Cambridge United v AFC Wimbledon

CAMBRIDGEUTD AFCWIMBLEDON VS

Proud

MANAGERNOTES Darren Marjoram

I would like to start by welcoming AFC Wimbledon to the Abbey this afternoon. It promises to be a fantastic game with today’s visitors being most people’s favourites to win the division, and that’s no surprise with Kevin Foster as manager.

The squad he has assembled in his time at the Club is testament to him and his staff, and everyone knows the quality they have right through the team. Kevin is someone I have huge respect for and I am delighted we get to welcome him and his team to the Abbey today.

It’s been a good start to the season with two home wins in the league and two draws away from home, including a 1-1 draw against Norwich City at Carrow Road in front of a crowd of almost 5,000.

IS

Every game so far has been not only a positive result, but also positive in terms of elements of each performance.

The opening game against Haywards Heath was a comprehensive 4-0 win where we dominated the game throughout, but following that was a tough midweek to AFC Sudbury where we found ourselves 2-0 down with just 20 minutes

“KEVIN

SOMEONE I HAVE HUGE RESPECT FOR AND I AM DELIGHTED WE GET TO WELCOME HIM AND HIS TEAM TO THE ABBEY TODAY”

to go. Thankfully, a change to our formation helped us recover to draw 2-2 and by the end, we even felt unlucky not to win the game.

Next up was the game at Carrow Road, and after taking a first half lead, Norwich had a strong second half and scored from the spot to equalise just three minutes after the break. However, a combination of organised defending plus a great save from Lauren Webb kept the score at 1-1 to earn us a well-deserved point.

Last Sunday we hosted Actonians, who the week before had drawn with league leaders Ashford, and so provided a stern test. After an equal opening to the game, the visitors took the lead just before half time, but the players stayed calm and after a good start to the second half we got back on level terms with Fran Steele scoring her first for the U’s from a corner.

More pressure led to a free kick from around 25 yards out, which Alysha Stojko-Down duly put in the top corner to give us the lead. We largely controlled the game from that point and saw out the contest to record another home win.

I must also mention our new U18s team, who under manager Sean Greygoose and coach Charlotte Crisp have started their competitive

season really well with a 0-0 draw against Nottingham Forest that was far from boring! We have a really exciting group of young players coming through and this has been shown already by Serena Cobb making her First Team debut against Haywards Heath a few weeks ago.

The challenge now is for us to sustain our form and the resilience we have shown in recent weeks. There will be plenty of ups and downs throughout the season, but the group of players and staff we have are fully focused on continued progression on-and-off the pitch.

With the support we have from everyone, United in Endeavour, we will achieve our aims. Thank you for all your support.

“THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF UPS AND DOWNS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON, BUT THE GROUP OF PLAYERS AND STAFF WE HAVE ARE FULLY FOCUSED ON CONTINUED PROGRESSION ON-AND-OFF THE PITCH”

CHAIRNOTES Jenny Horsfield

Welcome everyone to today’s game and a warm welcome to our visiting players, staff and fans from AFC Wimbledon.

It’s fantastic to be back at the Abbey Stadium for the first time this season and our tremendous start to the season has only heightened everyone’s excitement.

We have worked hard over the summer to improve the team and I’d like to offer a big Cambridge United welcome to all of our new players who have joined the squad. We like to think that we are a better team today than we were at this point last season and it’s now about putting it into practice on the pitch.

The Lionesses once again did us proud this summer, as they reached the World Cup Final, and we know that their recent heroics have and will inspire our young girls to play football and dream big. It continues to be a special time for the growth of the game and a big part of that has been down to our Lionesses.

It’s up to us to capitalise on it, and with the structure that is now in place at the Club, I have no doubt that we will do so.

On that note, it was superb to see our newly formed U18s earn an extremely creditable point against Nottingham Forest in their first game of the season. With Sean and Charlotte at the helm, I am sure that the Under 18s will continue to go from strength-to-strength.

Back to the First Team and what a brilliant start it has been to the season. After a tough opening day defeat, the girls have stuck together and picked up some brilliant results to go unbeaten in the league heading into today’s game.

The stand-out result for me must be the 1-1 draw at Carrow Road. Norwich are a fantastic side – one of the best in the league – so to do so well away from home and in-front of 5,000 fans is testament to how well we played and the character of this team.

Finally, I would like to welcome and thank our sponsors, FORA, Genie Ventures, Elglaze and Belle Maison. Your support of the team is hugely appreciated and I hope you have a great afternoon.

That message goes to everyone else in the stands today – come on you U’s!

OPPOSITION AFC Winbledon

Having retained about 90% of last season’s squad, Dons manager Kevin Foster only made a few additional signings over the summer to add some more depth to the group.

Only five players came through the door - Ashleigh Goddard from London Bees, Lucy Porter signed from Lewes FC, Sandra Soares Martins joined from Leeds, Summer Roberts (out on loan) from Fulham and Nicola Gibson joined from recentlypromoted Watford.

Having finished runners up behind Hashtag United last season, AFC Wimbledon came in this season with high expectations and are many people’s favourites to win promotion.

Those expectations have so far largely been met, knocking higher tier Chatham Town out of the League Cup and picking up two wins out of three in the league.

Darren Marjoram’s side will have to play at their best this afternoon if they are to extend their unbeaten start to the season and deny the Dons.

Ones to watch

ASHLEEHINCKS

Ashlee joined the Dons for the 2021/22 season. She has scored 80 goals in the 63 games she has played for the side, and also made 38 assists. She has been the top goal scorer in Division 1 South East for two years running.

