SPLASH, BANG WALLOP
Raining champ Taylor shows chats the way to do it
GREG TAYLOR talked a good game as well as playing one as Cambridge beat both Newport and the elements.
Torrential rain just before halftime instantly put the top-of-thetable clash in jeopardy.
It turned parts of the Abbey Stadium pitch into a paddy field and ground staff had to get busy with brooms during the break to satisfy referee Carl Brook.
U’s captain Taylor revealed he had to keep persuading the official not to listen to County calls for the game to be abandoned as the heavens opened again in the second half.
United were 2-0 up at the time through Paul Mullin’s double, with Wes Hoolahan providing assists for both.
Defender Taylor said: “Every time the ball went dead or I heard someone say, ‘Come on, ref !” I was in his ear saying, ‘ It needs to stay on’. They were crying for it to be called off but their tune soon changed when they got one back.”
That was Scott Twine’s 25-yard cracker off the underside of the bar but the forward on loan from Swindon was not impressed overall.
He said: “I thought it was dangerous at times but it’s no excuse, it’s the same for both teams. It was borderline, probably, but no one got injured.” Newport had already lost faith in Brook’s judgement however when he
FLASHPOINT T Tempers flared as Paul Digby and Josh Sheehan clashed at the end of a bad tempered rain-lashed affair failed to spot a straight red card incident midway through the first half.
Joss Labadie fouled Luke Hannant on the halfway line and the U’s player retaliated by studding the County captain on the torso.
Twine said: “I’m sure everyone in the stands knew – everyone on the pitch certainly knew. But at the end of the day the only people that matter are the ref and the linesman and they didn’t see it.”
Cambridge moved above Newport into second with the Exiles, who had kicked off in top spot, staying in the top three thanks to Salford conceding late on against Tranmere.
That was a consolation to County boss Michael Flynn, who refused to comment on the referee’s performance in fear of a fine from the FA.
And he revealed how Covidrelated money worries made him decide not calling the game off was best for his club.
He explained: “You have to weigh everything up - the cost of the travel etcetera. I know we shouldn’t think like that but it’s the times we’re in. I was still confident we could get something out of the game as we couldn’t be as bad as the first 50 minutes.” CAMBRIDGE: Mitov 6, Knoyle 7, Darling 7, Taylor 7, Iredale 6, Dunk 6, Hoolahan 8 (Knibbs 81), May 6 (Boateng 76, 5), Digby 6, Hannant 5, Mullin 7 (Ironside 81)
NEWPORT: Townsend 7, Bennett 5 (Janneh 63, 6), Dolan 7, Demetriou 6, Shephard 6 (Willmott 78, 5), Labadie 6, Sheehan 7, Twine 7, Haynes 6, Abrahams 6, Amond 5 (Ellison 54, 5)
MOTM
WES HOOLAHAN (CAMBRIDGE)