Sutton U v Cambridge U Final score & comments

[dof]

Cambridge U score the winner to beat Sutton 2 - 1 in the final minutes of the game'
Jamie Slabber scores for Sutton.

[Stewart]

We were poor for the first 30 mins. Enjoyable second half, maybe the best football this preseason.

[markf2]

Like immy Anderson, Sutton seemed to prefer the cloud cover after struggling in the heat of the first half, we bossed much of the second and but for some excellent goalkeeping by the visiting custodian, Mitchell Nelson's late error may have not affected the result. Unfortunately it provided a winning goal from Cambridge and having done similar on Tuesday night, it is a habit worth being rid off pretty quickly.

Cambridge was the better side for much of the first half with their no 11 causing lot of problems. Their first goal was disappointing, coming from a corner which was alowed to travel along way before it was bundled in (by who, is anyone's guess).

Second half, U's improved greatly. Harry B came on and looked lively and brought the best out of the visiting 'keeper with a curling effort that was pushed onto the woodwork. U's equalise came from a good move that resulted in Jamie Slabber heading home Marv's lovely cross. More service like that for Mr S, please.

We were well worth the draw until the late goal and Dos will have been well pleased with the second half display.

[os]

I don't think we were in it in the first half we created very little and conceded yet another goal from a cross and no one attacking the ball at the near post is becoming a bit of a habit. I think we lack a bit of height at the back and miss a player like Jordan or Old? Going forward we are struggling to create chances although we are getting down the flanks the support is not arriving in the box in time allowing the oppos defence to get back. On the couple of occasions we got the ball in early the ball wasn't finding a yellow shirt. The cross from Marv for Slabber was sublime just drifted over the keepers head and put in on a plate for him.

Definite signs of improvement in the 2nd half but that might be due to the fact that Dos is back and made some adjustments after seeing that 1st half. Still work to do but we were worth a draw against Conference Premier club today.

[Rambo]

Posted by Frakers - "We were well worth the draw until the late goal and Dos will have been well pleased with the second half display."

He certainly was very impressed, said just that to Clive Soper and I in the tunnel around ten past five

[bornatotter]

Missed the first half due to a shocking lack of attention to detail and getting the kick off time wrong. Really enjoyed the second half. A proper test against compatible opposition and I think we shaded it in the second 45. Binns marv and h all looked sharp and good finish from slabs from a superb ball in. Hopefully we will get the daft mistakes at the back out of our system before the real deal starts. We don't need any reminders about the price you pay for gifting the oppo goals. Plenty of positives though from the half I saw.

[Amber Aleman]

If this summer's first four PSFs were mainly about getting cash in the coffers, this one was about testing ourselves against a side from the level we might hope to be competing at in just over twelve months' time. On the evidence of this match there's still a gap to be closed, but at least we avoided the sort of trouncing inflicted on us by Wrexham back in January.

Cambridge United were clearly the better side in the first half, and but for some wasteful finishing and smart work by Tom Lovelock could easily have been out of sight at the interval. Dealano Sam-Yorke - who played against us for Basingstoke in each of the last two seasons - was a continual threat, but his pacy approach play was not matched by composed shooting. Our management will (as mentioned above) have taken encouragement from our second half performance, as there was little to choose between the sides after half-time. We equalised through a well worked move, and but for the late error by Nelson would have emerged with a creditable draw.

Having won all nine of our matches in April we've now lost all six since then. If we are to regain some momentum from the end of last season we could do with winning our two remaining friendlies!

[Del]

Mitchell Nelson made a schoolboy error against Chelsea and i can't believe he's done exactly the same thing in the next match!We can't afford mistakes like that in the league.

[sallycat]

That's what friendlies are for, delboy. I would be very surprised if that sort of thing got past Dos!

I always say I prefer to lose PSFs than win them (or at least make our mistakes then), because that gives an opportunity to see what went wrong and plan tactically to stop those mistakes happening again. Winning them all faultlessly may instil confidence, but doesn't really help in terms of learning for the Real Thing.

[dof]

.....mistakes made by defenders are more easily exploited when playing against teams from a higher league or
under 21's squads from the prmiership.

Next up Aldershot, who are not having the best of starts in PSF, losing against Basingstoke yesterday.
I am sure Andy Scott will be looking forward to visiting GGL and the memories it holds for him.
I feel that Sutton could turn the corner in this game, a win would do wonders for their confidence.

[os]

I remember beating Brentford 3-1 and looking like world beaters in one pre seasin friendly only to go on to amass the lowest ever conf south points total and get relegated. In truth we would have expected to win none of our opening matches so talk of pressure and confidence is a little ott I think ?

[Del]

Jul 28, 2013 9:27:27 GMT sallycat said:

That's what friendlies are for, delboy. I would be very surprised if that sort of thing got past Dos!

I always say I prefer to lose PSFs than win them (or at least make our mistakes then), because that gives an opportunity to see what went wrong and plan tactically to stop those mistakes happening again. Winning them all faultlessly may instil confidence, but doesn't really help in terms of learning for the Real Thing.

Sorry sal i disagree.Thats not what PSF are about.What went wrong were two woeful (as the non league paper says) back passes to the keeper.
Overall Mitchell had a good game but all that was undone at the death.

[garethl]

Jul 28, 2013 10:24:43 GMT dof said:

.....mistakes made by defenders are more easily exploited when playing against teams from a higher league or
under 21's squads from the prmiership.

Think you'll find passing to forwards with only the keeper to beat is generally punishable at any level. But let's hope it is the last giveaway we see for a long while.

[garethl]

Jul 28, 2013 9:27:27 GMT sallycat said:

That's what friendlies are for, delboy. I would be very surprised if that sort of thing got past Dos!

I always say I prefer to lose PSFs than win them (or at least make our mistakes then), because that gives an opportunity to see what went wrong and plan tactically to stop those mistakes happening again. Winning them all faultlessly may instil confidence, but doesn't really help in terms of learning for the Real Thing.

Friendlies are for fitness, getting the side settled and playing well, and maybe looking at a few new players along the way. With the added bonus of boosting the coffers this season. Granted you can learn in defeat but you also can in victory. In no way is it ever better IMO to lose rather than win. Confidence is a big thing at any level but particularly once you get to lower levels. See us last season if you need any more proof. That said so far we wouldn't have been expecting many results so confidence shouldn't have been dealt any sort of blow. I would prefer one game against someone at a similar level or below that we can win by a couple so we have a bit more of an opportunity to play. That said we should feel that we can get a result against Aldershot.

[markf2]

Entering into the debate over results/form in friendlies, the season U's won the Isthmian League in 98/9, we lost at Chertsey Town and Whyteleafe in pre-season.

The season we beat Coventry, we lost to Worthing and T&M.

I could probably find countless other pre-season that suggest these matches have little bearing on how a season will go.

This time around, we have played matches against clubs that are all of a higher level. After the second half yesterday, I would not be too worried. I'm sure Dos isn't.