Late Shaw header wins it for U's
Tom Shaw’s goal in the last minute of stoppage time gave Cambridge United three points against Woking.
A drab match was settled when Shaw dived in to head home following a weak punch from goalkeeper Seb Brown, who could only palm a cross from Curtis Haynes-Brown into the midfielder’s path.
Earlier Shaw had gone closest for United, seeing his shot blocked by Brown, while Kevin Betsy missed a great chance for the Cards, firing wide at the far post. The visitors also had claims for a penalty turned away when Wassmer man-handled Stockley in the box.
Richard Money made three changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Southport on Tuesday evening, with on-loan goalkeeper Nick Pope making his debut after signing from Charlton Athletic. Rossi Jarvis and Joe Anderson were also recalled, with Luke Berry and Curtis Haynes-Brown dropping to the bench.
United were on top in the early stages, with Harrison Dunk enjoying a lot of space on the left and linking up well with Joe Anderson. It was from Dunk’s good cross that Nathan Blissett headed just wide at the near post, then following a corner the ball dropped in the six-yard box for Rory McAuley, but he couldn’t get a shot away and Woking cleared.
The visitors main threat also came down their left flank through Kevin Betsy, and his clever turn left Kevin Roberts for dead in the 23rd minute, forcing the U’s skipper to haul him down and earn a yellow card.
Woking failed to profit from that free kick, but Pope was called into action for the first time five minutes later, diving low to his right to stop a Betsy shot. The dangerous winger then released Nutter on the overlap, and his low cross into the six yard box was just too far ahead of the inrushing Sawyer, who couldn’t connect.
As the half drew to a close Jamie Reed, playing on the right of midfield for the U’s, delivered a great cross into the area, but Dunk was muscled off the ball by Newton as he looked set to score from close range.
In the second period United struggled to build up a head of steam, though Shaw had a good chance to open the scoring when a fine pass from Wassmer found him steaming into the box in the 55th minute. But Brown was quickly off his line to block the midfielder’s shot, and was then in the right place to clutch Blissett’s header as Roberts crossed the ball back into the box.
Woking’s Jayden Stockley summed up a frustrating afternoon for the Cards front men, when he pounded the pitch in frustration after smashing a free kick high over the cross-bar. But moments later Betsy passed up a glorious chance to open the scoring, only finding the side-netting when unmarked at the far post following a deep cross from Sawyer.
Both sides made changes, with the U’s introducing Haynes-Brown and Andy Pugh, and Woking were furious when they were denied what looked like a penalty in the last minute, when Wassmer pulled back Stockley in the box.
It was to prove a crucial decision, as moments later Haynes-Brown provided the cross and Shaw was in the right place to nod home the winner and send the Newmarket Road End into raptures.
Man of the Match: Tom Shaw – An all-action performance capped with a crucial late header.
Cambridge United: Pope, Roberts, Anderson, McAuley, Wassmer, Hughes (Pugh 83), Dunk (Haynes-Brown 87), Shaw, Jarvis, Reed, Blissett. Subs not used: Ross, Berry, Brighton.
Woking: Brown, Newton (Frith 63), Nutter, McNerny, Johnson, Betsy, Stockley, Ricketts, Parkinson, Sawyer. Bubb (McCallum 75). Subs not used: Cestor, Francis, Little.
Referee: Mr R.Whitton
Attendance: 2,054 (away 177)
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 WOKING
16.53: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 WOKING. Amazingly, in the fourth minute of stoppage time, United lead. Haynes-Brown does well to scoop a cross in from the left, and Brown can only a weak punch on the ball, presenting it to TOM SHAW, who loops a diving header into the net. The final whistle sounds soon afterwards, United have three points. Somehow.
16.50: In comes the free kick from Anderson, and its glanced just wide by Rory McAuley, Brown was flat footed, that could easily have found the bottom corner.
16.49: YELLOW CARD. Three minutes to be added, Stockley goes down in the box under challenge from Wassmer. No penalty says the ref and United break way with CHB, who does well to win a free kick from the back tracking Ricketts. 40 yards or so from goal, Ricketts booked.
16.46: Now Curtis Haynes-Brown joins the action in place of Dunk, who has played well today. LIAM HUGHES is the MAYICLAIM MAN OF THE MATCH.
16.40: Andy Pugh joins the action for the final seven minutes in place of Liam Hughes. Reed will play up front for United, Pugh wide left.
16.38: YELLOW CARD. Shaw penalised after what looked like a perfectly time sliding tackle on McCallum. United repel the initial free kick, but ball comes back in and at the far post Betsy, completely unmarked, can only find the side netting. Should have scored.
16.33: And another change for the Cards, with Bubb going off to be replaced by McCallum. Fifteen minutes left for one of these teams to find a winner.
16.25: Woking change, Frith on for Newton.
16.22: Woking with a soft free kick, McAuley penalised for fouling Stockley. And from the set piece the ball skims off Robbo's head and behind for a corner, which United defend easily.
