effort off the bar following pinball in the hosts' penalty area, but it was substitute Robbie Willmott who opened up United's three goal lead once more when he took a well-weighted header.
Excellent vision from Paul Carden sent Conal Platt away on the right hand side, where the winger pulled the ball back on to his favoured left foot before delivering a teasing far post ball which Willmott bisected to plant back across goal and into the net.
Immediately following the goal came arguably one of the most important moments in United's pre-season, as summer signing Daryl Clare was introduced to hearty applause from the travelling U's fans.
And Clare was straight into the thick of things, first attempting to divert a speculative Willmott ball goalwards before putting a half chance wide with his weaker left foot. Clare admittedly looked rusty, and it may be some time before he is fully fit and firing, but his years of experience and natural eye for goal are a dangerous combination regardless of his physical fitness.
With the game meandering to a conclusion, United were again undone when looking to kill the half off. The hosts' goal came from nowhere, as Shulton picked up the ball near the dead ball line on the right hand side before rifling in a strike off the underside of a stunned Simon Brown's bar. Although Shulton may have been attempting to cross the ball, he struck it with venom and took United, and the entire 408-crowd at Woodside Park, by surprise.
As the full time whistle sounded, U's boss Martin Ling can take encouragement in a fixture which provided his squad a useful run out while United's attacking potency is there for all to see. All four of United's goals came as the result of excellent build-up play from United's attacking unit, with Danny Wright the stand out performer leading the line. Simon Russell and Adam Miller were granted freedom on the ball by the tireless performance of Paul Carden operating as the lynchpin of the U's midfield.
With just one week until the opening game of the season, the only question that remains of this Cambridge United side is a defensive one. U's boss Martin Ling does not appear to know what his first choice central defensive pairing is, and the U's looked, on occasion, shaky at the back. There were echoes of Tuesday night at Bury Town as United's rearguard were exposed by any well-directed aerial ball into the box, seemingly unable to deal with effectively winning the ball in the air.
But Martin Ling will reflect on another strong win for his side, once again scoring four goals and looking, for the majority of the game, genuine contenders for promotion for the coming Blue Square Bet Premier season.
Man of the Match: While Danny Wright and his compatriots in attack did an excellent job of dismantling their Blue Square Bet South counterparts, a great deal of credit for this performance must go to Paul Carden. The man with the armband put in a true captain's performance, as his combative, aggressive style paved the way for his more elegant midfield partners Simon Russell and Adam Miller.
16:53 - Elsewhere, the CRC have won by just the 9-3 in their first game of the season. The standout performer was Jordan Patrick with a hattrick.
16:47 - FULL TIME
16:44 - Nice little stat for you here. In the three matches I have presided over this pre-season, there have been a total of 16 goals. I know how to pick 'em.
16:43 - GOAL BISHOP'S STORTFORD 2-4 Cambridge United (Shulton). Commentator's curse in effect here. Shu
lton gets the ball out very wide and fires the ball in off the underside of the bar from nowhere. Was it a cross? Maybe. If he meant it it's an absolute screamer, and U's 'keeper Brown could do nothing.
16:42 - With under five minutes to go here, United seem to be shutting the game off with great effect as they caress the ball around in midfield. It would be lovely to see Daryl Clare nick one here at the end.
16:41 - Clare has half a chance as he gets in behind the Stortford back four, but he is wide, and his left footed shot looks understandably rusty as it goes harmlessy wide.
16:40 - Excellent long ball from Paul Carden sets Robbie Willmott away down the left. Willmott gets down to the dead ball line and pulls a ball across, which Daryl Clare can't quite direct goalwards under heavy pressure.
16:39 - 8-3 now for CRC, Liam Hughes on target. Goals galore.
16:37 - Daryl Clare plays in the centre of United's attacking three now, as Willmott and Platt are on the left and right wings respectively.
16:36 - Excellent ball from Salapatas sets Leon Antoine through on goal for the hosts. Antoine panics, however, and scuffs a, frankly, pathetic effort to Brown's feet.
16:33 - A couple of nervy moments for United as first Dave Partridge fails to shake off the attention of Duan Jackman, who gets a tame shot away at Brown. The experienced 'keeper bowls the ball out straight to the feet of a Bishop's Stortford winger on the right, and then has the temerity to raise his hands in the air imploring his back four to deal with the situation he just created.
