Cambridge City (A) on Tues 16th Aug, KO 19:45

[Boomer]

This game won't be easy and we need to try and shut Craig Hammond down.

COYS

[Daedalus]

Southern League Premier Division -
Cambridge City v St. Albans City
Tuesday 16th August 2011, KO 19:45

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/1310719688_large.jpg

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/s58140451261_2008007_1726223.jpg v No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/stalbans.jpg

The City Ground, Milton Road, Cambridge, CB4 1UY
No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/Cambridge_main_stand_1_watermarked.jpg

STATTO'S CORNER (written by Daedalus):

Cambridge City Quick Guide:
Club founded: 1908
Nickname: Lilywhites
Club colours: White/Black/Black
10 year record:

01-02	02-03	03-04	04-05	05-06	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11
SthP 14th	SthP 18th	SthP 8th	ConfS 2nd	ConfS 7th	ConfS 13th	ConfS 14th	SthP 4th	SthP 6th	SthP 4th

Read more about Cambridge City's club history by clicking here (select 'Club History' from the menu on the left side).


Interesting links:

Cambridge City official website

The official Cambridge City site has directions to the ground and a map. Select 'Directions' from the information section of the menu on left side of the site.

The Cambridge City fans' forum - 'The Lilywhites' Soapbox - is also accessible via the main website under the fans section of the menu on the left side.


Current Form (last 5 matches in the league):
Cambridge City - W (home form - yet to play first home match)

St. Albans City - W (away form - yet to play first away match)


Top league goalscorer(s):
Cambridge City - Neil Midgley and Craig Hammond got the goals in the Lilywhites' 2-1 win away at Weymouth on Saturday.

St. Albans City - It was four different goalscorers for the Saints on Saturday in their opening game. Strikers Rob Haworth and Paul Furlong hit the back of the net, as well as tricky winger Sean Shields and composed central midfielder Sol Shields.


Latest Saints team news:

- The manager reported that Danny Hart has one or perhaps two weeks to go with his injury until he will be back in contention.

- Keep up with the new players in the SACFC squad in the Saints Chat 'City Squad Tracker' thread and please don't hesitate to correct any errors or provide some new information on the City squad this season!


Possible Saints starting XI (in a 4-4-2 formation):

No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/Saints%20Stuff/150811152758.png

Quick Stats Guide (league matches only):

Coming back soon once we have some meaningful stats to analyse!




THE FINAL WORD - written by Saint (Jake Ellacott)

How did the Saints get on against Cirencester Town?

The Saints started life in the Southern Premier League with a convincing 4-1 win over Cirencester Town at Clarence Park on Saturday. The nature of the win was that it was somewhat fortunate as the Centurions lacked the cutting edge in front of goal, whilst the Saints showed a certain amount of ruthlessness in taking their chances.

City took the lead in the 12th minute through veteran striker Rob Haworth. The lead was doubled on 27 mins through a long-range Solomon Shields strike, and the Saints made it 3-0 by half-time courtesy of the sheer determination of Sean Shields and his mazy dribble, which led him to squeeze in a shot past the keeper from the tightest of angles.

The home sides' defences were finally breached on 73 minutes when Reid scored for the visitors. However, Paul Furlong restored the Saints three goal lead with a superb lob over the Centurions keeper.


What did David Howell have to say about it?

In his post match interview, Howell stated that he was pleased with the result and felt that his side deserved the goals. He drew attention to the wide players, Sean Shields and Jerome Walker, who he feels will be very important in the coming season, as they have the chance to feed the likes of Rob Haworth and Paul Furlong.

The manager also suggested that the squad is very much a work in progress and is far from complete. He emphasised the bigger picture and the fact that he is still learning about the players and the league that the Saints find themselves in this season all of the time.

Click here to listen to the interview on the official website.


How did Cambridge City do in their opening game?

The Lilywhites started their league campaign with a win over Weymouth at the Wessex stadium at the weekend.

The Terras took a first half lead but after the interval, a substitution seemed to change it in Cambridge's favour. The Lilywhites introduced substitute Neil Midgley, who equalised for City in the 63rd minute. Then, Craig Hammond grabbed the winner in the 77th minute with a header.

Former City boy JJ O'Donnell started the game for Cambridge, as he is on loan from Luton Town, and he will be looking to do well against his former employers on Tuesday evening for the Lilywhites.


Finally:

Will the Saints build on Saturday's opening win? Or will the Lilywhites show the Saints what the Southern league is all about? Get involved in the pre- and post-match discussion in the thread below.

COYS! No images allowed -http://i811.photobucket.com/albums/zz40/Crouchaldinho_SACFC/gialloblu.gif

[Daedalus]

The City Archives - Cambridge City, FA Cup, September 8th 1962

We have a new feature to place alongside our previews this season, as one of Saints Chat's regular posters, Brummie, delves into the history books to provide us with match reports from the past. This gives a chance to walk down memory lane, or learn a little about City's past, before the next match in the present!

