Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Cambridge United 1-0 Ipswich Town - Match Report
Tuesday, 18th Oct 2022 21:03

The Blues are through to the knockout stage of the Papa Johns Trophy, despite a 1-0 defeat at Cambridge United in their final group game having been reduced to 10 men in only the 17th minute following Kyle Edwards’s sending off. The Blues had been largely in control but the home side began to get on top in the second half and sub Lewis Simper’s 79th minute goal sealed the victory for the U’s.

Town named a stronger than perhaps anticipated side but with youngsters Cameron Humphreys, Edwin Agbaje and Tawanda Chirewa all starting.

Republic of Ireland U18 international Agbaje made his senior debut on the right side of the defence alongside Richard Keogh and Luke Woolfenden. Vaclav Hladky was in goal.

Kayden Jackson was the right wing-back with Kane Vincent-Young on the left with Lee Evans, who skippered, alongside Cameron Humphreys in central midfield.

Full debutant Chirewa, whose only previous senior appearance came as a sub in the same competition at Colchester when aged 16 three years ago, was one of the number 10s alongside Edwards with Tyreece John-Jules the lone central striker.

Recent signing Panutche Camara, George Edmundson, Conor Chaplin, Wes Burns and Freddie Ladapo were on a strong bench along with young keeper Nick Hayes and U21s central defender Albie Armin. For Cambridge, former Town forward Jack Lankester was a starter.

John-Jules struck the first shot of the game in the second minute, Jackson cutting the ball back to the Arsenal loanee on the edge of the area, but his effort was too close to home keeper Will Mannion.

Two minutes later, John-Jules hooked the ball well over from a corner on the right, then in the seventh minute Edwards caught Zeno Rossi in the face with a high boot inside the Cambridge box as he looked to get on a bouncing ball. On 15, Edwards shot wide.

Two minutes later, the former West Brom man was given his marching orders. Edwards skipped his way past Jubril Okedina on the edge of the area on the Town left and looked to be tripped. However, referee Thomas Parsons felt Edwards had dived and showed him a yellow and then a red card much to the player’s bewilderment.

It looked a very poor decision in real time which video evidence appeared to confirm. Edwards will be suspended for the Blues' round of 32 Papa Johns Trophy match.

Ben Worman shot straight at Town keeper Hladky on 25 as Cambridge sought to make the most of their one-man advantage. Four minutes later, home skipper Gregory Taylor was booked for pulling back Chirewa, who had made a bright start.


Despite being a man down, the Blues continued to see most of the ball and take the game to the U’s, although without threatening.

Cambridge had similarly created nothing in front of goal until the 42nd minute when Fejiri Okenabirhie shot not too far over the bar from the edge of the area.

Just before half-time, Woolfenden was booked for a challenge on James Brophy, although the defender was adamant that he got a foot on the ball, and he looked to have a case. Lankester sent the resultant free-kick deep into the Town fans behind the goal.

At the whistle, Blues boss Kieran McKenna made his way over to referee Parsons to make his frustrations clear regarding the red card, the latest in a series of bad decisions to have gone against Town this season.

But despite being a man down, Town had still controlled the game for the most part, albeit while rarely threatening.

Cambridge had had a couple of chances late on before the whistle, but other than that the Town backline had been comfortable.

The Blues made a quadruple change at the break, debutant Camara, Edmundson, Burns and Ladapo taking over from Jackson, Evans, Woolfenden and John-Jules. Cambridge swapped Liam O’Neil for Simper.

Two minutes after the restart, Agbaje played in Burns down the right and the Welshman hit an effort off the near post, then his second was diverted behind.

The disparity in numbers continued to make little difference with the Blues still having most of the possession with the game played mostly in the Cambridge half.

Just before the hour, Burns struck a shot which was blocked, then Chirewa scuffed an effort through to Mannion but having been fouled. The free-kick came to nothing.

There was a scare for the Blues on 60 when Okenabirhie’s shot was turned against Keogh, then the former Derby man blocked from Saikou Janneh.

Cambridge were starting to look more threatening, Worman hitting a shot which was deflected wide in the 63rd minute.