16:31 - And here he is! Daryl Clare replaces Conal Platt. 15 minutes for Clare to show us what he's capable of for the U's. Meanwhile, Stortford restart with a free kick thirty yards out left of goal, hammered into the feet of the wall, and then again into the wall from the rebound.
16:29 - GOAL Bishop's Stortford 1-4 CAMBRIDGE UNITED (Willmott). Another one for the scrapbook of nice goals for United. Paul Carden seizes on a misplaced pass, and instantaneously sets Conal Platt away on the right. The winger cuts back inside before putting the ball on Robbie Willmott's head at the far post. There's still work to do for Willmott, who heads back across goal with a pefectly weighted header.
16:28 - Today's attendance is 408, I'm informed, as Robbie Willmott wins a free kick left of centre, about thirty yards out. Miller's effort never looks dangerous, curling harmlessly over the bar.
16:27 - Subtle shift for the U's, Conal Platt is now on the left of the attacking three with Willmott central and Gray on the right. These boys are fluid in attack, changing at will.
16:25 - Another one of those that would have been a yellow card in a competitive match. This time it's Brian Saah handing the hosts a free kick thirty yards from goal, and pretty much dead centre. The ball is fired in low, but Simon Brown has plenty of time to make a comfortable save away to his right.
16:21 - Half chance for the U's as Willmott cuts in onto his right foot and his cross ricochets to Simon Russell, who attempts and overhead kick. This is deflected away to Wayne Gray, who fires the ball into the turf which bounces into the 'keepers hands. The U's make their fourth change, with Sam Ives replacing Jonathan Thorpe. Smon Russell looks to be deputising at right back as Ives joins Carden and Miller in a midfield three.
16:19 - The U's have settled into a nice rhythm here at Woodside Park. They are enjoying the majority of possession and are controlling the ball well in midfield. Robbie Willmott has made an energetic introduction to the game, as he looks to stake a claim for a first team berth for our opening game of the season next Saturday at Wrexham.
16:16 - United make their first changes, as Josh Coulson, Robbie Willmott and Wayne Gray replace James Jennings, Adam Marriott and Danny Wright. Gray now leads the attacking trio with Willmott on the left and Platt on the right. Partridge moves across to left back with Coulson and Saah in the centre.
16:14 - Adam Marriott gets down to the byline on this left hand side, and pulls the ball back to the edge of the box. Simon Russell's effort is deflected away for a corner from 18 yards. The corner is floated to the back post by Jennings, but 'keeper Morgan does well to take a catch amongst a crowd scene.
16:11 - I've just had the delightful pleasure of informing U's boss Martin Ling that a Jordan Patrick hattrick has now put CRC 7-2 up in their league season's curtain raiser. Upon hearing the news, the U's boss made his way out of the Main Stand and back down to the touchline. It must have been something I said.
16:10 - Good work from Miller over on this left hand side as he pulls the ball back to the supporting Conal Platt. Platt's goalward effort is deflected behind for a corner. Corner taken by Miller eventually lands at the feet of Russell on the edge of the box, but his effort is deflected and cleared away.
16:08 - The hosts win a free kick thirty five yards from goal which Jason Mason blasts a long, long way over the bar. It's a shameful effort, and it's gone so high it may cause a disturbance in the airt traffic controller's box at nearby Stanstead airport.
16:07 - Our young scholars CRC now lead 6-2 courtesy of an Alex Bevan header.
16:05 - Young Jonathan Thorpe forays down the right hand side, and his attempted cross is diverted away for a corner. The corner is taken inswinging from the left foot of James Jennings, and the home side fail to deal with the ball which Adam Miller glances down into a ruck of legs. A United player, quite possibly Danny Wright, flicks the ball up onto the crossbar and it dinks away for a goal kick.
16:02 - The second half gets underway, with the home side kicking off playing from left to right. The skies have brightened up here, but hopefully the game will maintain its competitive edge.
15:59 - United come out first, and it's the same XI that played the first half. No sign of the hosts just yet.
15:49 - Cambridge United's young CRC side lead Woodbridge Town 5-2 in their first league match of the season. A Jordan Patrick brace the highlight of their afternoon so far.
15:46 - HALF TIME.
15:45 - Simon Russell and Adam Marriott combine to set James Jennings through on goal. He perhaps struggles to clear his feet, as he demonstrates why he's a full back striking a tame effort at the 'keepers legs.
