Cambridge Nomads [M1s] 2 v 3 Upminster [M1s]

Upminster survived a late rally from Cambridge Nomads to claim all 3 points on Saturday and maintain their Autumn revival.
In a drab game in which neither side will be releasing on DVD anytime soon, Upminster took the lead through MOTM Ollie Cipa converting a penalty corner. A second came after after Josh Cipa smashed a hit and hope ball through to his brother Ollie to tap in at the far post. On Cambridge’s forays forward a solid back line of DOTM Nathan Woods, Sam Langston and Phil Dixon kept the hosts at bay, with Nomads being restricted to a few opportunities when Langston decided not to bother stopping aerial balls.
Upminster carried on the second half as they’d left the first, with Cipa converting his hatrick to give a 3-0 lead. The away side then missed some gilt-edged chances to put themselves out of sight, and were nearly made to pay for their profligacy.
The game changing moment saw a Nomads player given a green card for dissent (after his team were awarded a free hit), which was then upgraded to a red card for the player’s reaction. Nomads then came to life, pressing forward and pulled a goal back after a forward managed to nip in and sneak a deflection past Dixon in goal.
Suddenly Upminster were being very Spursy. Nomads pushed forward with nothing to lose, and in the dying minutes managed to grab a second goal. Upminster defended resiliently, and both sides lost a player to the sin bin in the dying minutes, as Josh Cipa and a Nomads forward exchanged handbags after a penalty corner.
Upminster managed to hold on for 3 points despite a performance they’ll want to put behind them as they host Cambridge City at Coopers on Saturday.