This week, Brummie has given us a typed copy of a match report from a game against Cambridge City which took place in 1962 in the FA Cup!

FA CUP 1st PRELIMINARY ROUND

September 8th 1962 CAMBRIDGE CITY 3 V ST ALBANS CITY 0

The records will simply say; FA Cup First preliminary Round Cambridge City 3 St Albans City 0. But behind those cold facts is a David and Goliath story, a story in which Goliath, in the form of professionals Cambridge City, lying third in the Southern League premier division, turned the tables on David, the Hertfordshire amateurs from St Albans.

Almost a year ago to the Saturday in the same round of the FA Cup Cambridge City came to Clarence Park to beat St Albans City 2-1. Few gave St Albans much of a chance against Cambridge on Saturday. Personally, I thought they would be outplayed, out-run and mesmerised. I doubted, in fact, that they would even keep up with the Cambridge football machine for the full 90 minutes.

What a surprise they gave me. And what a shock the gave to the Cambridge supporters who thought they game would be a push-over as St Albans fought like tigers.

But despite some breathtaking midfield moves, in which Alan McDonnell, at inside right, was the mastermind, the Citizens could not get through the Cambridge defence. The St Albans boys cracked the defensive shell several times, but they could not get past former Bournemouth and Lincoln City goalkeeper Bill Heath.

It is to the St Albans defenders that my best praise goes. They broke down the Cambridge attacks time after time. And they had the home fans shouting with frustration for their stars to score.

Rose was outstanding. Whether shots came high, low, to one side or another or straight at him, he held then safely without fuss or bother. His anticipation was perfect and had it not been for Rose the score against St Albans would have been greater.

Then there was Barry Payne. His one and only mistake cost St Albans a goal, but 99 times our of 100 he had the game under his thumb. In the first half he played former Watford star Mike Benning right out of the game.

At centre half, Dave Bromley was a tower of strength. The southern League club’s centre forward Tommy Wilson who had won a cup winners medal with Nottingham Forest in 1959, found Bromley barring his way time and time again.

The Citizens right back Barrie King had the toughest time watching the Cambridge left flank, the flank in which Cambridge pinpointed most of their attacks. Herbie Smith switched from inside right to defence and back to attack again as Cambridge threw themselves at King and Colman. If King was beaten there was Colman with Payne at times coming across to back him up. And there was the ever reliable Rose as the last line of defence.

The pounding of the St Albans right flank went on and on until the 26th minute when Willie Davies, a former Accrington Stanley player, outsmarted Colman and found enough room to cross the ball for TOMMY WILSON to hammer the ball into the net. Rose had no chance to stop the cannonball shot.

Cambridge almost went further ahead ten minutes later when Wilson raced through but was harassed by Payne and the centre forward shot just wide. Three minutes later Sam Salt, the former Blackpool player, found himself in a useful position but ballooned the ball over the bar as the Citizens defenders closed in.

The second half opened with Cambridge making the same pattern towards the Citizens goal. Banks, the Cambridge inside left, went near to scoring after Rose made his first mistake and failed to punch clear a high lob. Banks ran in but headed wide.

Three minutes later Rose dived full length to turn a Devine shot around the post. A minute later Rose tipped a long drive from former Luton Town player Reg Pearce over the crossbar.

Jarmin, on the St Albans left wing, took a good pass from left half Draper and ran the ball down to the corner flag. His centre had Heath in big trouble as he seemed to fumble the ball and then push it over for a corner. Over came Jarmin’s corner kick and again Heath was in trouble. The ball ran to Herbie Smith who shot first time but Heath had recovered and dived full length to hold the ball.

Cambridge swung back onto the attack and again Rose went down to stop a pile driver from former West Ham United player Brian Moore. The St Albans half back line cleared and put the ball out to the right where Walter put to ball to Smith. Smith shot the ball wide of the Cambridge goal.

With ten minutes to go it seemed that St Albans would hold the professionals to their one goal. Then, as happened many times this season for the Citizens, a touch of second half sagginess affected the team. And it proved fatal.

Benning, who had come more into the game in the second half, stated an attack on the right wing. He crossed the ball to Banks who slipped it to BRIAN MOORE. He was tackled very heavily by Payne, but was first to recover and found the ball at his feet. He was able to pick his spot as Cambridge went 2-0 up.

Three minutes from time the St Albans defence lapsed fatally. Benning raced up the wing after Sam Salt had found an opening. This time Benning put the ball across into the middle Payne, thinking a fellow defender was behind him, let the ball past him and BRIAN MOORE was able to hammer the ball home for number three.

Two mistakes by the St Albans defenders allowed the quick thinking Cambridge forwards to get their last two goals. But in fairness to the St Albans backs, they had been subjected to a continuous pounding before those two errors. Two errors in 90 minutes of fierce, fast, frantic and heart-pounding attack can be forgiven.

Thanks, as always, go to Brummie for providing the report!