15:44 - Dangerous ball across from the left from James Jennings is forced behind by the home side. Jennings trudges across to this right hand side to whip a left-footed ball across, but it fails to beat the first man and the hosts clear.
15:41 - GOAL BISHOP'S STORTFORD 1-3 Cambridge United (Salapatas) From the resulting free kick Stortford win the aerial battle in the box, and Simon Brown makes an excellent reflex save to deny Shulton. The ball falls back out to Salapatas at a narrow angle away to Brown's right, but the 'keeper is still recovering from his previous exertion, and the lively Stortford player fires in low at the near post from six yards.
15:40 - Error from Dave Partridge as he lets the ball skid through and is forced to bring his man down, wide on the right and forty yards from goal. What would be a certain yellow card in a league match is just a talking to here.
15:39 - The backtracking James Jennings concedes a free kick which the hosts take quickly. Nick Salapatas shifts the ball onto his right before trying a cross goal effort from the edge of the 18-yard box which Simon Brown does well to gather as the torrential rain picks up once more.
15:37 - United have shifted things around a bit (it had been a while) Danny Wright is now operating on the right hand side of our attacking three with Marriott now leading the line. Platt is now on the left. As soon as I have sent that update, Platt and Marriott switch back across, and Wright reverts to the middle. It's a definite ploy from Martin Ling, lets just hope that it keeps sides guessing all season.
15:35 - Simon Russell is playing with fire in his belly today. He motors forward on the ball towards the left before eventually losing out. Undeterred, he tracks the ball back down and puts excellent pressure on the advancing Bishop's Stortford winger Tyler Campbell forcing him into a mistake as the U's win the throw.
15:33 - The hosts come close to hauling a goal back, as Prestedge tries his luck from thirty yards out. As Simon Brown parries the ball, it falls to Scott Shulton, who is immediately, and correctly, flagged offside.
15:29 - GOAL Bishop's Stortford 0-3 CAMBRIDGE UNITED (Wright) Poetry in motion, and Simon Russell deserves a big pat on the back here. He wriggles through a couple of midfield challenges before releasing Adam Marriott down the left. Marriott's left-footed cross is met perfectly by the head of big targetman Danny Wright who gleefully accepts the gift for his second of the afternoon. United looking imperious here.
15:26 - United continue to apply the pressure here, as they win a corner on the right hand side. James Jennings fires the ball across with his left foot and, at the second attempt, the Bishop's clear their lines.
15:23 - GOAL Bishop's Stortford 0-2 CAMBRIDGE UNITED (Miller) United grab another after good work down the left from Conal Platt puts Simon Russell in behind. The fair-haired midfielder pulls the ball across where Adam Miller completes a simple tap-in at the far post. The U's looking strong, and two goal to the good.
15:21 - Harem scarem moment for United. Brian Saah gives away a needless free kick thirty five yards out. From the resulting free kick the U's back four are ponderous as they let the ball bounce right through narrowly missing Simon Brown's left hand post with the U's 'keeper stranded. United just seemed to switch off completely there.
15:19 - GOAL Bishop's Stortford 0-1 CAMBRIDGE UNITED (Wright) You love to see interplay like that from United. Perfect link up between Adam Marriott and Danny Wright as the young former CRC man holds the ball up well on the edge of the box before rolling it back to Wright who slots it home to the 'keeper's right hand side. Lovely stuff.
15:18 - Daryl Clare heads out for a light jog along the touchline in front of me, accompanied by the rest of the United bench, less 'keeper Danny Naisbitt.
15:16 - Danny Wright makes good progress down the right hand side, turning his man and showing a surprising turn of pace to get away from him. His ball across is cut out by the first man, however, and the attack breaks down.
15:15 - Route one from both sides here as the two 'keepers trade possession in a move that sums the match up so far. United look strong when they get the ball down and use their pace on the two flanks.
15:13 - Conal Platt, now switched over to this right flank, runs at his full back and draws the foul winning a free kick for United thirty yards from goal on the right hand side. James Jennings whips the ball in with his left, but this time Morgan rises to confidently pluck the ball from the air.
15:10 - Slippery conditions underfoot have contributed to a mistake-ridden first ten minutes in which United have had most of the ball.
15:09 - A reasonably open start at Woodside Park, but, Adam Miller's effort aside, neither team has looked like scoring. As I type, the U's win a corner on the left, taken inswinging by Adam Miller but headed clear. The ball falls to Paul Carden some thirty yards out, and he rifles and effort towards the top corner, which 'keeper Nicky Morgan parries away for a corner.
