It was a case of déjà vu on Wednesday as the Blues lined up against the University of Bedfordshire (Luton) at Fenners for a second consecutive week, this time in the 2nd round of the cup as opposed to the league. After last week’s draw, no-one expected an easy encounter, and so a strong side was fielded in spite of the growing list of absentees; Burrows joined fellow Fitzbilly Hartley in the centre of midfield to fill the gap left by Johnson who had decided to assume the role of coach in order to rest the niggling thigh strain that was aggravated last week. One positive sign was the return to the starting line-up of top scorer Matt Stock (below left), whose penetrative pace was greatly missed the week before.

Before the game Johnson made it clear that the league was his priority, next week’s away fixture being a must win top of the table clash against Bedfordshire (Bedford) – not to be confused with this week’s opponents Bedfordshire (Luton). However, the Blues were still eager to correct last week’s result and maintain their unbeaten record.

Playing at a high tempo from the first whistle the Blues dominated every area of the pitch, Burrows delivering his finest performance of the season as the midfield remained compact and outplayed Bedfordshire. Matt Cook, given his first real opportunity in the first team, also impressed as his astute runs and awareness found him space for a couple of half-chances that he could not quite convert. The closest the Blues came to taking the lead was a back post sitter that James Day volleyed over the bar from five yards, a miss he would later atone for when an almost identical delivery from Baxter’s free-kick this time found his head rather than his left boot: relishing his appointment as stand-in captain, Day did brilliantly to overpower his marker and stoop to head Cambridge in front. The Blues looked to double their lead when Burrows broke from midfield and released Stock, the forward’s usual clinical finishing a little inaccurate as the keeper pulled off a fine save.

As the Blues went two up mid-way through the second half – Baxter’s volley parried into the path of Stock whose miscued shot still found the net – Johnson decided to make some changes, bringing influential players Stock and Baxter off in an attempt to keep them fit for next week. Hylands and Spencer came on their places, the Blues switching to an effective 4-5-1 formation, with Cook continuing his fine display as a lone forward. With virtually his first touch Hylands came agonisingly close to stretching the lead, his diving header rebounding off the post. It was an interesting first experience of Blues football for Jamie Spencer, the débutant winger committing two fouls, barely touching the ball but still finding his name in the scorers’ column. Sliding in to prod home the fumbled ball, Spencer rounded off an impressive Blues performance that sees them progress to the third round of the competition.

With the winter tour of La Manga fast approaching Johnson has some difficult decisions to make as to who will make the 19 man squad that will travel for their intensive week-long training camp. Long-term injuries Max Little, Chris Gotch, Dan Kerrigan and Matt Amos are apparently close to recovery and the Blues’ strongest XI – which, with the exception of Stock’s strike partner, seems relatively fixed in place – are certainties to be included, and so the tough decisions will involve the players on the periphery of the starting line-up.

In midfield Burrows, Hylands, Broadway and Wolke will probably fight it out for seats on the plane, while strikers Kerrigan, Gotch, Amos, Laakso, and now Cook have all shown enough quality to merit inclusions.  The number of selection dilemmas for Johnson and coach Wilson to resolve already this season speaks volumes for the strength and quality of the entire Blues squad, such a wealth of talent a great achievement for University football.