[Daedalus]

Finally, don't forget to make your prediction for the match in Newton's prediction thread!

saintschat.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=853

[Daedalus]

Aug 15, 2011 13:27:39 GMT Boomer said:

This game won't be easy and we need to Craig Hammond down.

COYS

Thanks for posting the video Boomer.

[newton45]

Its been a long time since i was looking forward to a game as much as this one! It feels an age since Saturday!!!

I really think that if we can get as many points as possible early on then this will put is in good stead for the rest of the season, hopefully a promotion push!!!

It will be tough tonight as i have heard that Cambridge are one of the favourites for promotion but if we are as clinical as we were on Saturday and cut out the ropey first ten minutes then i think we will come through!

Come On You SAINTS!

[COYS]

The Herts Ad's City Live coverage is back tonight via this link (hopefully):

services.hertsad.co.uk/herts/features/hertsadlive/all/default.aspx

[COYS]

Only change to the side from Saturday is Brian Haule in for James Bent. The bench is quite different, though. Most noticeably, Paul Furlong is absent as he is unavailable for weekend games due to coaching commitments.

Ex-Saint JJ O'Donnell lines up in the Cambridge City first eleven, apparently at left-back. Another ex-City man, Dave Theobald, is at the centre of defence.

[Hatboy]

This will be a tester, i will be more than happy to come away with a point.

[Saint]

37 mins gone, Saints 2-0 down.

[Daedalus]

It's still very early days. It was always going to be a tough place to go this early in the season with a new team.

[Saint]

Make that 3-0.

[Saint]

HT: Cambridge 3-0 Saints.

[Daedalus]

Someone at the game says that the Saints are getting pulled around all over the place. He feels Cambridge are a good side.

Let's see how City respond second-half.

[Saint]

4-0.

[Saint]

FT: Cambridge 4-0 Saints.

[Daedalus]

My friend at the match says it was a better second-half but Cambridge still missed three open goals. He says the Saints could have lost by 6 or 7 tonight, no exaggeration, and that City didn't look like scoring all night. A reality check.

We were spoiled on Saturday but I think we all knew we would need to be patient. I'll be interested to see what the manager has to say.

[Canary Saint]

I thought City played better football tonight than they did on Saturday particularly early on. Sadly we had no cutting edge and as the first half went on became more prone to mistakes.

Second half there was plenty effort but we never really looked like getting anything out of the game.

The team is obviously is still work in progress - but it will be interesting to see what class of player the manager can be attract to the club.

Overall not too disheartened yet. Think we should finish about mid table (or lower) with players we have at the moment. Early days!

[brummie]

Hear hear Canary Saint. You have to remember that we played against one of the favourites tonight. So to lose 4-0 when it could have been 7 or 8 was lucky on our part. Perhaps by the time we have the return the players might have got to know each other more we might get a draw down at Clarence Park. I reckon we will probably finish mid table or just above, say top 10.

Its early days yet and we don't really know what all of the other team are like. For example. We have never played Barwell (who we play Saturday) before and there are some teams we haven't played for many years.

I tend to give it around 10 games before you can see whether we are going to struggle or be challenging for any honours.

[EFMTFTV]

Luckily I was too drunk to remember much of the game but the scoreline was pretty shocking

[thesaints]

I went and was somewhat dissapointed, but it is early days yet and cambridge were a very good side, proberly one of the best we will come against this season.
Sean shields was man of the match for me, he stood out by far from the rest, becoming a great play we must keep hold of him.

[Boomer]

Owsy's interview is here. Very constructive. I am getting to like this guy. Let's just hope the players listen to him on Saturday, before they take the field.

www.sacfc.co.uk/index.php/news/-manager-interview/1630-howell-looks-for-team-to-bounce-back.html

For me, our best two players on view last night were Sol and Rob. Sol covered nearly every blade of grass, wasting very little and Rob played his socks off up front, winning more than his fair share of headers against a very decent cb. Unfortunately, he had very little support. I'm not sure two big forwards together works very well, anyway. It might be better to have someone with pace alongside, feeding off him. I felt the two wide players, Sean and Jerome were disappointing. A lot of effort expended but going up blind alleys for the most part, instead of keeping it simple. Cambridge killed us down the flanks last night, mainly the right flank. Whether that was the fault of the backs or the players in front not tracking back to help and shutting down is difficult to assess.

As for their goals, the first was cross turned shot fluke effort from the right full back, the second was the result of bad marking, the third a replica of the 2nd which the keeper failed to hold on to and the 4th, down to poor defending. I'll ignore the 4 or 5 sitters that Cambridge should have buried.

Onward and upwards, Saints. Let's turn it around at Barwell and for goodness sake, keep it simple.

COYS

[Hatboy]

I was a bit worried about this match but we need a good few games to get a settled side to see what we are capable of this season.

[Canary Saint]

For those who can bear to watch:

thelilywhitessoapbox.ipbhost.com/topic/1891-home-to-st-albans-city/