Early goal defeat for Bulls at Cambridge

Hereford United went down to an early Kwesi Appiah goal as Cambridge United defeated The Bulls by a single goal at The Abbey Stadium this afternoon.  In a match that, for over an hour, was largely a matter of containment United came to life in the final twenty minutes to create their own opportunities to score.

Marin Foyle At Kick-Off

Martin Foyle had to do without the departed Paul Green and Michael West who had returned to their parent Clubs providing inclusions for Sam Gwynne and Danny Pilkington while the bench was made up of most of the remainder of the injury hit squad.

Cambridge kicked off with The Bulls defending the goal in front of the visiting fans and were almost caught napping early on when Pilkington was slow to clear and conceded a corner which was headed away by Chris Bush.  Sadly, the alarm bell was not loud enough and The Bulls were a goal down on six minutes.

Cambridge worked the ball down the right and when it arrived with Appiah just outside the box he was given too much time and space and shot home from twenty yards.

Rhys Evans Can't Quite Stop Appiah's Shot

Hereford reacted well and Sam Smith saw a shot rebound off the foot of the upright before a Richard Brodie effort whistled into the side netting within a couple of minutes.  

Sam Smith Hit The Post With This Shot

Luke Berry then tested Rhys Evans but the Bulls’ stopper was able to tip over the bar before Brodie forced a corner on the left.  Pilkington’s low flag kick was dummied by Brown setting up Kinsley James but his shot was blocked.  On the break, Appiah laid the ball into the path of Harrison Dunk who screwed his effort well wide.

Evans watched another Dunk effort wide of the mark but the referee awarded a corner when Evans had clearly not touched the ball.  Another of those days?  After the fairly bright start, particularly from the hosts, the game deteriorated into some to-ing and fro-ing without either team really creating clear chances.

Was Brown Caught?

Chris Bush made good ground to release Pilkington but his shot was high and wide before Jon Brown picked up a yellow, presumably for simulation, when from the other end it looked as though he had been brought down after slipping the ball past his marker. As the half drew to a close, Kingsley James was on the end of a robust challenge that was to rule him out of the game early in the second period.

HT Cambridge 1 Bulls 0

Kingsley James With Champion's Knee Against His Knee - He Went Off After This Incident

James lasted just five minutes of the second half before making way for Rob Purdie who joined Sam Gwynne in centre-field.  Tom Champion was lucky not to be booked for a late one on Jon Brown but when Bushy was attempting to clear upfield he was carded for a so-called challenge on Berry who had come in from the blind side. 

Evans did well to smother at the feet of Berry before Champion saw a header go over the bar.  Sam Gwynne sent a cross-field ball out to Pilkington but The Bulls’ wide man was back on his heels and the ball ran for a goal kick.  Cambridge won a couple of corners that came to nothing as the game continued it’s increasingly mundane path.

Evans blocked a volley at the back post and Leadbitter headed clear on the other side as the hosts pressed without major threat.  Then with twenty-five minutes remaining, Foyle withdrew the ineffective Pilkington and introduced Dan Walker on the right flank to provide width and added pace.  

Chris Sharp Back After Injury

Chris Sharp joined the action in place of Gwynner made an instant impact and found Walker with a diagonal pass.  Walker’s cross was glanced just wide by Brodie.

Sharpie then tricked his way past a defender to set up Jon Brown but the shot lacked pace and home keeper Maxwell was able to gather easily.  Danny Leadbitter darted past two defenders to get in a fine cross and Richard Brodie was desperately unlucky to see his header fly just an inch or two wide of the near post.  

Brodie Unlucky With This Header

Jon Brown tried a speculative volley, which flew high over the bar as the fourth official indicated four added minutes.

Several more sorties towards goal by The Bulls were repelled before the referee ended the game with all but 178 of the 3381 grateful for the whistle.

FT Cambridge United 1 Bulls 0

HEREFORD:  Evans, Leadbitter, Graham, McDonald, Bush, Brown, Gwynne (Sharp 71), James (Purdie 51), Pilkington (Walker 64), Brodie, Smith. Subs not used: Collins, Odhiambo.

CAMBRIDGE:  Maxwell, Hughes, Coulson, Miller, Taylor, Hughes (Spillane 81), Berry, Champion, Dunk, Cunnington (Sam-Yorke 56), Appiah. Subs not used: Norris, Austin, Arnold.

For the first hour and a bit The Bulls appeared to be concentrated on a holding game with the hope of a good break-away and maybe a plan to push late for a goal.  The plan, if that’s what it was, worked well apart from the early deficit.  In truth, for all their possession, the hosts produced few on-target threats and it was The Bulls who finished the stronger in a final third that, with a bit more control, might have produced the desired result.

There is no doubt that the team is badly missing the strength, hold up play and guile of Michael Rankine while the worry will now be the new injury to Kingsley James whose recent return had coincided with the improved results.  Can someone waive a magic wand please?

See you at Macclesfield on Toosday.

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