Much more benign conditions this week but at least the match kicked off in sunshine. Neither side made much progress into each other's half for the first quarter hour with the only chances coming from Jason Cowley who hit the side netting for Sporting and Adam Watkins for City whose cross cum shot was easily gathered by Jono Brown. However on the 15th minute Will Shorrock floated over a delightful cross that Cowley unluckily headed against the crossbar.
By now, the home side's tactics had become apparent with a solid back four backed up by a steady line of five in mid-field leaving Josh Oyinsan as the lone striker and a reliance on quick breaks up-field. Oyinsan though nearly gave his side the lead on 23 minutes when (and unusually) he beat Danny Morris for pace and curled a shot from just outside the box that Brown had to palm out for a corner.
Eight minutes later and again City had the woodwork to thank, this time Charlie Dowd hit the post from a narrow angle.
After half-time, Cambridge seemed to loosen their tight defensive pattern and looked as if they now wanted the three points as they put pressured Sporting more in their own territory and that paid off for them in the 54th minute. Mike McGrath attempted to head clear a long ball only to loft it skywards. As he attempted to recover, Watkins picked up, made a quick forward run before firing past Brown to give his side the lead.
That though was only to last 10 minutes before Sporting evened things up from a Josh Quaynor free-kick that Richard Gregory glanced on to Mike McGrath who headed into the top right-hand corner from short range.
A few minutes later it was Sporting thanking the woodwork when Nathan Olukanmi hit the right-hand post after lobbing Brown.
The last fifteen minutes were played a somewhat faster pace with both sides looking for the winner but panic tended to set in with City blasting several attempts over the bar and Sporting getting close but never quite getting the killer touch.
At the end there were more cheers from the home fans who were clearly pleased to gain a point. After the match, assistant manager Andy Mason said "I thought we were worth a win but with Cambridge 'parking the bus 'it was always going to be difficult".
Cambridge: Jamie Head, Ben Robinson, Seb Simpson, Ross Paterson (Capt.), Keano Robinson, Joe Robinson, Nathan Olukanmi (James Hall 84 mins), Adam Watkins, Josh Oyinsan, Ryan Sharman (Isaac Maynard 46 mins, Adam Capel 60 mins), Micky Davis).
Substitutes not used: David Theobald, Matthew Baxter.
Goal: Adam Watkins (54 mins)
Cards: none
Sporting: Jono Brown, Aaron Roberts (Ashanti Pryce 64 mins), Jack Wilson, Nathan Hayward, Mike McGrath, Danny Morris Charlie Dowd (John Pykett 64 mins), Josh Quaynor, Jason Cowley, Richard Gregory (Capt.), Will Shorrock.
Substitutes not used: Tom Taylor, Dan O'Sullivan, Tom Massey.
Goal: Mike McGrath (65 mins).
Cards: None
Referee: Mr A Humphries (Daventry)
Assistants: Mr L Scott (Northampton), Mr D Jarrett (Northampton)
Sporting MoM: Mike McGrath
Crowd: 270
Weather: Mild, sunny.
Report: Phil Baker
Cambridge City and Bromsgrove Sporting produced a great advert for the league in a match that was a real contest, but one that ultimately saw both sides settle for a point.
It was always going to be a massive test for City, with Bromsgrove being the current league leaders, especially with City only recording one win from their last 6 league outings.
Bromsgrove arrived top of the league on goal difference ahead of Peterborough Sports, and on paper it looked like a routine 3 points for the visitors. However, City had the bonus of striker Josh Oyinsan returning after serving a 4 match suspension whilst Ross Paterson slotted in ahead of the injured Josh Simpson and James Hall had to make a do with a place on the bench.
Although the match got off to a tight start, it was Bromsgrove who began to apply the pressure as they looked for an early breakthrough. Encouragingly, the home defence was holding firm and didn’t concede an early goal – something that had been a pattern during their recent bad run of results.
Nathan Olukanmi was looking lively for City, and in one of the first moments of real danger he did well to run at the Bromsgrove defence and put in an excellent ball that just failed to pick out a white shirt.
Bromsgrove were always a threat and had an effort that hit the bar, but the chance wouldn’t have counted as the flag was up for offside. The return of Oyinsan though was proving to be a real difference for City, and it was the tall striker who went on a run, created space for himself and had a shot from distance which forced a fine save from Jonathan Brown in the Bromsgrove goal.
As the game began to open up, it was Bromsgrove who next went close as Charlie Dowd beat Seb Simpson but his effort cannoned off the upright. City then produced an excellent move as Simpson and Adam Watkins combined to set up Oyinsan, but his header went wide of the post when well placed.
The home side were then grateful to their keeper, Jamie Head for keeping it at 0-0 when Jason Cowley ghosted in at the back post only for the City stopper to deny the striker.
City were forced to make a substitution at half time as Isaac Maynard came on to replace the injured Ryan Sharman. Bromsgrove started the second period on the front foot, and almost opened the scoring when Daniel Morris stretched to reach a cross as the ball fizzed through the 6 yard box but he could only put his effort wide of the post.
But City were still doing well at containing the league leaders and the home crowd erupted when they took the lead. A ball through was met perfectly by Adam Watkins, who had beaten the offside trap and showed great composure to slot home past Brown.
It was now game on, and the visitors upped a gear as they went looking for an equaliser. Although their response wasn’t immediate, it came when a cross came over and Michael McGrath was first to react to head it past the outstretched hand of Jamie Head to level the contest.
Isaac Maynard had to come off due to a knock to the ankle and he was replaced by Adam Capel, and for a while City were rocking with Bromsgrove sensing that this was the moment to get in front. However, to their immense credit, City weathered the storm and always looked as though they could get something at the other end.
This almost happened when Nathan Olukanmi did well to win the ball back and with Brown coming off his line, the City winger lobbed the Bromsgrove keeper, but the effort bounced off the woodwork and was hacked away to safety.
Then, Josh Oyinsan saw an effort on the angle beaten away by Brown. However, it was Micky Davis who had the best opportunity when City broke and as the visiting defence couldn’t clear the ball, it came back to Davis who couldn’t convert his effort from no more than 6 yards, and it was Brown once again who denied City.
James Hall was introduced at the expense of Olukanmi as City went in search again for the winner. However, at the other end Bromsgrove continued to turn the screw and the Lilywhites survived a goal mouth scramble late on to ensure that they got a point from the contest – which is nothing less than they deserved.
For a neutral, this was a really entertaining game, and for City fans it was something of real encouragement that after such a poor run they can prove on their day they are a match for any team in the division. However, the games over Christmas do not get any easier with a Boxing Day clash at Bedford, followed by a visit to Corby and a home game with Peterborough Sports to start 2019.
Report courtesy of Cambridge City F. C.
