Cambridge City 1-2 Tilbury: Lilywhites beaten in first ever fixture at the FWD/IP Community Stadium in Sawston
There was no fairy-tale ending to a memorable day for Cambridge City as the first ever match in their new home ended in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tilbury this afternoon.
A total of 4,235 days had passed since the closure of City’s former Milton Road base in April 2013 – and since then the club has had to contend with the trials and tribulations of groundsharing while the construction of the FWD/IP Community Stadium in Sawston suffered numerous setbacks.
Ultimately, the fact that the wait is now over was the most important part of today, but there is bound to be a tinge of disappointment that the team was unable to mark the occasions with three Isthmian League North Division points.
For all of the anticipation in the build up to kick off, the first half was largely an uneventful affair until the 45th minute when Shane Temple wrote his name into the history books by becoming the new stadium’s first goalscorer.
Tilbury were unable to fully clear new signing Jamie Dicks’ inswinging corner from the right and when the ball eventually broke loose between the penalty spot and the six-yard box, Temple showed a combination of a good touch and strength before firing beyond David Hughes in the visitors’ goal.
Prior to the opener, another City debutant – Tom Richardson – shot over when well placed in the 10th minute, while goalkeeper James Philp, who was making his first start in a City shirt, turned behind a low effort from Tilbury frontman Alex Hernandez.
Having struggled to carve out anything clear cut throughout the first half, Tilbury had their first clear sight of goal in the 59th minute when Lindell Stewart got in on the blindside of the City defence, only for the attacker to drag his shot from inside the box well wide of the target.
Within 60 seconds City raced up the other end as Temple went agonisingly close to doubling his and the home side’s tally. Having beaten the offside trap, the forward lifted the ball over an advancing Hughes. A goal looked a certainty, but with the home faithful already celebrating the ball cannoned against the post and was hacked to safety.
It proved to be a key moment because five minutes later the travelling Dockers were level. Substitute Kieran Jones broke into the area and saw his progress halted by Philp, who was duly punished when referee Simon Kavanagh pointed to the penalty spot. Hernandez stepped up and duly slammed in his 12th league goal of the campaign.
Having drawn level, Tilbury enjoy a period of possession. They sent a number of dangerous deliveries into the box, but in the main the City rearguard kept Philp’s goal well protected.
And in fact it was the home side that created the next big opening when Temple and Aaron Greene exchanged passes inside the Tilbury area before the latter curled his shot inches wide of the far post.
After that the game appeared to be petering out to a draw but there was late drama when in the 86th minute Alfie Fry stood up a cross from the right byline to the back post, where Sam Bantick rose highest to head goalwards. Philp felt that he had stopped the ball before it had crossed the line, but the referee’s assistant thought otherwise and flagged for the goal.
City responded with some late pressure and a couple of Alex Warman corners caused a bit of panic in the Tilbury ranks, but they held out to play the role of party poopers to perfection.
Cambridge City: Philp, Ashley, Tassell, Gipson, Dicks, Warman, Lewis (Mubiayi), Greene, Gebrai, Richardson, Temple
Tilbury: Hughes, McQueen (Bantick), Joynes, Brodie (Carter), L Clark, Hayes, Stewart, Spooner (Jones), Hernandez, Reynolds (J Clark), Trendall
Attendance: 1,459
