Cambridge Preview

[Kingmouse]

_________________ York City vs Cambridge
____________________-___Bootham Crescent, York
____________________Friday 2nd Spetember 2005, 7.45pm
_____________________-___


York City’s unbeaten run came to an end on Monday and Billy Mac will be demanding his team return to winning ways against Conference new boys Cambridge United. After dominating proceedings away at Halifax the Minstermen came away from their Yorkshire neighbours with a bitter taste in the mouth and without anything to show for their fine performance both on and off the pitch.

McEwan will have a few selection issues to ponder ahead of Friday’s clash.

In defence: With club captain Mark Hotte giving away his second successive penalty the ex-Scarborough player will have to show Billy that he can keep his head during a match and use his aggression in a positive way if he is to remain first choice centre back. Hotte also faces tough competition for his centre back birth from James Dudgeon who put in a man of the match performance and chipped in with the match winning goal in his only appearance for City against Woking. Another aspect that will be playing on the mind of the City gaffer is the different style of football that Cambridge will bring to BC, the U’s have Fola Onibuje upfront, a 6’6” Nigerian who they will want to pump high balls up to which may be another reason to bring in Dudgeon to counter Fola’s obvious aerial threat.

Midfield will also be another strong talking point with Levent Yalcin breathing down the back of Darren Dunning’s neck for his starting place. The former Turkish under-18’s international is starting to more consistently produce the form that lead to his national call up of a few years ago. Lev brings a different dimension to the midfield when he has come on, he shows more attacking flair than Dunning and is also more composed in front in front of goal following his move from up front to midfield. Yalcin has replaced Dunning on several occasions this season as a sub and time will only tell as to whether McEwan puts his faith in Lev and give the youngster a starting place.

Darren Mansaram returns into contention after he had to sit out the trip to Halifax because of the terms of his loan deal. It will be a mind boggler for Billy Mac because of the form of all of his other front men - Bishop, O’Neill and Donaldson - the trio have all shown promising signs. Bishop returning to full fitness and with two goals already to his name from one start and two sub appearances may see last years top scorer retain his place in the side ahead of Mansaram. Livewire Clayton Donaldson has been terrorising opposition defences with his raw pace in the games he has played and is probably the most unlikely of the four to sit it out. Joe O’Neill has recently shown little creative spark, but he can not be ruled out after his debut hatrick against Southport this season which makes it three in four for the Scot’s man. Whoever Billy goes with will know that they need to impress to stay in the team.

City team news; The only absentee is rookie midfielder Byron Webster he is still recovering from a fractured arm he sustained during a pre-season match.


Cambridge United come into Friday’s game off the back of a disappointing home defeat by Kidderminster (2-0) with goals being conceded very late on.

Despite the defeat the U’s have been boosted by the news that much travelled striker Mark Angel has decided to extend his loan from King’s Lynn until the end of the season. The 31 year old has been around the football scene for a long time and has seven previous clubs including Sunderland and West Bromwich Albion. So far this season he has racked up one goal in his five outings for Cambridge and adds experience to an otherwise raw frontline.

United team news; Left back David Chick will miss the trip to York because his 35 day ban starts on the 29th of August through to the 2nd of October. The 20 year old picked up the hefty ban whilst playing for King’s Lynn reserves last season. The other doubt for the U’s is promising young striker Paul Atkins. The former Norwich trialist has been knocking the goals in at youth team and reserve level for Cambridge and has earned himself a first team contract at the Abbey Stadium. However Paul has had to be patient this season after being ruled out early on due to an ankle injury that kept him out and more recently he had been struck down with a virus. He may have to be content with a place on the bench due to his poor match fitness. On Monday the U’s picked up three injuries; Striker Fola Onibuje who injured his ankle ligaments, defender Dan Gleeson (thigh) and Jonny Harkness (calf) who is on loan from Walsall. All threes injuries are minor but it does put them in doubt for Cambridge’s trip up north because of the short recovery time between games.

How the Teams Line-Up

York City (Possible Team) – Porter; Price, McGurk, Hotte, Peat; Convery, Panther, Dunning; Mansaram, Bishop, Donaldson.
Substitutes; Afandiyev, Merris, Dudgeon, Yalcin, O’Neill.

Cambridge (Possible Team) – Behcet, Gleeson, Peters, Duncan, Harkness, Quinton, Smith, Bridges, Angel, Duffy, Onibuje.
Substitutes; Daniels, Turner, Okai, Davies, Nolan.

Form Guide (Last 5)

York City – DWDWL – Crawley (H), Southport (A), Grays (A), Woking (H), Halifax (A)

Cambridge – LWWDL – Forest Green (A), Hereford (H), Accrington (H), Gravesend (A), Kidderminster (H)

Related Links

Need a Lift to BC on Friday?? Try Here
United Supporter?? Try YorkCityFC.com’s Guide for Away Fans
YorkCityFC.com Prediction League

Official Woking FC Website (Prem. TV)
Cambridge fans United
Cambridge Utd Mad
Amber Army

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