ASHLEIGHGODDARD

Ashleigh joined AFC Wimbledon this season. She has a remarkable back story, which speaks volumes of the kind of person she is, on and off the pitch. She is not only solid in the midfield defensively, but also always looking for goalscoring opportunities in the opposition’s box.

EMILYDONOVAN

Emily is in her third season as a Don, and has continued to grow season after season. She is an excellent playmaker, always finding the perfect pass. She has started the season strongly scoring two goals and making 3 assists.

ELLIEDOREY

Ellie joined Wimbledon for last season, having previously played Championship football. She reads the play incredibly well, and is always where she needs to be. Last season, she scored a scorpion kick goal against Cambridge United.

Q&A Ruth Fox

FIRSTS AND LASTS:

First Last

APP YOU OPEN IN THE MORNING: Whatsapp

FOOTBALLER YOU IDOLISED: Kelly Smith

CD YOU OWNED: Franz Ferdinand

FOOTBALL SHIRT YOU OWNED: Southampton FC

THING YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY: Buy a new car (mine just got written off in a crash!)

MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT YOU REMEMBER: 2006 World Cup

THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET HOME FROM TRAINING: Have a cuddle with my dog, Rolo

THING YOU BOUGHT: A coffee (shock)

MEAL YOU ATE: Poached eggs and avocado on toast

PERSON YOU TEXT: My sister, Becky

MATCH YOU WENT TO AS A FAN: Cambridge United men vs Reading

THING YOU WATCHED ON TV: Russell Brand Dispatches

GOOD DEED: Bought one of my old teachers a coffee when she came into work

PHOTO YOU TOOK: Of the gym (if you don’t take a photo, it don’t count!)

MATCHDAY MIXTAPE

Check out Ruth’s Matchday Mixtape which will be played before kick-off and at half-time on Sunday!

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RUTH FOX

WEBBY!

RIO FERDINAND

ADAM LALLANA

INIESTA KELLY SMITH

1 - LAUREN WEBB Sponsored by 2- MAYZEE SEYMOUR Sponsorship available

4 - GISELA OTTEN Sponsorship available

5 - LAUREN ROUSE Sponsorship available

6 - RACHEL KOSKY Sponsored by 7 - SARAH WILTSHIRE Sponsored by

8 - ALYSHA STOJKO-DOWN Sponsorship available

9 - RUTH FOX Sponsorship available

10 - HARLEY-JEAN SIMPSON Sponsored by 11 - ELLA MARDEN Sponsored by 12 - SAMMY EDGAR Sponsorship available

14 - NATASHA COLLINS Sponsorship available

17 - FRAN STEELE Sponsored by

15 - JESS MORLEY Sponsorship available

18 - NIAMH DAY Sponsored by

19 - BEATRICE ROGERS Sponsorship available

20 - BRONWYN MULHERON Sponsorship available

21 - SERENA COBB Sponsorship available

22 - MISTIE FOX-BARKER Sponsorship available

23 - ELEANOR TOWNSEND Sponsorship available

27 - ZOE WOOD Sponsorship available

31 - SOPHIE MARJORAM Sponsorship available

16 - ABBIE JACKSON Sponsored by

38 - BELLA SIMMONS Sponsorship available

HEADCOACH Sean Greygoose UNDER18S

It has been a busy but positive start for the newly formed U18s side with lots of work going on behind the scenes over the summer. We have largely used open trials to help form a young squad of 19, with the majority of players either 16 or 17 years of age, which bodes well for the future.

I am particularly pleased with the depth to the squad and believe we have great balance across the board. Nine players in the squad have progressed through our pathway, having joined the Club as young girls and working their way through to this level. This is really pleasing and shows the strength of what has been built at the Club.

The pre-season saw us play a wide variety of different fixtures, including games against Ipswich, Northampton, Charlton and Eaton Ladies. We played against different levels of competition and different, older, age groups, which will prepare us well for the season ahead.

Our opening game was a great test for the team, facing a strong Nottingham Forest side and coming away with a point after a goalless draw.

Considering it was our first ever game as a group, and that the visitors came into the match off the back of a 6-0 win, to see us battle and perform so well is super encouraging for everyone involved. The team worked hard as a group, defended well and were fantastic in their transitions.

We all want to do well in the league this season but we also want to see more players progress into the First Team. We have already had the likes of Beatrice and Serena make First Team debuts this season, which is a great step for these young players, and another two are in the First Team squad – Misty and Eleanor –who will have their opportunity soon I am sure.

Good luck to the girls today – it’s great to be at the Abbey and it is great motivation for the U18s to keep working hard.

TEAM Sheet

CAMBRIDGE UNITED

HEAD COACH: Darren Marjoram

AFC WIMBLEDON

HEAD COACH: Kevin Foster

1 LAUREN WEBB

2 MAYZEE SEYMOUR

4 GISELA OTTEN

5 LAUREN ROUSE

6 RACHEL KOSKY

7 SARAH WILTSHIRE

MATCH OFFICIALS

1 FAYE BAKER (GK)

2 ROSIE RUSSELL

3 BILLIE BROOKS

4 STEPH MANN

5 KELLY HIGHMAN

6 AMY TAYLOR

7 EMMA PLEWA

8 FRAN ALI

9 ASHLEE HINCKS

10 CHLOE SAMPSON

11 REBECCA CARTER

14 MOLLY CHILDERHOUSE

15 NICOLA GIBSON

16 EMILY DONOVAN

17 SANDRA SOARES MARTINS

18 SARAH WENTWORTH

19 KELLY-JADE WHELAN

20 HANNAH BILLINGHAM © 21 REMMI GARDNER

ELLIE DOREY

Referee – Christopher Pollard

Assistants – Daniel Bonneywell & David Harrison

Fourth Official – Daniel Cook

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