Cambridge United: Oct / Nov 2012

Hello friends and greetings from Canada as I bring you another update in my FMS featuring Cambridge United. Before I go on with the story please rest assured that my game is free of any FMRTE? Genies’s? (if I’ve got that right) or any other kind of add on’s or editors. Any regular readers will know I’ve had so many computer problems that I don’t download anything except of course the game itself from Steam. With that out of the way let’s continue.

The first game of our Fall schedule saw us travel to Hartlepool where Conor Newton gave us the lead after just 5 minutes at which point we retreated like a tortoise into its shell and ended up back pedalling for the rest of the game allowing the home side to equalize and take two points from us.

We returned to The Abbey Stadium for our next Game against Bristol Rovers where unlike the tortoise performance previously we were more like raging bulls. Will Packard got things moving with a precision pass to Will Keane who fired the ball cleanly past the Rovers keeper like a young Michael Owen. Scott Wootten headed in the second after 21 minutes then Keane added his second meeting a low driving cross from strike partner Rasmus Falk. The young Dane would set up Conor Newton in a similar style for goal number four then deservedly got on the score sheet himself with Shane Williams acting as the architect. The second half was not quite as frantic but two further goals came both from the spot converted by Newton and substitute Jacob Walcott to complete an outstanding performance.

Next up was a JPT clash against Hereford where me made a judgement call and sent in the “reserves” who performed admirably and in the end were unfortunate to lose 2-1. We suffered the same fate in the following game at home to Brighton where poor marking allowed the visiting team to snatch the winner late in the game and leave us nine points adrift of leaders Brentford.

After throwing away our previous game we looked far more solid at the back for our trip to Watford with Rasmus Falk getting the only goal of the game with a superb individual effort. Substitute Oliver Nicholas made a last gasp tackle late in the game to ensure we took all three points.

Due to fatigue and with the exception of Scott Wootten it was a very different starting eleven that took the field away to Southend. It was a game highlighted by missed opportunities with Southend taking the lead against the run of play. Striker Davide Patrucci finally found his scoring touch coming up with an equalizer in the 70th minute.

At home to Norwich we fell behind just before half time when a defensive mix up allowed the visiting team to take the lead. Shane Williams fired home the equalizer early in the second half but it was very much a rear guard action that allowed us to secure a point.

We stayed at home for our next game against Gillingham with Jacob Walcott playing in the ML role giving us the early lead with a curling shot into the roof of the net after just four minutes. Fifteen minutes later a beautifully placed cross by RB Moloney was met of the volley by Walcott and it was 2-0. Gabriel Gomez got his first goal for the club after 30 minutes with a shot from inside the box and we took that commanding lead into half time. Gillingham would pull one back in the 70th minute but that goal was sandwiched by goals from Wootten and Nicholas who both headed in from set pieces for a much needed victory.

It was a very much energized team that took the field at Abbey Stadium for our first round FA Cup tie with Torquay United. Although the League Two team gave a good account of themselves it was first half goals by Gomez and Newton that secured the victory and allowed us to move on to the next round.

Next up was a trip to play 5th place Barnsley who sprinted out to a 2-0 lead within 30 minutes before MR Szczepaniak pulled one back to keep us in contention. The second half was highlighted by a series of missed chances by the front two of Falk and Ciftci and it was left to substitute Connor Newton to rescue a point for us late in the game.

The following Saturday we travelled to Wiltshire to play Swindon Town at The County Ground. We got off to literally a catastrophic start as Swindon laid siege to our penalty area scoring three goals in within the first twenty minutes with Rasmus Falk managing to put us on the scoreboard. A well worked play the left flank ended with well struck shot by Fofana into the roof of the net to initiate the fight back and we levelled the game through Falk who turned his marker and cleanly placed the ball past the keeper into the Swindon goal. Eleven minutes into the second half Shane Williams through ball split the Swindon defence and Fofana was on hand with curling shot that flew into the top right hand corner to give us the lead for the first time. The remainder of the second half was far less exciting than the first with the score staying the same but the fans enjoyed the trip back to East Anglia following a memorable come from behind victory.

The final game of the month was at home to Cardiff which lacked on goals but made up for it on end to end entertainment. Jacob Walcott managed to break the deadlock early in the second half with some fancy foot work that fooled both defender and keeper enabling us to take three valuable points.

Results Summary

We only suffered two defeats over the past couple of months and have played very well in our last 5 games which is encouraging.

League Table

Going into December we find ourselves in third place which is above expectations and if we keep up this good from perhaps a play off spot is a reasonable assumption as we head towards the mid point of the season.

Just a quick piece of other news, Alan Shearer who is one of my all time favorite players became manager of Leeds United.

Fixtures

We start next month off with an FA Cup tie against Barrow before a key game against promotion rivals Colchester.

Thanks for reading — enjoy your weekend and Ana good luck to Barcelona. Of course I’ll be supporting Man United whom I’m cheered for when won the old European Cup at Wembley back in ’68 and hopefully can produce the same kind of performance this time around.