CRANFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

 

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY 27th SEPTEMBER - NEW BRADWELL 3 - CRANFIELD UNITED 2

Despite having to field a team ravaged by injury and illness this was a game we should have at least drawn and might even have won.

After an initial scare in the 2^nd minute when Joe Burdiak was called into action we were clearly the better side until the 24^th minute without creating a single clear cut scoring chance.  It was then and clearly against the run of play that Derrick McDonald opening the scoring when he caught Ellis Spence dallying on the ball. His subsequent shot across the face of the goal making contact with one of three defenders who had all failed to react quickly enough as it found its way into the net.  It was not until the 40^th minute that we then managed our first real attempt on goal when Alex Baker headed over the bar.

The opening minutes of the second half then proved to be disastrous when Matt Clinch was allowed to head home unchallenged from a corner in the 50^th minute headed home from a corner. Then in the 60^th minute another failure to clear the ball allowed Shaun Carr to add a third goal.  Facing a heavy defeat we then at last introduced some urgency into our game.  Nat Peacock pulled a goal back in the 56^th minute.  In the 69^th minute Stuart Reynolds beat three defenders to feed the ball into the goalmouth for what appeared to be a certain equaliser but somehow neither of the forwards in attendance finished the job. In the 83^rd minute Stuart Reynolds reduced the deficit to a single goal by doing the finishing himself with astute shot from just inside the penalty area.  With the home defence now in total disarray an equaliser seemed we continued to push forward. It the last minute we thought it had come but just as Stuart Reynolds was about to prod the ball home from close range he was hauled to the ground by keeper Ben Donaldson for what appeared to be a certain penalty. Alas the Referee had other ideas and waved play on.   

 

SATURDAY 1^st OCTOBER - LONDON LIONS 3 - CRANFIELD UNITED 2

Perhaps it was the heat or even the number of regulars missing from the squad but this was certainly our worst performance of the season. We were lucky not to have lost by a much wider margin and we only have keeper Joe Burdiak to thank for keeping us in the game.

We had a bright opening but this only lasted a few minutes before our lethargy began to show through and we were put under pressure.  The Lions opened the scoring in the 18^th minute when Sean Buxton missed his tackle and allowing a break down the wing followed by a cross which was driven home by Matt Stock. The second came in the 27^th minute when the defence stood still appealing for offside allowing Dean Nyman to run through and add the second.  In the 30^th minute we might have pulled a goal back Gary Hutchinson headed wide from a corner but we were more successful in the 38^th minute when Ellis Spence headed home in similar circumstances.

In the second half the heat began to take its toll with both sides making mistakes regularly. It was a mistake in midfield in the 65^th minute that allowed Dean Nyman to run through the middle of our defence to score his second goal. Any chance of salvaging a point disappeared in the 78th minute Paulo Aquilla received a second yellow card for a clumsy tackle.  Our hopes were revived in the 80^th minute when a solo run by Nat Peacock reduced the deficit to a single goal however in the 90^th minute later he received a second two yellow cards for dissent after the Referee had failed to punish a blatant foul on him.

 

TUESDAY 4^th OCTOBER - HODDESDON TOWN 2 - CRANFIELD UNITED 3

This was a well deserved victory ground out against one of the Division’s in-form sides despite once again being forced to field a side disrupted by injury.  In the event it was an outstanding performance by makeshift central defender Gary Hutchinson that went a long way to keeping us in the game and a potentially rampant attack at bay until our own forwards were able to deliver  the points.

From the kick off the home side proved to be a very lively outfit and play moving quickly from end to end with neither side being able to deliver a “killer” final pass in front of goal. The opening goal when it came in the 27^th minute originated from a free kick that found the unmarked Tom Massey some 25metres out from goal. His long range dipping shot sped into the bottom corner of the net giving Joe Burdiak little chance. This was followed by a tense 15 minutes when the home side surged forward but squandered two clear cut scoring chances.  Stuart Reynolds however put us back in contention in the 41^st minute with a coolly taken overhead kick which drifted slowly over the keepers head to the far corner of the net.