A minute later following a corner on the left, a loose ball fell to Lankester on the edge of the box but Humphreys dived in to block, the ball looping up onto the top of the bar and over. On 65 Brophy cut in from the left and hit straight at Hladky.

Cambridge should have gone in front in the 71st minute with the home side putting Town under pressure for the first time. After a neat move down the left, Okenabirhie swept across the face and wide when it looked easier to hit the target. Two minutes later, Chirewa was booked for a foul on Janneh.

As the game moved into its final 15 minutes, the U’s had another chance, substitute Harvey Knibbs turning the ball goalwards from a low left-wing cross but too close to Hladky, who claimed down to his left.

In the 79th minute the goal which Cambridge had been threatening came. Town appealed in vain for offside as a ball was played over the top and eventually it was played out to Simper, who struck a low 25-yard shot through a crowd of players, off the inside of the post and into the net.

Brophy was booked for a foul on Burns as he broke forward in the 85th minute, then a minute later the Wales international saw a shot blocked as the Blues began to get back on top.

Agbaje, who had enjoyed an impressive and composed debut, was replaced by Armin for the final three minutes, the sub immediately making a vital saving challenge as Cambridge sub Sam Smith counter-attacked following a Town corner.

Deep in injury time, Knibbs turned the ball to Hladky and seconds later referee Parsons’s whistle confirmed Town’s first defeat in the competition this season.

The Blues had started very positively but Edwards’s harsh first-half red card inevitably made the task tougher for the Blues, however, for much of the game they coped admirably but without creating a serious chance.

Manager McKenna made four changes at the break to freshen things up but eventually the difference in numbers started to tell with Cambridge getting on top during the spell in which they scored.
"Despite the defeat, Town top their group meaning they will have a home match in the round of 32.

Cambridge are out with Arsenal U21s finishing second having beaten Northampton 3-1 at Sixfields this evening.

Cambridge Utd: Mannion, Williams (Knibbs 66), Taylor (c), Brophy, O’Neil (Simper 46), Lankester, Okedina, Rossi, Janneh (Smith 75), Okenabirhie, Worman. Unused: Holden, Cowling, Jobe, McConnell.

Town: Hladky, Agbaje (Armin 87), Keogh, Woolfenden (Edmundson 46), Jackson (Burns 46), Evans (c) (Camara 46), Humphreys, Vincent-Young, Edwards, Chirewa, John-Jules (Ladapo 46). Unused: Hayes, Chaplin. Referee: Thomas Parsons (Rochdale). Att: (Town: 1,218).


Photo: Steve Waller



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



RobsonWark added 21:05 - Oct 18
Pizza Trophy. I can not get excited about this competition ever.
2

tobymeadz91 added 21:06 - Oct 18
Not too worry, focus is on Derby COYB!!

3

BlueRuin69 added 21:06 - Oct 18
Top the group so well done boys but of course it's the ref again who steals the headline dear oh dear joke decision to send off edwards, where do they get them from?….
9

Help added 21:07 - Oct 18
so not the bounce back we wanted. However, Friday is the real test of the team after last Saturday.
2

arc added 21:08 - Oct 18
So is Edwards now suspended for the Derby match? That's a real kick in the teeth, if so, because he's been looking good.
0

IpswichT62OldBoy added 21:10 - Oct 18
I think any disciplinary points received in this comp stay in the comp.
4

blueboy1981 added 21:10 - Oct 18
Two Consecutive Defeats against relatively Minnow Teams compared to ITFC.
Accept that - and don't keep trawling for excuses, you embarrass yourselves.
-21

jas0999 added 21:14 - Oct 18
Two very poor loses. Not critical tonight, but as winning breeds confidence, two defeats without scoring us a concern. Must win on Friday. Defeat at the weekend means no other result will do. Are our loan strikers good enough? Time will tell.
4

BlueInBerks added 21:16 - Oct 18
Yes, I know we're already qualified and the result hardly matters. But it was SO obvious Cambs were going to score when they did, is it more important to give our fullbacks a run out than win the game and carry the confidence over to Friday?
2

DavoIPB added 21:16 - Oct 18
We just lost to Cambridge reserves. Whatever we tell ourselves that is still embarrassing.
-5

budgieplucker added 21:20 - Oct 18
All credit to all the lads and the youngsters who all contributed under difficult circumstances.

