Greetings from Canada and welcome back to my Cambridge story.
The new month started off with another Manager award which I was well pleased about but really owed it to the great performances the players have put in over the past month.
Our first game of November saw the arrival of Gateshead to The Abbey Stadium and within two minutes we had the visitors scrambling to clear the ball off the line from a header by Traore. Continuous pressure saw a Gateshead defender put the ball past his own keeper to send us in front and youngster Danny Hoesen was unlucky not to add a second as his effort clipped the inside of the post and rolled harmlessly away. The second half was very uninspiring though we did hit the woodwork again but in the end had to settle for a very laboured 1-0 win.
A big crowd of almost 7,000 showed up as Cup Fever had gripped the town for the past week with the visit of Bristol Rovers for the First Round tie. Rovers started strongly as they looked for an early goal but Scott Wootton defended bravely and Bouzanis pulled of a number of saves in goal. I decided to change my tactic from balanced to rigid and within two minutes of the change a cross by Karl Moore from the left was met by a diving header by Will Hatfield and we were in front. Two minutes later ST Danny Wright won the ball in midfield and his pass caught out the Rovers defence completely and Shane Williams ran forward to meet that pass and his shot neatly beat the keeper. Rovers pulled one back just on the stroke of half time as we got caught too far forward leaving acres of space to create a goal. That goal lifted Rovers and they elevated their game dominating the second period but having replaced the strength of Fofana for the pace of N’Goma was enough to catch Rovers on the counter and Karl Moore added a third goal in the 82nd minute after N’Goma had sped away on his own to create the decisive winning goal and a memorable victory.
In interesting piece of media news saw the sacking of Dean Saunders from Welsh side Wrexham!!
After the excitement of the FA Cup was over it was back to the business of the BSP with a trip to Kettering. The home side were less than productive allowing us several opportunities particularly from the head of Scott Wootton who was unlucky not have scored a hat trick but it was a pass by Tawton which Danny Wright squeezed past the keeper the give us the lead going into the interval. A far less impressive second half saw the cross bar save us from throwing away three points and in the end the one goal proved enough for the away win.
Next up was the visit of Hayes and Yeading to The Abbey Stadium which turned out to be one of those matches that fall under the bore draw category except for Muatapha Traore breaking the deadlock with a headed in corner just before half time to at least give the home fans something to cheer about.
The following game was away to Southport and in front of just 800 fans. Scott Wootton headed us into the lead after just five minutes from a Karl Moore corner. Will Hatfield had a “hat-full” of chances throughout the first half put couldn’t put any of them away even from close range so we relied on the Wootton / Moore partnership to extend the lead early in the second half with another headed in goal this time from a free kick. RB Nicki Ahemd gave away a silly penalty to allow Southport a way back into the game but they couldn’t build on it and we ran out comfortable winners in the end.
It was time for our FA Cup second round tie away to Chesterfield and we got off to a dream start as Wootton headed in a goal inside two minutes from a Moore free kick. MC Shane Williams had an excellent chance to double the lead five minutes later after intercepting a pass but his shot went agonizingly wide in a one on one with the Chesterfield keeper. It was up to Scott Wootten to provide our second goal of the game this time from a corner but some statue like defending minutes later allowed the home side an easy goal going into the break. Chesterfield were keen to tie the game up early in the second half but we held firm and then extended our lead after Dorian N’Goma turned the ball into the net after the home side failed to clear a corner kick. We were so busy celebrating that we allowed a goal almost immediately which therefore made for a very tense finish with all the action at our end. Somehow we managed to hang on and are through to the third round where we will meet Derby County at Pride Park.
Results Summary
Thanks to Scott Wootten we ‘ve had another unbeaten month but there’s some concern over the lack of effort and contribution of my strikers who for the most part have disappeared off the scene and put in some very lazy performances.
League Table
Ther’s not much change in the title race. We are still top with Newport right on our tails but we are both beginning to pull away from the chasing pack.
Fixtures
Well that’s it for this post other than to say we have to play Histon yet again this time in the FA Trophy which will make the fourth time this season.