It only took the home side three minutes after the interval to retake the lead. This time it was Robbie Carroll who capitalized on a quick break down the left. Once again sensing victory they surged forward but our defence manfully kept them in check.  As time progressed we slowly gained momentum and by the 80^th minute had the upper hand. A determined dash through the middle by Jermaine Ivy brought an equalizer in the 83th minute.  Minutes later he was replaced by Dan Finnis came on in the 85^th minute his pace and ability to get round the back of the defence immediately began to cause problems and cracks began to show.  Nat Peacock eventually took advantage and all three points in the 88^th minute from inside the penalty area. 

 

SATURDAY 15^th OCTOBER - AMPTHILL TOWN 0 - CRANFIELD UNITED 0

In this local derby we thwarted a second placed Ampthill side for the second time this season. We have now taken 4 points out of 6 against them and stay in the leading pack of five with games in hand.

On the day it proved to be a dour unexciting encounter with the ball spending far more time in the air than on the ground. Despite both attacks having already notched up a grand total of 78 goals between them in the race for the top of the table it was the defences that held the upper hand throughout.  For once were able to keep a clean sheet with outstanding performances by Joe Burdiak, Sean Buxton, Paolo Aquilla and Tom Hole but at the other end our forwards were ineffective and eclipsed by the home defence and failed to produce a single direct shot at goal.

The home side’s principle goal threat came from the many corners they had, but these tended to be dealt with comfortably. They should however have taken the lead in the 24^th minute when Tyrone Taylor was tripped by Joe Burdiak who quickly made amends by diving to save Christian Lester’s penalty and the rebound was lashed wildly over the crossbar.  In the dying minutes we did begin to make inroads into the home defence but just could not deliver the final killer pass and in the end were happy to settle for that one point. 

 

SATURDAY 22nd OCTOBER - CRANFIELD UNITED 4 – TOKYNGTON MANOR 0

Cranfield proved to be the better side in this top of the table clash. The Visitors side which at the kick off held second place in the table and contained the prolific Edmond Protain who has already scored 29 goals this season never lived up to expectations and were too easily unsettled by a well disciplined home side. It was their volatility and indiscipline that proved to be their downfall.

The writing was on the wall as early as the 5^th minute when Jermaine Ivy who also was already proving to be a handful for the visitors defence was hauled to ground by Ryan Lacrette. Typically Max Risby stepped up to dispatch the penalty with aplomb.  In the 25^th minute Edmund Protain severely tested Joe Burdiak who pulled off an excellent reflex save but the second goal of the day went to Jermaine Ivy whose swivel and half volley inside the six yard box in the 28^th minute gave keeper Anton Dejeean little chance.  Protain again tested Burdiak in the 43^rd minute and by this time Visitors by this time were becoming extremely frustrated. This culminated in defender Gary Mahoney being shown a red card for violent conduct in the 44^th minute.

Two minutes into the second half a neat exchange of passes between  Alex Baker and Jermaine Ivy set the latter up to add a third goal.  Again the visitors were in complete disarray but Protain was still proving to be a threat and was once again thwarted by Burdiak in the 49^th minute.  Tom Damon then finished of the scoring with a well taken half volley from outside the penalty area in the 68^th minute.  Cranfield comfortably played out the remaining twenty minutes and took the opportunity to give all three substitutes a run out and Jack Leadbetter and Andy Roberts the opportunity to make their home debuts.  

 

TUESDAY 25^th OCTOBER - CRANFIELD UNITED 0 – BEDFORD 2

A lacklustre lethargic performance cost Cranfield 3 vital points when they found themselves up against a side which under new manager Luigi Rocco was unrecognisable from that they met at the McMullen Stadium in mid September. They certainly cannot have any complaints about losing this game.

It was clear from the kick that it was going to be one of those days. The visitors took control early but did not make their superiority tell until the 33^rd minute when a mix up in the home defence allowed the ball to run  Mark Tinkler  who hammered the ball home from what many Referees would have deemed to be an offside position. Perhaps if the linesman had been anywhere near up with play he would have seen it.  This was followed two minutes later by a second goal .This from beautifully struck  free kick from outside the penalty area by Luigi Rocco which gave young keeper Daniel Green little chance.

