Magpies left feeling flat at Cambridge (21.01.06)

DESPITE fielding a defence containing three debutants, including new club captain Nathan Bunce, the Magpies were unable to stem the flow against a rampant Cambridge City on Saturday.
The new line-up provided a more organised approach, but the lack of attacking outlets (with Lee Newman transferred to Eastbourne 24 hours previously and Stephen Hughes suspended) meant that the pressure on the United backline was relentless.
The first goal came in the 32nd minute when a persistent run by Paul Booth saw him eventually beat Joe Bruce on the edge of the right hand side of the penalty area and unleash a perfect shot which beat the dive of Scott Tarr and neatly ran into the far corner of the goal.
Half-time provided something of a respite but Tarr had to be at his best in the 54th minute to deny the impressive Lee Chaffey from a tight angle.
The introduction of Ryan Ashe just short of the hour gave the United midfield a more effective edge, but any hopes of emerging from the match with any credit were wiped out in a five minute spell.
Firstly, Graham Porter was dismissed for an innocuous tackle which led to his second booking, and then City scored the decisive second goal which came when substitute Michael Gash took advantage of a myopic linesman to run through from an offside position and score with virtually his first touch.
With the 10 men of United having little option but to throw everything in an attempt to get back into the game, chances came quickly for City on the break.
Although Tarr did well to keep the deficit to two, he was helpless to stop a third goal in injury time when, from a Gash cross, Dave Sadler hit the post, and Mark Molesley fired the loose ball into the empty net.

GROUNDED: United’s Steve Dell is floored by a challenge on Saturday.

Cambridge City: Naisbit, Pope, Chaffey, Fuff, Langston, Simpson J (72 Moseley), Dobson (69 Sadler), Lincoln, Simpson R (67 Gash), Booth, Binns. Unused sub: Stone.
Maidenhead United: Tarr, Dell, Parsons, Bunce, Bruce, Porter, Johnson, Smith, Whiteman, Glynn (69 Bradshaw), Badu (59 Ashe). Unused subs: Gallen, Lunn, Stevenson.