On a personal note I should probably get on and do my 2010 Tax Returns for Revenue Canada which everyone here is requried to do and file either electornically or like myself «old school» by paper and through the mail. Not my favorite chore of the year!
Josh Allen
19 марта, 2011 at 10:53
Still firmly at the top Kevin, you’re doing very very well. The gap is close, but I’m confident that you will stay there for the foreseeable future!
Josh
everythingthatisfm.blogspot.com
Kevin
19 марта, 2011 at 11:23
Thanks Josh,
I hope you are right:)
Laxeyman
19 марта, 2011 at 11:03
Good month again Kevin, the title race is still tight, but you’re in a great position to get promoted. I reckon you can do it, but you need to get your strikers scoring again. Good luck!
Kevin
19 марта, 2011 at 11:24
Cheers Laxeyman,
I’ve adjusted the training for the strikers so lets see if things improve.
Johnny Karp
19 марта, 2011 at 11:28
Well, if you got six straight wins with the strikers performing below par then we could imagine an even better run once they begin to play better (which they probably will at some point). Good luck with the tax returns, that seems to be more difficult than getting the title this season :)
Kevin
19 марта, 2011 at 13:11
Hi Johnny
You make a good point about the strikers returning to form and you are quite correct about the tax returns too :)
Darren Smith
19 марта, 2011 at 15:52
Hi Kevin, congrats on a fantastic month. Your side look unstoppable and are performing well in all competitions. I don’t know how Newport have kept up, but they surely can’t hold on for much longer.
Those tax forms sound like a real pain, I hate paying tax as I feel like I’m losing some hard earned money and don’t see enough back from the government for it. But at least I don’t have a tonne of paper work to do as well. I feel for you mate
Kevin
19 марта, 2011 at 19:33
Thanks Darren,
We seem to be really playing well right now and the passing and movement are great to watch. As for the tax I pay 22% to the Federal Government and 9% to Ontario. At least our version on the VAT is cheaper at 13%.
Sears
19 марта, 2011 at 21:33
Hey pal,
that was yet another excellent month and promotion should be the minimum target now. Well done.
Kevin
20 марта, 2011 at 08:07
Thanks Sears,
Promtoin would seem a reasonable target, at least right now .
Lye
20 марта, 2011 at 08:58
Hi Kevin,
Another fantastic month, you are just leaving the packs behind. Interesting to see Newport are keeping close. I believe you will just edge at this level. Good luck.
Kevin
20 марта, 2011 at 10:51
Hello Lye
Newport is interesting simply because I almost chose them instead of Cambridge as I was thinking of doing another Welsh team.
hils
20 марта, 2011 at 18:24
Hi Kevin,Great month there!!!!!!!!!!! You should carry on your good form!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
Kevin
20 марта, 2011 at 21:24
hils
thanks!!!!!!
Sayam Khan
20 марта, 2011 at 21:31
A lot of games won by 1 goal margins, great to know your grinding out results! Your defence must be great! Good Luck!
Kevin
21 марта, 2011 at 11:19
Hi Sayam
I’m a liitle worried about my defence but as long as the victories keep coming then that’s okay I guess?
Excessive
21 марта, 2011 at 08:59
Yeah, a few grinding 1-0 wins but your getting the points to make sure you stay firmly at the top of the table so who gives, as long as it carries on till the end of the season ;).
As stated, I dont think Newport will have the legs to keep up and you should be on for your first trophy with this Cambridge side.
Oh and unlucky about the tax form.. I’m sure they are a right pain. Only just starting to come to that stage now and already I’m forking it out, had to pay £60 for a 6 month tax disc for my car a couple of days ago?! They tax everything these days and honestly it seems like they piss it out the other end.
Anyway, that rant is for another day. Good luck Kev!:)
kevin
21 марта, 2011 at 11:32
Hi Jake
I’ll be keeping a close eye on Newport and 60 quid seems a little steep for six months, it was less than that for a whole year when I left the UK in 1993