A half time talking to saw an improvement in the attitude and performance but they still could  not make any headway against the Richens brothers in the middle of the visitors defence.  A combination of frustration, some very dubious Refereeing decisions, and the unnecessary flashing of yellow cards culminated in the dismissal of Captain Ellis Spence in the 60^th minute for dissent.  Down to 10 men they were fortunate to avoid conceding  further goals and almost pulled one back in the dying minutes when Paolo Aquilla headed just outside the foot of the posts. 

 

SATURDAY 29^th OCTOBER - LANGFORD 3 - CRANFIELD UNITED 2

Carelessness cost Cranfield all three points in a game that they should have had a sewn up by a three of four goal margin before half time.  It was certainly an improvement on recent performances but the unfortunately it was one of those days when the God’s had predetermined that they were not going to win.

Alex Baker opened the scoring in the 15^th minute with a fine left foot drive. Max Risby came close in the 21^st minute with a free kick which flew narrowly wide then in the 26^th minute keeper Gavin Carr pulled off a miraculous double save from Stuart Reynolds. There then followed several hair raising incidents in the home goalmouth but somehow the ball was always scrambled clear. In the 32^nd minute totally against the run of play with their first shot on goal Langford equalized through Paul Garret with a stunning volley from the edge of the penalty.  Cranfield still continued to dominate but were caught out a second time when Kim Forsythe headed gave the home side the lead in first half injury time and the remarkable strike record of two goals from three attacks. 

The second half was just as frustrating as the first with the home side packing the penalty area and  frustrating the Cranfield forwards who just could not open then up.  Keeper Gavin Carr once again foiled Stuart Reynolds with another fantastic double save midway through the half.  On another day they could have two penalties in the last twenty minutes but despite justifiable claims neither was given.  In the 88^th minute Alex Baker at last breeched the defensive blockade to level the scores.  They then foolishly left themselves exposed at the back as they pushed forward seeking to take all three points. All the good work was then undone when Kim Forsythe was left free to poach the injury time winner.

 

TUESDAY 1^st NOVEMBER - CRANFIELD UNITED 4 – ARLESEY TOWN RESERVES 1

BEDS SENIOR TROPHY 2^nd Round

Cranfield progressed to the 3^rd Round of this competition with a comfortable win against their Beds County League opposition. It was a job clinically done with the result in doubt by half time.

They took control from the kick off to immediately put the visitors defence under pressure. It took just 2 minutes for Jack Leadbetter to open the scoring when he pounced on a loose ball on the edge of the six yard box.  Play continued with the speedy home side proving to be a real handful as they chased and harried  a physically stronger but slower opposition who found themselves under siege for most of the time.   The second goal did not however come until the 39^th minute when Jack Leadbetter headed home his.  Jermaine Ivy then increased the lead to three in the 44^th minute.

After the interval the home sides possession and pressure was again relentless and Nat Peacock headed home a fourth goal from a corner in the 48^th minute.  From then on they took their foot of the pedal and become over confident losing possession too often by going for the “killer ball” instead of playing the simple pass.  In the 79^th minute the visitors were presented with their only clear cut scoring when an accidental hand ball by Liam Whitmee-Craig resulted in a penalty which Wane Smith converted competently.  They presented no further threat for the remainder of the game as the home side settled down to comfortably play out the remaining time.   

 

TUESDAY 8^th NOVEMBER   - CRANFIELD UNITED 2 – BROXBOURNE BOROUGH 6 (After Extra Time)

Due to the opposition being held up by M25 traffic the kick off had to be delayed for 25 minutes . When it did start it turned to be an entertaining match from start to finish as Cranfield matched their Premier Division Opponents in all departments for the first  89 minutes.  Based on the balance of play till then they should have won but the careless concession of free kicks on the edge of the penalty area proved to be their undoing.

