EASY FOR BERRYMAN

CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1
EXETER CITY 0

It must have seemed a formality to Cambridge to see off a team that they had previously defeated no less than three times AWAY this season. As events unfolded a more assertive game from City could have produced a shock against a side that looked very jaded.

Steve Berryman, the City reserve 'keeper who surprisingly joined Cambridge a few weeks ago was ironically thrust into a league debut due to the suspension of first choice John Vaughan. He did relatively well when faced with some intimidating pressure but in all honest it was a relatively easy debut.

The game was a scrappy affair played in windy conditions on a pitch that resembled Exmouth beach. City had six first half corners against none but did not really look like making a breakthrough.

Berryman did well to push a Jim McNichol shot over the bar midway through the half but it was the home side who went ahead after 39 minutes. Kevin Miller did well to save a rare effort from the prolific John Taylor but he could not hold the ball and Tony Dennis, renowned in these part as another former City player, netted from close range

Just after the break Dion Dublin, the other half of the Cambridge scoring machine, hit the post and was inches off target in the 75th minute. That was the closest he was to get of continuing his record of scoring in every match against City this season.

In the last minute both Mark Cooper and Gary Marshall broke clear but messed up a great opportunity to score when the slightly less well placed Cooper opted to go for goal and shot a foot wide.