16.15: Blissett brought down 30 yards out, free kick United. Hughes standing over the ball, and gets it over the wall but Brown makes a fairly comfortable save.
16.12: Best chance of the game for the U's, Wassmer's pass releases Shaw rampaging through the defence, but Brown is out quickly to block. Roberts retrieves the ball and crosses, but Blissett's header is saved by Brown. Damn that man.
16.11: Sawyer's low shot easily saved by Pope, who watched that all the way.
16.04: U's with a corner in the first minute of the half, Anderson takes but Blissett's header is easily claimed by Brown. United soon win the ball back and Dunk's clever turn and pass almost sets Blissett away, but Brown is off his line to claim.
16.02: The team's return. This afternoon's attendance is 2,054 (away 177).
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0-0 WOKING
15.46: One minute added time negotiated safely, as Pope comes out to claim a Sawyer free kick. Not much to report from the first half, little in the way of goal mouth action with both teams enjoying spells of pressure.
15.44: Good work from Jamie Reed sees him get a dangerous cross into the six yard box. Dunk looks certain to score from six yards but is muscled out of it by Newton, who puts the ball behind for a corner. Brown can't claim Shaw's set-piece, but with his back to goal Liam Hughes can only hook the ball wide. Better from United, who had faded after an ok start.
15.40: Woking corner now, and Pope comes and gets a good punch on the initial ball in. However the on loan keeper gets nowhere near the second, lofted, delivery, but fortunately for him Brett Johnson's looping header is only onto the roof of the net. Then at the other end Dunk holds the ball up and is fouled on the edge of the box. But the ref plays a good advantage to allow Jarvis to get a shot away which is easily claimed by Brown.
15.33: United carved apart there as Stockley finds Betsy in space. He releases the overlapping Nutter, and his cross into the six yard box is just too far ahead of Sawyer sliding in. That could easily have been 1-0, Betsy is the danger man for the visitors.
15.28: Betsy makes half a yard on the edge of the box, but his low shot through a crowd is saved fairly comfortably by Pope.
15.22: YELLOW CARD. Betsy spins away from Roberts, who slides in and brings him down. That's a fairly obvious booking for the U's skipper, and a free kick in a good position for the visitors, just outside the area on their left. However Sawyer rolls it to Nutter, and his shot is charged down.
15.15: United with another corner now as Shaw's cross is blocked away. Anderson delivers, it's a good one which bounces off a Woking player in the six-yard box. Sadly the ball won't run for McAuley and Woking are able to whack it to safety.
15.10: Dunk released by a good Anderson pass, and his pinpoint cross is headed just wide by the inrushing Blissett.
15.08: Dunk flattened by Newton and United have a free kick wide on the left. Delivery isn't the best from Jarvis, but its headed out to Anderson on the edge of the box and his shot flies wide of the post. Close, but Brown watched that wide comfortably.
15.03: Hughes does well to whip in a cross from the left, but Reed, off balance, can't get any power in his header and Woking clear.
15.01: Early corner for the U's as Dunk's shot spins away off a defender. Shaw's first attempt is cleared back to the midfielder, who floats the ball into the box but Hughes misses his kick and Woking clear their lines.
14.59: The team's are out. United in the traditional amber and black, with Woking in a red and white concoction. The Cards will get us underway attacking the NRE.
Cambridge United: Pope, Roberts, Anderson, McAuley, Wassmer, Hughes, Dunk, Shaw, Jarvis, Reed, Blissett. Subs: Ross, Pugh, Berry, Brighton, Haynes-Brown.
Woking: Brown, Newton, Nutter, McNerny, Johnson, Betsy, Stockley, Ricketts, Parkinson, Sawyer. Bubb. Subs: Cestor, Francis, McCallum, Frith, Little.
14.25: TEAM NEWS. Money makes three changes to the side that capitulated at Haig Avenue, handing a debut to loan signing from Charlton, Nick Pope, in goal (obviously) at the expense of Craig Ross. In midfield Rossi Jarvis is restored, with Luke Berry dropping to the bench. Curtis Haynes-Brown apparently failed a pre-match fitness test, so is only among the subs, with Joe Anderson taking his place. Should be a straight forward 4-4-2 for United today, though it remains to be seen whether Jamie Reed or Liam Hughes plays up front alongside Nathan Blissett.
Woking's line-up contains defender Brett Johnson, who was on loan at the R Costings Abbey Stadium last year. Kevin Betsy and Bradley Bubb got the goals in the Cards' 2-1 win over United at Kingfield earlier in the season.
14.20: Good afternoon and welcome to the R Costings Abbey Stadium for this afternoon's Blue Square Bet Premier division clash between Cambridge United and Woking. With both teams mired in mid-table, there's not a lot riding on this match, but Richard Money will be looking for a much-improved showing from his charges after Tuesday's disappointing 2-1 defeat at Southport.