The visitors were fortunate to open the scoring in the 17^th minute when a low cross from the left which Joe Burdick appeared to have well covered was deflected of the heel of Dan Williamson to squeeze just inside the near post. Nat Peacock came close to equalising in the 24th minute but his headed narrowly passed the post.  It was a Stuart Reynolds corner that once found Nat Peacock’s head in the 31^st minute. This time he headed home. A few minutes later a Sam Evans blockbuster was only blocked by the keepers legs.

In the second half Cranfield took over and looked the more likely to score. Again Peacock narrowly headed wide in the 78^th minute from a Reynold.s  free kick. Then in the 82^nd minute the keeper managed to stick out a leg to somehow save and scramble away another Sam Evans blockbuster. In the 89^th minute a free was conceded on the edge of the penalty area and up stepped Chris Doyle to score directly from a well taken free kick. Two minutes into injury time Alex Baker volleyed home to make the scoreline 2-2 just before the final whistle.

Another free kick conceded on the edge of the penalty area in 95 minute gave Chris Doyle to once again step and score directly from the free kick. This proved be a signal for the home defence to loose its discipline for a disastrous 5 minutes during which allowed Chris Doyle and Gabriel Akuwudike twice  to add further goals. Neither side created further chances in the second half of injury time and any fears Cranfield had of travelling to Hillingdon Borough for a night match in the next round were dispelled.

 

SATURDAY 12^th NOVEMBER  - CRANFIELD UNITED 1 – NEW BRADWELL St PETER 3

For the second time this season Cranfield failed to make any impression till the dying minutes in a local derby against New Bradwell.  This was certainly a below par performance  that could prove to be very damaging to any aspirations they may have of staying in the promotion race and for the second successive game they were guilty of carelessly  conceding free kicks on the edge of their own penalty area at crucial stages which were punished by the opposition.

From the kick off the visitors had the upper hand and were certainly more the more committed. Their marking was tight, their tackling aggressive, whilst their pace and width in attack caused the home defence many problems.  Cranfield on the other hand were lethargic,  their distribution out of mid field and defence abysmal, and they failed to make use of the pace of Sam Evans and Alex Baker down the flanks and far too easily marked down the middle . The scoring however did not start until the 25^th minute when Mike Ward comfortably placed a free kick over the wall and into the top corner of the net.

After the interval any hopes of Cranfield revival disappeared quickly when carelessness in defence was punished.  An underweight back pass was intercepted by Derek McDonald in the 54^th minute and  Stephane Kemoagna left free to head home from a corner in the 58^th minute for the visitors to open up a three goal lead.  This prompted little response from the home side until a harsh hand ball decision in the 79^th minute allowed Stuart Reynolds to step up and score from the penalty spot.  There then followed a Cranfield resurgence as they tied to claw their way back into the game but it proved to be too little too late.    

 

SATURDAY 19^th NOVEMBER  - CRANFIELD UNITED 1 – CHESHAM UNITED RESERVES 4

A depleted Cranfield side suffered their second successive home defeat when they lost out to a very competent and well organised Chesham side. The story might however have been different if their early scoring chances finished up in the net but that was not to be.  In the end however Cranfield had only goalkeeper Dan Green to thank for saving them from a heavier defeat.

Cranfield opened brightly and in the second minute Gary Hutchinson saw his shot tipped over the bar by young keeper Josh Thompson. Then 5 minutes later Nat Peacock clattered a header against the crossbar and at that stage the omens looked good. The Visitors however soon settled down and very slowly took control stifling our distribution out of midfield and closing down our strikers such that they became ineffective.  Dan Green was twice called into action to save almost certain goals when he bravely dived at the feet of oncoming forwards before Tom Bambury put the visitors ahead in the 39^th minute with clever lob over the keeper.

