Cambridge United 2011 / 12: The first two months

Hello Everyone

Well in what seems like an enternity I’m finally back with an update for my story after a upsetting week of family illness issues coupled with a very demanding work task that saw me having to send items to the US Virgin Islands though a big thanks to FedEx Canada for all their help. Anyway, on with the update..

We started the season off by throwing away a 2-1 lead allowing Tranmere to score in the 92^nd minute and this was followed by a very fortunate win over Swindon in the League Cup as they were reduced to 10 men in the opening two minutes with Fofana scoring the only goal of the game from the ensuing penalty. With that confidence building win over Swindon came a 5-0 thumping of Lincoln with Fofana bagging a hat-trick whilst N’Goma who wasn’t even selected could only watch his starting place slip before him in the stands. An organized Exeter City prevented us from repeating the performance over Lincoln and it was left to skipper Brian Saah to settle the game with a 30 yard strike from a cleared corner and will probably be the best goal he’ll ever score.

August produced another League Cup fixture as we were drawn at home to Championship side Burnley in the second round. Just as in the Swindon game the visitors managed to pick up a straight red after 20 minutes allowing us to take the lead through N’Goma with the numerical advantage. Burnely actually seemed to play better with 10 men and took the lead with two goals in the space of 4 minutes early just before the hour mark. With 20 minutes remaining I threw caution to the wind and went to an attacking strategy which produced the equalizer through Walcott and the sustained pressure on the Burnley goal Scot Wootten headed in the winner form a corner one minute from time for a great come from behind victory.

Just before our final game of the month the draw was made for the third round of the League Cup and once again we were fortunate to get another home tie though this time against Premier League side Blackburn Rovers.

The final game of the month was away to Burton Albion with both sides playing entertaining and attacking football though each goalkeeper was equal to the task and the game ended in a scoreless draw.

August Results

September started off with an easy “fitness friendly” win over Lowestoff followed by a captivating performance by Dorian N’Goma who scored one and set up the other four in a surprise 5-1 thumping of Aldershot at The Recreation Ground. We raced out to a 4-0 lead in our next game at home to Accrington with Turkish youngster Nadir Ciftci getting goals in the opening and closing minute of the first half. Following the interval the second forty-five was less than impressive but nonetheless it was a good solid victory despite conceding a goal ourselves.

A tough game at home to Shrewsbury was high on entertainment but low on goals as the keepers on both sides produced a string of miraculous saves. The deadlock was broken three minutes from half time with a long ball out of defence by LB Berichiche found Ciftci who coolly put the ball past the Shrewsbury keeper for the only goal of the game. A full house of 8,600 saw the arrival of Blackburn Rovers for our 3rd Round League Cup encounter. A catastrophic mistake by the Blackburn keeper gave us an early lead that we held to the interval but the visitors were too strong in the end and as we tired they found the winning goal in the 83^rd minute to knock us out of the competition.

Next up was a long trip to Torquay with the home side going ahead on their first attack of the game but that lead was quickly neutralized by Fofana. After an exciting first half that remained even MC Luke Berry put us in front with a stunning shot from 25 yards and that being his first ever senior goal. Heroics by GK Martin Hansen kept Torquay at bay and allowed us to take all three points. The final game of the month was back at the Abbey Stadium where 2 disallowed goals, that were clearly onside, were enough to demoralize the team which 22^nd place Morecambe took advantage of and handed us our biggest home loss ever in a 4-1 humiliation.

September Results

League Table

Despite that 4-1 loss we find oursleves in second place and will meet Colchester in our first game of October. Finally in this very short post here’s a look at our finances which are quite healthy at the moment.

Well that’s it for now and thanks for reading!