The Blues went into this game undefeated in six games, but off the back of a frustrating draw against Chelmsford.  Facing a Bishop’s Stortford side five spots below them in the league, Cambridge were hoping to return to the winning form that had seen them beat League leaders West Herts.

The Blues started the game well, with slick ball movement and consistent possession.  Striker Gus Kennedy was an early threat, winning a short corner after a reverse stick strike.  Cambridge continued to pile on the pressure, playing a high tempo style and forcing Stortford to resort to physicality.  At the same time, an altered half court press paid dividends against an uncomfortable back four.

No goals were forthcoming for Cambridge, however and instead a rare Stortford attack gave the visitors a short corner.  Keeper Graeme Morrison deftly saved the initial flick, but the rebound fell to a Stortford attacker who wasted no time putting it away.  As had happened a week before, Cambridge found themselves a goal down despite seeming in control of the game, but once again they were able to respond almost instantly, with a flick from Vice-Captain Felix Styles finding the net.

With the game poised, the Blues sought to grab a second before half time.  Rupert Allison dazzled in the midfield, while Will Harrison succeeded in winning a short corner just before the half.  This time, however, the keeper was a match for the Styles flick, and the score at halftime was 1-1.

The second half provided more of the same, as the Blues held the ball and built against a sturdy Stortford defence.  Ollie Salvesen worked the left baseline while Kennedy shot again, this time high and wide.  Meanwhile, Stortford’s attack seemed largely dependent on breakaways, with Harrison providing a last ditch stop.  As the game devolved into a series of goalmouth scrambles in the visitors’ ‘D’, Cambridge came tantalizingly close to taking the lead, with Sam Grimshaw finding the goal after a premature umpire’s whistle.  Salvesen continued to threaten, beating the keeper only to have his shot saved.

Just when a goal seemed inevitable, Stortford stemmed the tide and had a brief spell of their own, as their long balls began to find their mark.  The Cambridge back four held out and regained control, however, as Harrison pirouetted his way around Stortford attackers and Charles Hardy provided some of the crowd-pleasing flair he’s become known for.

With five minutes remaining, there were a catalogue of almost chances, with a Cambridge deflection trickling along the goal line and an Allison break very nearly yielding results.  With time winding down, Rory Preston drove into the ‘D’ to win a short corner, which would be the final opportunity of the match.  Fittingly, there was a goalmouth scramble, but Stortford were able to somehow clear the ball.  Cambridge would press forward but the umpires shortly drew time on another frustrating draw for the Blues.

Once again, Cambridge were the dominant side but were unable to turn that into three points.  The Blues will have to wait until next week to try and regain that winning feeling against St. Albans.

Elsewhere, the Wanderers lost narrowly to Letchworth, while the Squanderers beat Norwich 2-0 behind a pair of Tim Headley goals.