U's beaten 1-0 at Blunden PArk
The U's have lost 1-0 at Grimsby Town.
During a first half in which the U's probably edged, Tarique Fosu hit the post but it was the hosts who were ahead at the break.
Owen Garvan lost possession in the centre circle and Calum Dyson set up Sam Jones for a simple finish from close range.
The U's pushed for an equaliser, but the hosts held on for the win.
During a first half in which the U's probably edged, Tarique Fosu hit the post but it was the hosts who were ahead at the break.
Owen Garvan lost possession in the centre circle and Calum Dyson set up Sam Jones for a simple finish from close range.
The U's pushed for an equaliser, but the hosts held on for the win.
The U’s started the game on the front foot and it was they who had the first real sight of goal.
It didn’t come until the tenth minute and Fosu was inches away from giving the visitors the lead.
He was allowed acres of space to control and measure his shot from twenty five yards out, but saw his effort rebound off the post before being cleared by a home defender.
There was plenty of football being played by both sides but it was the U’s who were having the better of things.
Jamey Osborne did have a long range shot on twenty two minutes, but Sam Walker wasn’t troubled as it went well wide.
Two minutes later, Cameron James went forward on the right and after beating two players, threaded a pass through to Fosu just inside the box.
The U’s dangerman quickly turned and was denied by the feet of keeper James KcKeown deflecting it away for a corner.
From the set piece, a clever ball was played by Garvan to the edge of the box, but Brennan Dickenson’s left foot effort zipped just wide of the post.
The tempo of the game continued to be high but goalmouth action was at a premium for the next period.
That changed on forty three minutes, as the home side capitalised on Garvan dwelling on the ball to open the scoring.
Jones won possession, found Dyson and the home forward broke into the box before returning a pass to Jones to slide home.
That was the last action of the half, a half that the U’s had dominated but on elapse had cost them.
At the start of the second half, the U’s continued to press and a minute in, Tom Laspslie had a shot cleared off the line.
Porter was then inches away from converting a Dickenson cross and quickly after, George Elokobi headed wide from a Garvan free kick.
Fosu was next to try his luck, but his effort from just outside the box flew over the crossbar.
Sam Walker, who had been a virtual spectator in the second half, was called into action on sixty three minutes and saved comfortably from a Clements free kick.
Matt Briggs tried his luck from distance a minute later but McKeown saved at the second attempt.
Rekeil Pyke came on for Lapslie with sixteen minutes remaining and Kane Vincent-Young replaced Wright five later.
The subs combined with seven to go, but the latter’s shot lacked power and McKeown saved at the near post.
Fosu was unlucky with a far post effort from a Pyke cross, with the volley striking teammate Porter as it headed for goal.
The final chance fell to Murray, but his effort from twenty yards out was well over and the final whistle went on a 1-0 defeat for the U’s.
Points might have been lacking for the U’s but the performance was a definite positive ahead of the local derby at Cambridge on Saturday.