The visitors grip tightened after the interval and they went further ahead in the 52^nd minute when the home defence could not cope with the height of Ash Almakha who casually headed home from a free kick.  In an attempt to stem the tide Liam Whitmee-Craig was drafted into the midfield to replace a forward in Stuart Reynolds. This did little to curb the opposition who went further ahead in the 72nd minute through substitute Ben Edwards. Things continued to go wrong in defence and Adam Thomas in the 84^th minute was gifted a tap in to make it 0-4.  A surge of effort in the last five minutes brought Cranfield back into the game but the effort was not complemented by thought and the attacks easily snuffed out until Nat Peacock side footed home a consolation goal in the second minute of injury time.

 

TUESDAY 22nd NOVEMBER  - CRANFIELD UNITED 2 – HARPENDEN TOWN 3

SSML DIVISION ONE CUP -2^nd Round

Cranfield lost this game simply because they did not take their scoring chances when they came. Harpenden had three chances and scored three goals. Cranfield had nine clear cut chances and scored a mere two goals. Of the chances missed two were open goals, one the keeper did not know anything about till the ball hit him and two were headers that hit the crossbar.

It was a game played at a fast and furious pace with Cranfield playing the neat and tidy football whilst the visitors relied on pace and organisation throughout. Nat Peacock could have opened the scoring in the19th minute but headed wide. Then in the 26^th minute Alex Baker volleyed over the bar.  It was however Jack Dawes for the Visitors in the 31^st minute who gave them a lesson in clinical finishing when he stroked the ball round the home defence into the far corner of the net. In the 38^th minute Alex Baker made the miss of the day when clean through and the goal yawning before him fired wide. Just on the stroke of half time Nat Peacock again headed over the bar.

Within four minutes of the restart Stuart Reynolds clattered a shot against the bar and keeper Matthew Lord had tipped his next shot over the bar. Mark Hitchcock nipped in to add the visitor’s second goal in the 60^th minute when Dan Green turned a shot against the post but was unable to recover quickly enough to gather the rebound. Five minutes it was Mark Hitchcock took a wild swing at the ball just outside the penalty area and it somehow eluded the entire defence to squeeze in at the back post to make 0-3.  Cranfield still continued to create chances and it was Jermaine Ivy with a solo run down the right that pulled a goal back in the 72^nd minute. In the 78^th minute a Nat Peacock shot hammered against the keeper’s body and somehow bounced back into play.  They still piled on the pressure for substitute Alec Watts to head  home a Jermaine Ivy cross in the 82^nd minute but as the clock ticked away they could not find that equalising goal and paid  penalty for their earlier careless finishing.

SATURDAY 26th NOVEMBER  - CRANFIELD UNITED 3 – KINGS LANGLEY 0

Cranfield shrugged off any disappointment arising from Tuesday’s defeat and turned in an excellent performance to bring Kings Langley’s run of seven successive wins to an abrupt end.  Once again however they failed to take full advantage of their scoring chances and visitors could not have complained if they had conceded at least another three or four goal.

It looked like it was going to be another one of those days when Ellis Spence had to be replaced in the 15^th minute due to a shoulder injury.  In the 18^th minute they could have gone behind when Jim Armstrong for the Visitors hit the post from a free kick however  Jack Leadbetter was on the spot to force home Jermaine Ivy cross just two minutes later to put Cranfield ahead.  Dan Green was called into action to thwart Craig Lynskey in the in the 21st minute when he saved what looked to be a certain goal.  Stuart Reynolds popped up in the 23^rd minute to add a second when set up by Jermaine Ivy.  A moment of madness in the 30^th minute by Paolo Aquilla gave Gary Connelly the chance to put the Visitors back in the game but Dan Green diving full length saved the penalty.

Cranfield took control in the second half and in the 63^rd minute Jermaine Ivy once again did the hard work to set up Stuart Reynolds to add the third goal. In the 80^th minute Max Risby should have added a fourth goal when with only the keeper to beat he steered the ball narrowly wide of the post.  Sam Evans might also have added that a fourth goal in the 83^rd minute if there had been a Russian Linesmen when his shot cannoned against the underside of the crossbar, bounced down amongst a mass of bodies and flailing legs and was scrambled away.  Then five minutes from the end Max Risby again rattled the crossbar but alas no further goals followed

 

The First Team - 2011/12 Match Reports 2