Saturday 3rd March 2007
Stafford Rangers 1 Cambridge United 2
Nationwide Conference
At: Marston Road
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Attendance: 1096
In a scrappy game that could have gone either way, Cambridge United came from behind to snatch the points with a late winner struck by Christian Smith.
Following the pattern of recent home games Stafford again took the lead on only to let the opposition back into the game. David McNiven’s 20th minute goal was cancelled out just before the interval by David Bridges.
The opening exchanges were littered with free kicks and chances were in short supply. Stafford faced danger when Robbie Simpson combined with Chillingworth and fired across the face of goal.
The home side went close following a foul by Courtney Pitt on Robin Gibson. Levi Reid delivered the ball into a crowded area and Gibson, making his 200th Stafford appearance, fired over.
From a long clearance by Duggan, Andy Duncan did well to prevent Neil Grayson getting on the end and Shane Herbert gathered up.
Stafford took the lead in the 20th minute. Reid in the middle of the Cambridge half found McNiven on the left just inside the visitors’ area. The on-loan striker got the better of his marker and fired a low shot out of reach of Herbert and into the opposite corner of the net.
Looking to quickly get back on level terms, Cambridge pressed forward and defender Nathan Talbott, in front of goal, cleared a Chillingworth shot at the expense of a corner. Simpson the latched on to a long ball and Robert Duggan gathered up the resulting shot.
Chillingworth saw an angled drive held at the near post before Cambridge almost equalised in the 27th minute. The diving Duggan got a hand to another Chillingworth shot and pushed the ball on to a pots.
McNiven tried his luck from 35 yards out before the visitors wasted a great chance. Simpson found Bridges unmarked at the far post but the midfielder miskicked his shot well wide.
Herbert saved at the near post from the dangerous McNiven and McAughtrie headed over the resulting corner in a good spell by the home side.
But poor defending by Stafford allowed Cambridge to level in the 44th minute. Stephen Smith’s long throw into a crowded area was not cleared and Bridges drilled the ball home from 8 yards out.
Hesitation by McAughtrie at the start of the second half almost let the visitors have a dream start to the second half. The defender allowed Stephen Smith to fired across the face of gaol and narrowly wide of the far post.
Chances again were restricted before Cambridge put Rangers under pressure just after the hour mark. Duggan gathered a low drive from Stephen Smith at the second attempt and the goalkeeper pulled off a fine reaction save to prevent Chillingworth scoring. Simpson kept Duggan busy with a near post shot that was well saved.
A mistake by Herbert almost gifted Stafford the lead. He raced off his line to head the ball clear but it fell at the feet of McNiven 35 yards out. The striker had time to compose himself before sending the ball inches wide of an unguarded net.
McNiven went close soon after, driving over Craig Lovatt’s pass from just outside the area.
Cambridge mounted a strong finish, helped by long ball tactics. Christian Smith saw a shot deflected wide and from the resulting corner skipper Andy Duncan had a header cleared off the line.
However, Stafford were undone again by poor defending in the 88th minute. Another long throw wasn’t cleared and Christian Smith rifled a low shot into the bottom right corner from 15 yards out.
Stafford Rangers (4-4-2): Duggan 7, Sutton 7, Daniel 6, McAughtrie 7, Talbott 6, R. Gibson 6, Murphy 8, Griffith 6 (Edwards, 90), Reid 7 (Lovatt, 69), McNiven 7, Grayson 7 (Madjo, 57). Subs Not Used: A. Gibson, Murray.
Cambridge United (3-5-2): Herbert 7, Duncan 7, Morrison 7, Page 7, S. Smith 7, Bridges 7, Brown 6 (Brady, 72), C. Smith 7, Pitt 6, R. Simpson 8, Chillingworth 7 (Purser, 90). Subs Not Used: J. Simpson, A. Collins, Quinton.
