Football: Cambridge refuse to spring a leak

Cambridge United 0

Cardiff City 0

Attendance: 7,787

A TITLE race is always likely to inspire the people of Cambridge more than any Boat Race ever could, but the Amber and Blacks could not emulate the Light Blues yesterday.

A goalless draw played out in front of a packed Abbey Stadium - seemingly oblivious to events on the Thames - kept Cardiff two points ahead on top of the Third Division, but Cambridge, with two games in hand, will be eyeing the silverware even more expectantly now.

There is little between these two well-organised sides put together by the Cambridge manager, Roy McFarland, and his Cardiff counterpart, Frank Burrows, with minimum cost but to maximum effect. Both should go up but must heed the lessons of Notts County - last season's runaway Third Division winners now strugging in the Second Division - and invest if their climb is not to be fruitless.

Cardiff look most suited to the higher leagues, boasting a travelling support which is usually reserved for rugby internationals and Tom Jones concerts. They will be aggrieved that three points did not head over the Severn Bridge after a tense match they deserved to win.

Cardiff's determination to break the Abbey winning habit - unbeaten in 14 home games - was plain to see in the first half. A fourth-minute shot by Neil McKenzie was all the home side could claim in 45 minutes that belonged to the Welshmen.

"You only sing when you're rowing," the Cardiff contingent - making up a third of the near 8,000 crowd - chanted, but the Cambridge faithful had little to sing about. Jason Fowler had the first chance to send Cardiff ahead but sliced wide after Kevin Nugent's clever flick had put the midfielder through.

Cambridge found it increasingly difficult to break out of their half as three central defenders formed a human wall on the halfway line. One of these, captain Mike Ford, almost headed the visitors into the lead but Shaun Marshall's flailing right fist cleared the danger.

Cambridge broke the silence at the Abbey with a lively opening to the second half. Jon Hallworth, the Cardiff goalkeeper, had to punch away John Taylor's header on 52 minutes but, eight minutes later, was beaten as Ian Ashbee's 30-yard free-kick fizzed inches past the left post.

Apart from Taylor's nod-down moments later, which somehow evaded Martin Butler, that was it for Cambridge, who spent the rest of the afternoon defending in numbers.

Andy Legg, the impressive Jason Bowen and Craig Middleton went close as Cardiff did all but score three times in as many minutes at the 70- minute mark. Cardiff's substitute, John Williams, almost snatched it at the death but stumbled in the six-yard box. It was Cambridge who will feel it was their day.