U's beaten again
Cambridge United slipped to a second successive home defeat as Alfreton Towntook the points at the R Costings Abbey Stadium.
Bradley Wood’s first half goal was enough for the visitors in a game of few chances, and though the U’s pushed Nicky Law’s men hard in the second half, they couldn’t find a way through.
Richard Money made five changes to his side, with Matthew Barnes-Homer handed a full home debut, and the ex-Forest Green striker looked bright in the early stages.
minute, as Godfrey Poku’s shot took a wicked deflection and span kindly for Wood, who slammed a shot home.thNeither Jon Worsnop or Will Norris, who was making his home debut, had much to do in the opening 45 minutes, but Norris was picking the ball out of his net in the 24
Luke Berry’s shot was blocked by Worsnop as United tried to respond, and after the break the midfielder again went close with a volley that looped over.
Alfreton packed the penalty area to defend their one goal lead, with shots from Berry and substitutes Nathan Arnold and Josh Gillies all charged down.
Another sub, Ryan Bird, turned and shot straight at Worsnop, but an equaliser wasn’t forthcoming, and a second half injury to Ian Miller, who departed on a stretcher, will be a concern for Money.
May I Claim Man of the Match: Luke Berry
CambridgeUnited: Norris, Roberts, G.Taylor, Coulson, Miller (Gillies 60), Hughes (Arnold 53), Dunk, Champion, Berry, Elliott, Barnes-Homer (Bird 55). Subs not used: Sullivan, B.Taylor.
AlfretonTown: Worsnop, Wood, Fenton, Wylde (Kempson 75), Westwood (Shaw 37), Franklin, Bradley, Law, Poku, Akinde (Meadows 82), Harrad. Subs not used: Clayton, McFadzean.
Referee: Mr N.Kinsley
Attendance: 2,106 (away 31).
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0-1 ALFRETON TOWN
21.30: YELLOW CARD. Worsnop booked for time-wasting, doesn't seem too bothered, his team still lead.
21.29: Mayhem in the Alfreton box, shots from Berry and Arnold blocked. Alfreton survive, all ten outfield players are firmly behind the goal.
21.26: That was a chance for Bird, Berry wins a header from a high looping cross and the striker turns well but his shot is straight at Worsnop.
21.24: Final Alfreton change sees Akinde replaced by Meadows.
21.16: Alfreton change, Wylde can't continue after sustaining a groin problem, Darren Kempson on in his place.
21.12: Arnold with a low shot that deflects through to the keeper.
21.02: Great save Norris, Akinde gets the better of Miller, but Norris stands up well to parry. Miller injured in that challenge, he'll go off on a stretcher. Worrying times. Gillies on in his place.
20.58: Second U's change, Bird on for Barnes-Homer.
20.56: Chance for Berry as a long throw falls nicely into his path, but he can only volley over from eight yards. Nathan Arnold is on for Hughes as the attendance is revealed as 2,106.
20.50: Elliott with a good run down to the right byline. Unfortunately his low cross takes a flick off a defender to take the ball away from Barnes-Homer and Dunk.
20.48: Back underway at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, no changes to either side at the break.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0-1 ALFRETON TOWN.
20.33: Hughes with the last chance of the half, profiting from good play by MBH but drags his shot well wide. That's half-time, low key half during which neither keeper had much to do. Alfreton lead through Wood.
20.22: Alfreton with the first change, the injured Westwood replaced by Tom Shaw.
20.18: Dunk works the ball back to Elliott, who feeds a cracking low cross into the box where Berry controls, but sees Worsnop race off his line to block.
20.11: Good response from the U's, Berry working the ball wide to Roberts, but Hughes can only guide a header into the keeper's arms from the right back's cross.
20.09: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0-1 ALFRETON TOWN. Large slice of luck for the visitors, who lead through BRADLEY WOOD. Poku's shot from distance takes a massive deflection and spins across the goal to Wood, who blasts home from close range.
20.07: YELLOW CARD. Elliott too quick for Fenton, who brings him down as the striker spins away. That'll be a booking.
20.03: Harrad with the first shot for Alfreton, charges down a Champion clearance but that's a couple of feet wide.
20.00: YELLOW CARD. Nasty tackle from Godfrey Poku there, he's about half an hour late on Dunk, catching him on the shin. Dunk receives treatment as Poku goes into the book, hopefully Dunk will be ok to continue.
19.55: United, through Berry and Barnes-Homer, tenacious in their desire to win the ball back on the right, but eventually Berry's low shot lacks the power to trouble Worsnop.
19.52: Cagey opening seven minutes, here goes Barnes-Homer though, reaching a Hughes pass and winning a corner. Into the six yard box from Hughes but headed clear.
19.45: Ready to go here at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, Alfreton attacking the NRE get us under way. Come on U's.
Cambridge United: Norris, Roberts, Taylor, Coulson, Miller, Hughes, Dunk, Champion, Berry, Elliott, Barnes-Homer. Subs: Sullivan, Gillies, Bird, BJ Taylor, Arnold.
Alfreton Town: Worsnop, Wood, Fenton, Wylde, Westwood, Franklin, Bradley, Law, Poku, Akinde, Harrad. Subs: Shaw, Clayton, Kempson, Meadows, McFadzean.
19.03: TEAM NEWS. The teams are in and the headline news is that Will Norris keeps his place in goal, making his home debut. John Sullivan is on the bench. Matthew Barnes-Homer also makes his home debut, with a total of five changes to Richard Money's side when compared to the FA Trophy win over Eastleigh. Also coming in are Liam Hughes, Luke Berry, Harrison Dunk and Tom Elliott. Josh Gillies, Nathan Arnold, Ryan Bird, and injured duo Ryan Donaldson and Ashley Chambers drop out.
Alfreton name ex-U's skipper Michael Wylde in their starting line-up, with another former favourite, Tom Shaw, on the bench.
18.54: Good evening all and welcome to the R Costings Abbey Stadium for tonight's match between Cambridge United and Alfreton Town. United are back home for only the third time in 2014, and start a run fo three games here in seven days by hosting third-place Alfreton, the season's surprise package.
