Magpies get lesson from Cambridge (20.08.05)

PROMOTION hopefuls Cambridge City gave the Magpies a footballing lesson consisting of five of the best at York Road on Saturday.
Despite fielding a defence including the injured Lee Kersey, which was further weakened by the absence of Bryan Smith with a groin injury, United began the game encouragingly enough.
With both teams eager to play football, a goal never looked far away, although in truth neither goalkeeper had much to do in the first half.
For Maidenhead, Michael Barima made strong headway down the right wing and on five minutes an excellent cross looked set to provide Kelvin McIntosh with a tap-in, before a last-ditch tackle diverted the ball to safety.
In reply, Cambridge threatened on the counter-attack, with wingers Dale Binns and Craig Dobson working hard to create an opening for goal machine Dave Sadler.
Just as the Magpies fans were looking forward to some half-time refreshment, savouring the prospect of a potential upset, reality bit hard, with a pair of goals in the final two minutes giving Cambridge their expected lead.
The first on 43 minutes saw Sadler take advantage of a defensive mix up to turn and score with a splendid effort from 12 yards out.
Two minutes later, Mark Molesley doubled the lead after a penetrating run from the left wing which culminated in an explosive finish, giving goalkeeper Jody Wainwright no chance.
Early in the second half, United almost got back into the game when a neat lofted pass from Stephen Hughes put Robert Traynor in the clear, only for his lob to go just past the post.
This miss proved costly, as on 53 minutes Dale Binns waltzed through the United defence to score with ease and extend City’s lead.
Traynor again went close on 72 minutes when his long-range shot was scrambled wide by Cambridge goalkeeper Ricky Millard.
But just two minutes later defender Jamie Southon scored perhaps the goal of the afternoon, when he latched on to a loose ball on the right side of the penalty area and fired home from a tight angle.
The rout was completed on 78 minutes when, from a Maidenhead corner, the bounce from the clearance found Binns, who raced clear before unselfishly squaring a pass to the unmarked substitute Lee Chaffey to score.
Maidenhead’s hapless afternoon was soon complete, when a Barrie Matthews header hit the back of the net, only for the linesman’s flag to rule it out.

FALLING DOWN: Magpie Kelvin McIntosh is sent tumbling. Ref:89780/13