The first time I can remember having a league game in July!
Hot and sunny is nice, but not when I am selling programmes and 50/50 draw tickets in the Habbin. No cash sales allowed inside the Abbey, and trying to see the card machine screen in bright sun is practically impossible. The user interface needs to be improved to speed up the transaction time, and having to do separate transactions for programmes and 50/50 really makes the queue build up.
However many texts, tweets and web pages there are to inform people that the Abbey is cashless, there are many who didn’t know, and quite a few who do not own a credit card, so sales were lost. However a shortage of programmes meant I sold out 15 minutes before kick off, so after returning the card machine and ticket stubs to the club shop I was in the ground to see the start of the game for a change. Every cloud!
The first few minutes of the game was all MK, and they hit the bar with a shot. U’s responded, and Knibbs got booked after being fouled, apparently simulation! He got his revenge soon after, picking up a flick on outside their penalty area, slaloming in past a couple of defenders before finishing in the corner in front of the MK fans, who then got to see him close up giving them “the ears”!
The rest of the game seemed to be MK passing the ball around their defence with the occasional long ball to the front or wide, with U’s happy to hit on the break. Loading the box for a free kick or corner inspired Jones to clear everything, leaving Mitov with a fairly easy day. Okadina showed his pace occasionally to cleat up any through balls, full backs stopped many crossing opportunities.
Our formation seemed to move between 4-3-3 and 4-5-1 depending on where MK had the ball, the midfield and attack working as a solid unit.
Janneh came on for the 5 minutes of added time and showed some outrageous skill to keep the ball and frustrate MK deep in their half.
Another new player in Haunstrup came on to replace the injured Dunk for the last 10 minutes, and was promptly taken out by an MK who got booked.
Possession/shot/shots on target look interesting, CUFC: 33%/12/3 with MK: 67%/8/0! Possession may be 9 parts of the law, but goal gets points! All in all a good opening day match.
Terry Wilby