Terrific win for the Crusaders

Although the visitors had the better of the first half, we kept them at bay and, with the slope in our favour after the interval pulled off a great victory against the league leaders to put us up into mid-table after a tough start to our season.

Whilst we just missed out in the battle for the play-offs last season, our visitors were defeated by St.Albans in the play-offs, the most frustrating of all outcomes for what has always been something of a lottery. Nevertheless they came to Bulpit Lane at the top of the league and obviously presented a formidable task. Paul Strudley soon made a good save from Danny Kelly but the visitors went even closer when a fierce volley from Andrew Phillips glanced off the top of the bar and flew behind for a goal-kick. Our best attack came from a long Charlie Mpi pass to Josh Parsons, but when the ball came back in Zac Barrett came out well to cut out the danger and,although we earned two corners in quick succession near the interval we did not really threaten the Cambridge goal.

We started the second half much more positively, and when Jon Boardman came up for a free-kick, he was still there to head in Mpi’s cross, the ball being deflected in off a Cambridge defender after 54 minutes.

Scott Rees soon shot just wide and when Parsons managed to catch and cross a long pass from Mpi the ball was headed away by Lee Chaffey. The visitors were still well in the game and Josh Beech headed over from a good chance.as we struggled to hold on to the lead.

We defended well and held on fairly comfortably, but in the 90th. minute Lee Smith (pictured), on for Draycott, ran on to a through ball and coolly evaded.the Cambridge defenders to slide the ball into the net and make victory certain, a great result for us.

Team;Strudley, Stow , John, Boardman, Day,Rees, Clark ,Pilling,Mpi, Draycott(Smith), Parsons(Webb).

Subs;Goodger, Pook, Barnes.