Avon Insurance Combination, Wed Feb 3 1999Cambridge United 3 (2) Arsenal 3 (0)Scorers: Cambridge - Kyd 31, Youngs 41, McCammon 85Arsenal - Cockrill og 69, Barrett 72, T Black 76 Attendance: 1537 Arsenal: Graham Stack, Jason Crowe, Ashley Cole, Paolo Vernazza, Brian
McGovern, David Livermore, Michael Black, Greg Lincoln, Omer
Riza (Julian Gray 65?), Graham Barrett, Tommy Black Cambridge: Shaun Marshall, Richard Barratt, Martin McNeil, Dean
Armstrong, Scott Eustace, Darren Cockrill (Mark McCammon), Mark
Graham, Sam
McMahon, Michael Kyd, Tom Youngs, Adam Wilde A surprisingly large crowd turned up at the Abbey Stadium last night to watch Cambridge United reserves take on the Arsenal reserves. They may have been expecting to some of Arsenal's foreign imports, but if so they were disappointed because the only two foreigners Arsenal fielded were Irish. I'd half expected the likes of Diawara, Ljungberg and Hughes to be given a run out, but apart from Michael Black and Jason Crowe the team would have qualified to play in the Under 19s, and indeed Barrett and Stack for the U17s. In the first half Arsenal's defence was in a state of some disarray, and as a whole the Gunners were outplayed by a Cambridge side who thoroughly deserved to go in 2 up at half time. However, after the break Arsenal tightened things up a bit which allowed them to show more in attack, and a blitz of 3 goals in less than 10 minutes saw them take the lead before being pegged back by an equaliser 5 minutes from time. It was all Cambridge in the opening 15-20 minutes, with several crosses from left and right causing problems in the Arsenal defence. Kyd, a striker with nearly a hundred first team appearances (though not many this season due to injury), in particular caused problems and went close with a good run down the left, ending with a shot which whistled over the bar. Arsenal gradually worked their way into the match though. Tommy Black in particular looking lively down the left. It was him who went closest to a goal for Arsenal in the 1st half. Lincoln played a lovely ball down the middle for Barrett to run onto. It looked as though he had a chance to break clear, but perhaps being closed down quickly he checked and played the ball wide to Black. The winger dribbled into the area and feinted a cross with his left but checked back onto his right before bending in a shot from an angle which must have been only a whisker wide of the far post. Riza also had a good break, but with Tommy Black in space in the left of the area, he chose to shoot himself and put it straight at the keeper. There was also a good move down the right, Crowe overlapping to run onto a lovely pass by Vernazza, and he whipped over a good cross which was just nicked off the head of Tommy Black by a defender at the expense of a corner. However, half an hour into the game Cambridge deservedly went in front. It was another cross (I think from the left, but my memory is a little hazy) which caused problems and the ball ended up in the back of the net from a knot of players at the far post. I'm not sure it didn't come off a defender, but Kyd seems to have been creditted with the goal locally. 10 minutes later the home team were 2 up. Again it was a cross which caused problems, this time a deep one from the right reaching the far post where Kyd I think beat Crowe in the air to nod back across goal and Youngs knocked it in from about 6 yards. The second half was a more even affair, and Michael Black started causing problems to the Cambridge defence down the right, and midway through the half it was his cross which led to Arsenal pulling a goal back. I think it was Vernazza who sent Black away down the right, and he whipped over a dangerous cross from close in which a defender at the near post could only divert into his own net. Riza had been substituted a few minutes earlier, Julian Gray coming on to play on the left wing with Tommy Black moving into the middle to support Barrett in attack. And it was the younger Black who made the equaliser 3 minutes after the first goal went in. He got past a defender in the left side of the area and pulled a lovely ball back across the 6 yard box. Barrett slid in at the far post to knock it home. Less than five minutes later it was 3-2. Cambridge had just had a goal disallowed (either for offside or a push on the keeper, not sure which), when the Black brothers combined to put Arsenal in front. Crowe this time sent Michael clear down the right and his cross picked out Tommy running in unmarked, and he calmly sidefooted a volley into the net from the 6yd line. Cambridge then went desperately close to equalising when a header from close in, I think from the big centre half Eustace following a corner, hit both bar and post before bouncing out to safety. Arsenal could have made the game safe when Tommy Black harried a defender into making a mistake as he chased a long ball back towards his own goal. Black tripped over the defender as he collected the ball, but regained his feet to carry on, but the keeper came out quickly to make a good block. Looked to me to be a case for a free kick, but I guess if the ref had given it he'd have had to send the defender off for preventing a clear scoring opportunity. Cambridge's equaliser came from a virtually identical situation at the other end. Under pressure from the Cambridge substitute Cole stumbled and fell as he tried to tidy up a long ball forward while he was running back towards his own goal. McCammon collected the loose ball, evaded Stack's charge from goal and finished clinically past Cole who'd recovered to get back to try and guard the empty net. A fairly enjoyable and eventful match, which was also notable for the fact that 6 Arsenal players were booked. Trying too hard to emulate their superiors?! The game certainly wasn't bad tempered or dirty, but I couldn't really claim that any of the bookings were entirely undeserved. though a couple were perhaps slightly harsh. Tommy Black impressed me again, particularly as he was playing out of position on the left. Michael was less conspicuous but did produce some good crosses in the second half, and made 2 of the goals. Paolo Vernazza again looked a good player, with some raking long passes and first time passing, albeit on occasion over ambitious, though he did seem a bit casual at times. At the back the left footed Livermore showed a good touch and calmness under pressure. Derek
copyright belongs to original author where credited. otherwise © Rupert Ward, ArseWeb MMV ArseWeb is NOT the official Arsenal site. The (excellent) official site is here |