Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather: Sunny
Goals:
United: Rendell 90'
Ebbsfleet: Moore 42'
Cambridge United snatched a point from the jaws of defeat with a headed equaliser coming from second half sub Scott Rendell, who calmly nodded home the rebound of Mikey Hyem's piledriver which crashed off the underside of the bar.
Jimmy Quinn made two enforced changes to the side that drew 0-0 at Woking two days ago, calling up Gavin Hoyte and Stephen Reed in place of injured midfielders Danny Brown (ankle) and Darren Quinton (dead leg). Hoyte returned to the left of the back three, alongside Mark Peters and Michael Morrison, while stand-in captain Mark Albrighton advanced into a midfield holding role alongside Reed, Rob Wolleaston, and wingbacks Dan Gleeson and Courtney Pitt.
Ebbsfleet kicked off towards the NRE and straightaway with his first touch Stephen Reed gave up possession cheaply to the dangerous Mark DeBolla, who luckily left his shooting boots in the changing rooms, blazing high over Danny Potter's bar. A minute later a crunching tackle from Peters on Moore set up an attack with Gleeson taking up the loose ball and playing in Lee Boylan, whose marker did just enough to nudge the ball away for a corner, which was duly cleared. On the five minute mark some smart solo play by Rob Wolleaston saw him quickly turn McCarthy and fire a shot in, only for Fleet 'keeper Scott Tynan to smother the ball easily.
The next phase of play saw the U's find the back of the net, only to find the assistant referee's flag waving in the wind and denying Lee Boylan a third strike of the season. Another deep cross from Gleeson was met by the head of Fortune-West, and as the ball cannoned of the post Boylan was the quickest to react to slot the ball neatly home, unfortunately deemed offside by the linesman.
The game became a scrappy affair as Ebbsfleet set out their defensive stall with hopes of hitting Cambridge on the break. The U's were trying to break down the stern defence, and on 13 minutes Michael Morrison almost succeeded with a long ball which just evaded the right boot of the ever aware Boylan.
The first hint of Ebbsfleet danger came just before the 20th minute, Dan Gleeson dithering on the ball and allowing Moore to dispossess and beat him to the by-line. Moore's smart cutback found an unmarked Chukki Eribenne, five yards from goal but luckily for Cambridge the former Weymouth man panicked and hit a weak shot into the palms of Potter. The U's 'keeper let his defenders know in no uncertain terms his displeasure and reminded them of their defensive duties.
The wind in their sails after the glimpse of a goal, Ebbsfleet pushed on and after Gleeson had fouled Moore the visitors had a set-piece 25-yards from goal. Mark DeBolla curled a beautiful shot which looked destined for the top right hand corner before Potter acrobatically flicked the ball over the bar after diving full stretch through the air, much to the appreciation of the Cambridge support.
What DeBolla could do, Hoyte could do almost better. Given space to run into, Gavin Hoyte shaped to cross from 35-yards but instead crashed a shot off the crossbar, leaving Tynan stranded on his six-yard box.
More scrappiness ensued for a spell as both teams gave up possession cheaply and a finicky referee disrupted play with merry whistle blowing for seemingly very petty offences. Seven minutes before the break, after Potter collected the ball from a cross, Fleet striker Moore waited a few seconds behind the U's 'keeper before running past him and aimed what looked like a flick of the boot at Potter. A mini inquest between the two players was held before referee Marginson had words with both. Things became more heated two minutes later when McCarthy crudely smashed into Boylan from behind to earn the first yellow card of the game.
With the game seemingly petering out to half-time, Ebbsfleet hit United with a suckerpunch to take the lead. Stacy Long took the ball infield from the left and played a smart ball to Chukki Eribenne, who neatly passed to Luke Moore, who, appreciating the space offered by the Cambridge defence, curled a lovely shot into the top right hand corner of the goal, beating Potter all ends. 1-0 Ebbsfleet United. Moore, earlier barracked by the home support for his clash with the goalkeeper, proceeded to celebrate in front of the NRE but the referee saw fit not to intervene.
Half time summary - Ebbsfleet came with a plan to stop Cambridge playing, and did so with great effect, Moore scoring a cracking goal into the bargain. If Cambridge were going to get anything from this game, they had to start passing the ball properly and retain possession better. All too often it was easier for United to hit long balls up to Fortune-West, who wasn't having one of his better afternoons.
Second half - Cambridge kicked off the second half still bathed in the sunshine that had been blazing all day long, and, obviously stirred by some harsh words from Jimmy Quinn, United looked more urgent and purposeful.
