Despite a dogged display, Upminster were made to pay for a mixture of their profligacy in front of goal, and their lapses of concentration in defence as they slid to a third consecutive defeat.
With major traffic issues, the away side nearly started the game with 10 men, as Rob Bugeya and Eamon Devaney made it to the pitch just as the push back whistle blew. Upminster kept the game tight for an even first ten minutes as both sides grew into the match.
Then came a moment that summed up Upminster. After some good build up play the away side were unable to convert a one on one, and then Cambridge broke and scored the opening goal of the game. A whisker from taking the lead, to conceding it in about 20 seconds. The away side doubled their lead soon after when a misjudgement allowed a free man to tap in at the far post.
Upminster came back into game strongly, and Jamie O’Dell showed quick thinking to scuff a shot past the on rushing keeper and half the arrears at the interval.
The second half saw a string of cards which frustrated both sides, and Cambridge snuck a third in after a disputed short corner. Soon after Upminster pulled the deficit back to one as talismanic defender Chris Abrey unleashed a lightning bolt of a strike from a short corner, giving the keeper and defender no chance.
Despite numerous chances the away side were unable to draw level, and fell to their third successive defeat of the season. Though historically they’ve always been slow starters, Upminster know they need to get their house in order sooner rather than later if they’re to survive in a league where 4 teams go down.
