Actonians 1 - 5 Cambridge United

With injuries keeping a few players out or restricting them to the bench the starting lineup has changed a bit over recent weeks. However, still a sixteen-strong squad including Meila returning and being one of the As five substitutes. Two narrow defeats against Cambridge United already this season, the opposite of how results have mostly gone over the last few years, so Actonians were determined to get something out of today’s game.

There was very little created in the early period of the game by either side. Both trying to attack but with no end product. The first effort on target came in the 18th minute when Amber’s free kick was tipped over the bar. Two corners followed which came to nothing. In the 33rd minute Shakes wasn’t too far away from the target when she went past the defender and shot wide. Two Cambridge shots followed which both went over the bar and when the first half looked like being a stalemate Amber was sent through towards goal in the 45th minute. After cutting inside her marker she finished beautifully in the bottom corner. A great time to score which gave Actonians the 1-0 lead going into the break.

3 minutes into the second half Camila looked to have doubled Actonians lead. Her volley from outside the area seemed to hit the underside of the net but somehow bounced back out of the goal again and was deemed to have hit the underside of the bar. If only there was goal line technology!

On 55 minutes Cambridge United equalised. The ball hit what looked like an away team hand in the penalty area but the referee must have thought it was an Actonians hand as he allowed advantage to be played and Cambridge United found the net. Just a minute later the game was totally turned on it’s head. Jen conceded a penalty and was shown a red card. Cambridge scored from the resulting spot kick.

Just past the hour mark Tori and Meila came on to replace Shakes and Naomi but in the 69th minute Cambridge scored a third. Actonians still tried to salvage something and Camila had a shot go high and wide in the 72nd minute. With 5 minutes left on the clock Amber saw her free kick hit the top of the bar. On 87 minutes Mara replaced Amina a minute before Cambridge United made it 1-4. In injury time Jas smashed in a volley which bounced out from the underside of the bar but in the 94th minute Cambridge United scored again to make it a very harsh 1-5 final scoreline.

Despite a lack of goalmouth action Actonians looked very comfortable at half-time and it feel like two decisions turned the game prior to the red card. Camila’s “goal” and the handball which led to the Cambridge United equaliser. With a 2-0 lead things may have turned out very differently. Today’s player of the match was Amina. She has settled in well and looks to be a great addition to the midfield. Back to Rectory Park next week for a cup tie as Fulham are the visitors for the second time this season.

Report by Neil Hayward