Within two minutes of the break a pass from Albrighton found Fortune-West with his back to goal about 15 yards out. He swivelled, he shot, but the tame effort was met equally by Tynan. In the 50th minute Ebbsfleet forced two quick corners and had McCarthy judged the second one better, his free header at the far post could have put his team two goals clear. Cambridge were holding possession a little better but Gleeson compounded an off day by getting himself cautioned for pulling back the ever elusive Moore as he broke down the left wing.
Just before the hour mark Quinn rang the changes, taking off Fortune-West for a vibrant looking Rendell, immediately into the action hassling and harassing the Ebbsfleet defenders. Five minutes later Long and Micheal Bostwick were booked within 30 seconds of each other, the pressure starting to tell as Cambridge pressed on. Smith was brought into the action for the excellent Gavin Hoyte, unlucky to be the one sacrificed for a more attacking outlook.
With the Ebbsfleet players dubiously going down injured and looking to take their time over every set play, the U's fans were growing frustrated, urging the referee to take action. On 68 minutes the lively Rendell forged himself a chance after Wolleaston gave him the ball with his back to goal, and his turn and shot was deflected for a corner. Reed played the set-piece and as bodies clashed Chukki Eribenne was laid prone on the six-yard box. As the Fleet players urged the referee to stop play, Rendell found himself played onside by the injured Eribenne but his double shot was easily saved both times by Tynan, who was fast becoming Fleet's man of the match.
Minutes later Stephen Reed fired a long range free kick just over the crossbar as Ebbsfleet were living a charmed life in front of the goal. By now Ebbsfleet were failing to find ways to keep the ball upfield and tried to waste even more time with players dropping like flies with cramp.
The best move of the game came on 79 minutes, Courtney Pitt skinning the full back Hawkins before delivering a delicious curling cross which agonisingly evaded both Boylan and Rendell and the relieved Ebbsfleet defence. The final substitution was made with eight minutes remaining, and what an inspiration it was.
Young Mikey Hyem replaced Stephen Reed and it was the link between substitutes Smith, Hyem and Rendell which led to the U's equaliser, deep into the five minutes of injury time. Gleeson, on the right, played the ball inside to Smith who beat one man and passed to Hyem, 25 yards out with the whole of the Abbey screaming for him to shoot. He duly did, and his effort crashed off the underside of the bar, seemingly bouncing six inches over. Rather than leave it to the inconsistent officials, Scott Rendell made sure by following up and gently nodding past the stricken Tynan. The Fleet defence cried offside to no avail and the Abbey erupted, delighted at snatching a point from defeat.
Cambridge Utd:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Peters, Gavin Hoyte (Stephen Smith 67'), Dan Gleeson, Stephen Reed (Michael Hyem 83), Mark Albrighton, Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt, Lee Boylan, Leo Fortune-West (Scott Rendell 60).
Subs Not Used: Luke McShane, Josh Coulson.
Ebbsfleet Utd:
Scott Tynan, Warren Goodhind (James Smith 72), Paul McCarthy, Peter Hawkins, Chris McPhee, Maek DeBolla, Micheal Bostwick, Stacy Long, George Purcell (Daniel Slatter 58), Chukki Eribenne (Raphael Nade 71), Luke Moore.
Subs Not Used: Lance Cronin, Liam Coleman.
Booked:
United: Gleeson foul 58' Albrighton foul 89'
Ebbsfleet: McCarthy foul 40', Bostwick foul 65', Long dissent 69'.
Att: 2,974 (away 129)
Full time report - Whilst not playing at their best, United showed true character yet again with another late showing against stubborn opposition. Ebbsfleet will feel hard done by, but many believe justice was done after the Fleet players seemed to have an epidemic of injuries and an affliction which made them take goal-kicks and throw-ins very, very slowly, especially in the second half. Positives were the never ending fighting spirit and inspirational substitutions made by Jimmy Quinn, the negatives were the waste of possession blighting the U's yet again. This can be considered a good result as many felt this would have been a game Cambridge would have lost last season.
Man of the Match:
Gavin Hoyte - Superb for the 65 minutes he was on the pitch. Wowed the crowd with some crunching tackles, good distribution and almost snapped the crossbar in half with his first-half piledriver. Honourable shout for Scott Rendell's second half cameo, making himself a nuisance for the Fleet defence, and of course for being aware enough to notch the injury-time equaliser.
Referee:
Chris Sarginson - It was too much to ask for another good refereeing performance from the excellent referees we've had already this season. He went from a fickle, petty, whistle happy referee to one who very nearly lost control in the second half. He commanded no respect from the players, failed to deal with the blatant Ebbsfleet timewasting and infuriated the Cambridge players with some very bizarre decisions. One harks back to the referee at Oxford last season when thinking of this performance. 1/10.
Chris Vessey
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