Ground #1 - Abbey Stadium

Date: 23rd September 2023

Match: Cambridge United vs Port Vale 

Competition: SkyBet League One

What better way to kick start this blog, than to give a telling of a typical home game? 

It was a fine summer/autumn (sutumn?) day. Living roughly 2 miles away from the Abbey, I walked over to ground arriving around midday to go into the supports club.

Outside the front of the Abbey, early on a match day.

The inside of the supporters club.  It has bits of united memorabilia on the walls through out. Here is also where I normally as eat on a match day, as the food options in the ground is limited and underwhelming; today I went for a cheese burger and chips (see below). Like usual before a match chatted in here with friends and family; while there was live sport shown on the screens - Woking vs York today; due to the lack of an early prem game.

Closer to kick off we made our way round to the Habbin stand.

The entrance to the North Habbin stand.

The Habbin fan zone; slightly out of shot is the beer bus. A new additon this season, thanks to the new shirt sponsors, Brewboard. 

 

For those who may not know the layout of the Abbey, I'll show you.

The stand behind the goal is the Newmarket Road End (NRE). I's where the noise normally comes from. 

The stand opposite the Habbin is the main stand is an all seater.

The all seater stand behind the goal is the away end and is where away fans are typically placed. 

So to the actual game it self then. A match between two sides who started the season better than a lot of 'experts' predicted. Just before kick off there was a minutes applause  for former Cambridge fan and turnstile operator Steve Foster, which was observed excellently by everyone in the ground.

The 1st half wasn't high on quality, especially from the home side. Vale went ahead on 20 minutes when Ben Garrity latched onto a well placed pass and firing into the bottom corner. Cambridge's best chance of the half came on the half hour mark; Sullay Kaikai forcing the Vale into making a good save. Port Vale almost grabbed a 2nd in bizarre circumstances; James Wilson chased down Cambridge keeper Will Mannion, with his clearance hitting the striker and only just going over the crossbar. The score remind like that at half time.  

Half time entertainment this season involves a fan from each side wearing a zorb and trying to win a mini game of football.

Cambridge was lacking a creative spark and some intent, and on the hour Mark Bonner made a triple change. Almost instantly got rewarded when left Danny Andrew struck the post. The equaliser wasn't far away though. A blistering run and cross from Palace loanne John-Kymani Gordon and a header at the back post from super sub Fejiri Okenabirhie scored yet again off the bench - 4th time this season (hopefully he'll start at Derby). A few moments later it was hearts in mouth time, as a poor pass from the Cambridge defence allowed Port Vale to get a chance away, which they should probably have scored from. In the final minute of normal time Cambridge was given a penalty after Lankaster was brought down. After scoring a penalty at Wigan last weekend Fejiri took the ball and placed it on the spot. However this time the penalty wasn't as well taken and Port Vale keeper Connor Ripley was able to make the save. After 7 minutes of injury time the game ended.

The final score of 1-1 was probably a fair result. Port Vale equipped themselves well and for 60 minutes Cambridge wasn't at the races. This is the sort of game Cambridge would have lost last season. 

Attendance: 6,905

Man of the match: Connor Ripley