Humphreys outstanding and what a player he is going to be.

It's very difficult to criticise anyone other than the referee who deserves to be suspended for that anal performance. I am normally quite reserved in criticising officials but that was a nonsense decision and could have spoilt a good game of football. Again credit for the brave performance by not looking as if we had one less player. Unfortunately though we tired as suspected, but in the balance of play we could have actually one that game but again we are so wasteful in attack and I feel that could be our downfall this season if we slip out of the top two.
14

DerryfromBury added 21:29 - Oct 18
Stright swap, Jackson for Lancaster in January
-9

KMcBlue added 21:33 - Oct 18
Keogh is the best defender at the club
2

Saxonblue74 added 21:41 - Oct 18
Where do these officials come from? 1200 took the (albeit short) trip tonight to see that ridiculous decision. Result totally unimportant. What was important was the superb performances of our young players. That tackle from Armin would grace any prem match! A very positive night in my opinion, well played ITFC youth!
11

dirtydingusmagee added 21:52 - Oct 18
I know its a puny cup comp but im starting to get a bit worried hope the wheels are not going to come off, we are not looking so strong recently.
7

Suffolkboy added 21:55 - Oct 18
Presumably with video evidence available we shall see ITFC appeal the decision asap ! Much remains to be done about improving the standards of officiating ; the Officials Teams must demonstrate they too care about below standard performances , which of themselves do nothing to enhance public perceptions of inadequacy ,whether that is right or wrong !
At all levels , including VAR usage , doubt persists ; perfection is simply not possible, but the sport , the game ,the players ,the Managers and supporters will increasingly become disenchanted if nothing is apparently done ,or determination expressed from the very top of the Officials bodies down .
Roll on the incoming new appointee to replace and build on what Mr Riley has started !
COYB
1

Jugsy added 21:56 - Oct 18
Edwards will be available for Friday. Bookings stay in the competition. Ball was out of this match because he'd pick up two yellows in the other games.
2

pg888 added 21:57 - Oct 18
2 yellows so we can't appeal sadly, still missing a pizza cup game isn't really a worry!
3

herfie added 21:58 - Oct 18
If allowed, we should certainly appeal the outrageous red card. The general standard of refs below Phipps/C'ship level is frequently sub-standard. But nothing ever seems to be done to either recognise or improve.

Does tonight's result matter that much? Can we use a poor ref/sending off as a get out of gaol card?
But taken with our performance against Lincoln, there's just the feint sound of alarm bells starting to ring. No need to over-react, but both our attacking and defensive effectiveness need attention. Friday's match becomes of serious importance.

3

pablo123 added 22:03 - Oct 18
Oh well , disappointing but already through so no matter !!! Oh and the budgies lost AGAIN 😁😁!!! On to derby , big game on Friday, c'mon you blues !!!!!!
4

Saxonblue74 added 22:09 - Oct 18
NO ALARM BELLS!!! A freak result against Lincoln and a good performance from our future tonight. Keep calm!!!
5

jimbob1968 added 22:40 - Oct 18
Some great performances from younger players, bodes well for the future. We never stopped and predominately looked like the better team until they got a foothold. Never a sending off in my opinion. I know a few see this as a ‘Mickey Mouse' comp but it does give game time to our younger and second string members. Game time is valuable to the whole squad. Let's not push the panic button just yet. Remember that before the weekend we were ‘Defo going up' and' KMC is the best manager we've had'. Let's not be hypocrites.
3

FrankMarshall added 22:41 - Oct 18
Nothing game but do hope we turn the tide on Friday. 3 straight losses and the doom and gloom will once more descend on our club.

The Pizza Cup is worth little unless a team reaches the final so I'm certainly not going to be losing sleep on this one. Getting knocked out of the league cup was much worse.
4

churchmans added 23:10 - Oct 18
I'm not sure what others where watching tonight! But I thought it was a dull game caused by the reff!
Good run out against Cambridge reserves!
Hope my sneaking fears are gone at full time friday night
3

churchmans added 23:10 - Oct 18
I'm not sure what others where watching tonight! But I thought it was a dull game caused by the reff!
Good run out against Cambridge reserves!
Hope my sneaking fears are gone at full time friday night
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024