Cambridge Taught A Lesson By Eastwood

Last updated : 06 August 2008 By Kev Monks in Cambridge
CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-3 COVENTRY CITY BY KEV MONKS

Team
Ireland,Wright,Fox,Ward,Dann,Tabb,Beuzelin,Gunnarsson (Thornton 84),Gray,Best (Simpson 67),Eastwood (McKenzie 72). SNU Turner,Hall

Cambridge United
Potter,Gleeson,Tomkin,Hutchison,Hartswell,Beaseley,Pitt,Rouse,Convery,Coulson, Parkinson

HT CUFC 0-2 CCFC FT CUFC 1-3 CCFC

Goals Freddie Eastwood (12 & 56),Danny Fox (26), Ben Farrell (78 pen)

Att 1751 (416 Cov)

Man Of The Match Freddie Eastwood just pipped Danny Ireland in the votes
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GROUND
A trek through a farmers field to reach what was the Abbey Stadium. The away end is now a covered stand as is the main on the right. There is terracing along the other two sides.


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CITY SUPPORT
Just over four hundred, watched the game in bright sunshine. Plenty of noise and support for the players but we do need an original song for Freddie Eastwood.

Happy Birthday to the City supporter at the back of the stand who announced to all in the 7th minute that it was his birthday.
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Freddie Eastwood scored twice as City won 3-1 at Cambridge United.

This friendly was part of the deal that took Robbie Simpson to the Ricoh Arena and it had been well documented that the U's had felt stitched up over the £40k transfer fee.

In an attempt to claw some extra cash,they decided to hit the supporters and charged £17 for on the day (City did not take any tickets before hand unlike West Ham and Everton), adult admission. It was however,not a plan dreamed up by an economist from the city's renown seats of learning, as many City supporters simply stayed away and there was only 416 City supporters behind the goal which the Sky Blues defended in the first half,when at least 750 would have normally travelled.

Keiran Westwood's name was announced to the crowd but it was Danny Ireland who was in goal for the Sky Blues.


With a strong back four including the hard working Stephen Wright who,it is hoped will sign this week, Ireland did not have much to in the early pressure from the Conference side.

In the 11th minute,a timely intervention by Dann gave the home side a corner. Leon Best cleared and the ball eventually fell to Freddie Eastwood a couple of yards outside the penalty area.

A nifty bit of footwork created some space and the red booted £1.5m signing from Wolves bagged his first goal with a drive that Potter had no chance of getting.

Again,City's passing was excellent, thanks to the vision of Beuzelin and the impressive rugged determination of Gunnarsson. In fact,in the 22nd minute,one move which led to a corner featured twelve short passes.

Best and Eastwood were always a threat and in the 26th minute, Eastwood raced through before being brought down outside the area.

Cambridge formed a wall,but it was of no use as Danny Fox simply curled the place kick high into the net.

Best had the ball in the net seven minutes later but it was ruled out for offside.




In the 36th minute, we were treated to a rare sight as Eastwood clipped a fifty yard pass straight to the feet of Leon Best.

Best's cross went wide as did one from the hard working Tabb and Fox as we went into the interval.

Chris Coleman made no changes at the break and watched on as Eastwood raced through only to be thwarted by the feet of Potter.

The Basildon Boy may have been denied but he was not in the 56th minute. This time,Leon Best danced past a defender to get ina shot which was blocked and there was Freddie Eastwood to hook the ball into the net from six yards and delight the City support.

Goal here http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Fo6vEW2j1tU


U's boss Gary Brabin started to make changes. Not I hasten to add former City loanee Courtney Pitt, whose performance merited the rhyming slang usage of his name.

The home side attacked in the 61st minute but a brilliant save by Ireland stopped them.




Robbie Simpson got a great reception when he came on six minutes later and Eastwood got a bigger one from the City supporters when he was substituted in the 72nd minute.

Twelve minutes from time, Cambridge were awarded a comical penalty when midfielder Ben Farrell fell over in front of Elliott Ward.

The former Bedford Town man got up and hit a kick which came of the right hand post and hit the head of Ireland who had dived the way,before crossing the line.

At the other end, Simpson went just over from the edge of the area.

But the home side were still trying to reduce the arrears. It took a great clearance from Stephen Wright before two minutes from time, Danny Ireland made a breath taking save to deny Mark Beasley and ensure that the Sky Blues won their only first team pre-season game in England with a 3-1 margin.