Mens 1's fall to cynical Cambridge University

Havering entertained Cambridge Uni 2’s looking to build on last week’s draw away to second placed Norwich City. Havering were without Vice Captain Harry Andrews and were dealt a blow the morning of the match as influential midfielder Paul Dover was ruled out with a suspected broken wrist.

The early stages of the match were relatively even with neither side creating any real chances of note. It was the away side who broke the deadlock after being awarded the first penalty corner of the match with a Cambridge player deflecting the ball in at the far post. Havering responded and created two good opportunities of their own the first falling to Stuart Garnell who picked up the ball on the ride side of the pitch beating several defenders on the way to the D, Garnell’s first shot was saved by the visiting keeper but as the rebound fell kindly the second shot was blocked by a defender on its way to goal. The second opportunity fell to Callum Hill as he found space in the D but once again the away keeper made a good save diving at the feet of hill and clearing the ball to safety.

Cambridge were having the better of possession but failed to create much to trouble Bennett in the Havering goal but on the award of another penalty corner they doubled their advantage. Another slick routine was deflected to the left of the penalty spot with the ball flying up and striking captain Harry Jenkins in the face on the line, the ball rolled across the line and was tapped in at the far post. The impact of ball smashed the facemask resulting in a nasty facial injury to Jenkins who required immediate attention resulting in a trip to A&E and twenty stitches with the game being stopped for a prolonged period of time.

Havering now only had twelve players remaining against a full Cambridge squad and faced an uphill task going into half time 2-0 down. After some positional changes Havering rallied after the break and began to put more pressure on the Cambridge defence. A long ball from defender Jack Barlow found Paul Johnson in the D who found a foot for Havering’s first penalty corner. Havering run a routine and Josh Cipa’s effort deflected off of a Cambridge stick and into the bottom corner to bring Havering back into the game.

Pushing for an equaliser Havering were able to keep more pressure in the Cambridge half but were caught on the break with a quick Cambridge attack resulting in another penalty corner, this time a straight flick found the bottom of the goal to restore a two goal cushion. Undeterred Havering continued to attack and from a sideline hit deep in the Cambridge half Hill picked the ball up on the left and drove towards the D, beating the last defender Hill struck into the bottom corner to bring the score to 3-2.

At this point Havering were on the up and continued to push with the Cambridge keeper making another good save for Hill's drag flick. Havering's best chance came shortly after when a well worked penalty corner routine found Cipa but he was unable to connect with his shot and a defender managed to block the attempt. Shortly after Havering were made to pay as another Cambridge corner brought yet another goal with a similar routine to the one Jenkins had been injured with in the first half this time flying past Adam Lumbers on the line.

It was quickly 5-2 as Cambridge scored their only open play shot of the match as a deflected shot from the top corner of the D sent Bennett the wrong way. However the final goal and probably the best of the day went to Havering as a Cipa bullet found the top corner of the net.

A disappointing loss at home for Havering but in the circumstances a hard thought performance against a much improved team than they played in the first half of the season. Only five attempts at goal in the whole match, four corners and one open play and five goals scored Havering can only learn from a team so clinical in front of goal.