Soham Depart From Southern League Cup First Round

GX SOUTHERN LEAGUE CUP FIRST ROUND

Soham Town Rangers 3 Cambridge City 4

SOHAM - who made several changes from the team that drew with Chasetown the previous Saturday - departed from the competition despite a spirited second half performance.

Paul Jones slid the ball into Cambridge City's net after only six minutes, but the visitors were reprieved by the linesman's flag as Rangers made most of the early running in this match.

It was City who drew first blood however, Lee Chaffey firing low past goalkeeper Sean Greygoose after 21 minutes.

Soon afterwards Chaffey's effort was tipped on to the post by Greygoose, but Dan Spendlove followed up to make it 2-0.

City took control after this, and created several more opportunities before Lee Roache's 20-yard effort bobbled over Greygoose to make the interval score 3-0.

Soham pulled a goal back in the 54th minute when Martin McNeil scored from close range, but City established a 4-1 lead moments later when Spendlove grabbed his second of the game.

Chaffey then hit the bar from six yards with the goal at his mercy, and Soham responded by pulling another goal back.

Stuart Ablett's speculative shot might not have troubled Barrett in the City goal, but he was wrong-footed by a deflection and it was suddenly 4-2 with 25 minutes left.

Then in the 75th minute Paul Jones set up an interesting finale by firing powerfully past Barrett, and City - having played all three substitutes - had to survive the last 12 minutes with ten men after Krause limped off.

Soham were unable to make the breakthrough that would have forced extra-time however, and City held on to their 4-3 advantage.

Soham travelled to fifth-placed Marlow on Tuesday night, and on Saturday visit Bromsgrove Rovers who are eighth.

Then on the following Tuesday they welcome Barton Rovers to Julius Martin Lane.