Cambridge 2 - 2 Bedford (Luton)

Bedford (Luton) may be languishing in the lower reaches of the BUCS division (see table on far right) but in clinching a 2-2 draw on Monday night they provided the toughest test yet to an undefeated Blues football team who remain on course to complete a historic season.  Captain Michael Johnson knew the importance of the two mid week games for the Blues, wins practically securing league promotion, defeats leaving them in a tight contest with East Anglia. 

It is the team from the other University of Bedfordshire campus who currently top the table, but Bedford (Luton) showed that Blues captain Michael Johnson was correct to single them out as the one side who, at full strength, can match anyone in the division.  Although perhaps lacking organisation in defence, the pace and power the visitors boasted going forward meant the Blues could never rest easy despite dominating possession for large parts of the ninety minutes.

The relegation-battlers also ensured that the spectators who packed out the lower tier of the Grange Road Clubhouse Stand were given something to keep their mind off the paralysing cold.  It was Bedford’s number 12 whose stunning strike opened the scoring and brought the game to life just before half-time, and whose delicately executed chip was glanced in less than ten minutes before the final whistle, cancelling out the Cambridge lead and causing the game’s principal controversy.

The opening goal had been something of a shock to the system for the Blues, who felt, in their captain’s words, “invincible” since returning from a mid-season Spanish tour.  Yet Cambridge fought back, firstly when Mark Baxter beat the goalkeeper to a through ball to equalise on the hour, and then from a quick and concise move which found Johnson in space in the box and gave him time to pick out the bottom corner and give the Blues the lead ten minutes later.

Allegations of a shirt-pull on James Day by the Bedford forward surrounded the equaliser, but the away side would have felt justified in taking a point after both sides had shown terrific character when going a goal down.

On a pitch which showed all the signs of a hard rugby season and exceptionally harsh winter, the first half was an unsurprisingly scrappy affair.  The Blues gave the impression that they were in charge of directing affairs, but often found themselves frustrated as endless balls into the channels either fell awkwardly or were misjudged on a pitch much bigger than usual.  Early bursts of pace and skill by Matt Stock were noted by the visitors’ defence who soon did their best to give him no time on the ball, and although his strike partner Amos had three missed chances, it would be harsh to describe them as guilt-edged.

Meanwhile, Bedford, the only team to hit the back of the Cambridge net in the league this season, had given occasional warning signs from the first minute when Dan Gwyther had to stretch to deny a visiting attacker a straightforward headed chance.  Stuart Ferguson in the Blues goal was also forced into a smart reaction save from close range minutes later.

Yet there was nothing he could do about the goal when it came.  With no one willing to make the tackle, Bedford’s 12 took advantage to unleash an unstoppable rocket of a shot from the edge of the penalty area which rebounded in off the angle of the right-hand post.

Cambridge could no longer simply cruise and wait for an opposition mistake and suddenly the pressure was on.  To the groans of the crowd, Paul Hartley fluffed his lines in front of goal after some intricate play by Jack Hylands.  Fortunately, Hartley soon found some passing form that he had been badly lacking in the first half to provide both Cambridge goals.

Having had so much possession, the Blues will be disappointed not to have picked up three points, but promotion is still in their hands.  Johnson later commented: “We can make no excuses at the end of the season because the best team always wins the league.  In some ways we needed a kick up the arse but I was delighted with the fight we showed in the second half and every game is a must win from here. I’m still very confident we can do that - particularly with four proven, quality goal scorers to choose from in Stock, Gotch, Kerrigan and Amos.”

Playing their second game in the space of a week, the Blues travelled to Oxford in the hope of, temporarily, restoring themselves to top spot in the table. Playing against a winless Oxford Brookes, Johnson was forced to employ a slightly shuffled starting line-up. Instrumental central midfielder Paul Hartley was a major loss in the middle of the park, his diligent hard work and insightful passing lacking from a midfield that struggled to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Despite the changes in personnel the Blues failed to put their season back on track. A second slip-up in the space of a week could have jeopardised Cambridge’s promotion aspirations, allowing East Anglia to overtake them in second place. This week’s fixtures definitely opened that possibility.

The game ended 1-1, Stock scoring the only goal, and the result means that the Blues need to keep their composure in the remaining games if they have any hope of promotion.  The league is as much of a priority as Varsity for the Blues and it is integral to the long term development of the side that the Blues secure league promotion in their upcoming fixtures