Corner taken inswinging by James Jennings is palmed behind for yet another corner to United. Miller fizzes the ball across and 'keeper Morgan looks uncertain as he punches away. Heavy pressure from United as the hosts eventually clear.
15:04 - United work the ball well down the right as Jonathan Thorpe gets forward well to assist Adam Marriott. He plays the ball across to Adam Miller on the edge of the 18-yard box, and the distinctive U's midfielder clears his feet before striking a ball just wide of the 'keepers right-hand corner. First chance of note goes to the visitors.
15:03 - In a manner now typical for United this pre-season, they appear to have lined up in a 4-3-3 in fact, with Adam Marriott on this right hand side as Conal Platt takes up the left of the attacking berths. That leaves a centre midfield trio of Adam Miller, Simon Russell and Paul Carden.
15:00 - The game kicks off, United in all white and kicking from left to right as I look. The home side are wearing their all blue home strip.
14:59 - As you would expect with the line-up, United shape up in a 4-4-2 formation with Russell on the right and Platt on the left.
14:58 - With that brief downpour having dissipated somewhat, the two sides take to the field. Today's pitch looks in immaculate condition, and that quick deluge will hopefully contribute to a quick and competitive game by slickening up the top-surface. Really, I just want the season to start now, I don't know about you.
14:48 - It's just started pelting down with rain here, normally the sort of weather you'd expect on a grim Tuesday evening away at Barrow. The United starting XI scamper back into the changing rooms perhaps just a minute or two early, but who can blame them with this torrent.
14:40 - It's a tidily arranged ground here at Woodside Park. Although it follows the more modern approach of being located a few miles outside the town of Bishop's Stortford, and on a building site nonetheless, the ground itself retains some charming elements with a large garden-style fence running around the perimeter.
14:31 - Once again it is John Schofield who is running today's warm up for United. It is very encouraging to see Daryl Clare joining in with the rest of the squad and going at a sprinting exercise as energetically and enthusiastically as any other player - is he the man who will fire in the goals to get United promoted this season?
14:25 - Just a quick reminder that U's fans will be able to pick up their season tickets from Martin Ling and the squad tomorrow at The Abbey before the players undergo a warm down session which can be viewed from the Main Stand. The season ticket collection will take place in the Dublin Suite between 09:30 and 10:30am as the warm down session commences at 10:45.
14:20 - There are a couple of familiar faces amongst the hosts this afternoon too, with Aiden Palmer who had a brief spell at left back with United last season and the man all the U's fans came to see, Stev Angus, who spent a couple of seasons at The Abbey back in the football league.
14:15 - The two teams are in, and as anticipated Simon Brown replaces Danny Naisbitt in goal as Paul Carden, Brian Saah and Conal Platt return. Mid-week hattrick hero Adam Marriott also gets a start as Josh Coulson, Robbie Willmott, Wayne Gray and Sam Ives all drop to the bench. And we may just get a first sighting of Daryl Clare in action; the striker is named amongst the substitutes.
Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Jonathan Thorpe, Brian Saah, Dave Partridge, James Jennings, Simon Russell, Paul Carden (c), Adam Miller, Conal Platt, Danny Wright, Adam Marriott. Subs: Danny Naisbitt, Josh Coulson, Robbie Willmott, Daryl Clare, Wayne Gray, Sam Ives.
Bishop's Stortford: Nicky Morgan, Matt Jones (c), Aiden Palmer, Jason Mason, Ritchie Jones, Stevland Angus, Tyler Campbell, Reece Prestedge, Duane Jackman, Scott Shulton, Nick Salapatas. Subs: Leon Antoine, Bert Greenwood, Lai Bas Lette Jallow, Kim Jin Gu, Kim Seok Beom, Jay Abberley, Ted Llewellyn.
14:05 - Good afternoon and welcome to Woodside Park for Cambridge United's final pre-season fixture of this 2010/2011 season. Martin Ling's side are just 90 minutes away from their curtain-raising fixture against Wrexham next Saturday, and the U's boss has one or two injury worries to content with. While messrs Saah, Carden and Platt all return today, Rory McAuley and Kevin Roberts remain sidelined. Clare will be joining in today's warm up however and has an outside chance at getting involved this afternoon.
Reporting by Matthew Caspell
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