County v Cambridge: Match Thread (10/08/2024)

Very impressed by the energy level on display across the 97 or so minutes today. The side had a nice balance to it - dribbling, flair, physicality and largely well-orchestrated pressing out of possession.

In the first half it was really only mislaid passes that caused our own limited problems; Addai saving after his own error. Horsfall's early 2nd half last ditch tackle was fantastically timed to 'save the day' and Addai palmed away later on.

With two excellent goals, Collar's ruled-out effort and Diamond's miss, there was clearly the opportunity to see a scoreline even more favourable, and deserved I would say. I think the comfortable nature of it was in a large part down to the good work of Camps and Bate, who consistently held the midfield while Collar made his countless runs beyond Wootton or to link with a wide attacker.

It did feel like, with getting people in early, we were playing as a collective so good work on that front shouldn't go unmentioned.

Here's to a successful season.

Really enjoyed that visit today! With the offside goal I couldn’t really tell from the Cheadle End. The Lino have it very late and there were two players running in behind. For me Wooton was really impressive all game causing them endless problems and so deserved his goal. As has been said we caused our own problems rather than them creating anything. Bate was everywhere across the middle. A real captains performance.
As this team knits together as a squad we could see some very good things. It will be a few weeks before we know what the real overall standard of the league is. Their strikers looked dangerous without actually threatening. Great tackle and solid save in the second half were there only real chances. We played out very calmly from the back and I felt Addai was pretty solid and distributed well and calmly - especially after a nearly calamitous moment early on. The goal from Barrie was so early that as they came back into the game one almost forgot that we were winning. Nice to get the second to settle nerves. Although he was only on briefly I thought the young lad from Everton looked really assured and he stepped into midfield for the final few minutes playing one lovely ball upfield.

Cautiously optimistic at this point. Play the reserves against Blackburn because they will kick whoever is in front of them.