Loan Report: Perfect Start For Ben House

Two defeats in a matter of days for Cambridge United sees them on a run of no wins from five in all competitions. The Us travelled to Walsall in League Two last Saturday and were defeated 2-1. Two goals in the opening then minutes for the home side was too much for Colin Calderwood’s side to come back from, and they were unable to recover from then on.

Harvey Knibbs grabbed a consolation for Cambridge in added time, with Royals loanee Sam Smith getting the assist. Cambridge were arguably the better side in the game, and despite being on the losing side, Sam Smith put in an impressive performance in this game, trying to produce a spark to get his team back in the game.

A midweek FA first-round replay was to follow after Sam Smith’s late equaliser against Exeter in the first game set up this game. Exeter ran out 1-0 winners in the replay, with Cambridge failing to muster a single shot on target in the match. Sam Smith played the full ninety in both matches but will be disappointed not to pick up a win in either game. The Us travel to struggling Carlisle on Saturday, in what Calderwood will view a must win game.

After an impressive run of results that saw Atletico Baleares build a gap at the top of the Segunda Division B Group 1 table, the islanders have now not won in two games after drawing 1-1 at home to mid table Castilla. The visitors took the lead just after ten minutes, and the home side had to rely on a penalty to get their equaliser, which came just six minutes after the away side broke the deadlock. Jordan Holsgrove played the full 90 minutes for Baleares, who extended their gap to six points at the top, but have played a game more than second place Atletico Madrid B. Looks like the Scot has been picking up some tips from a native legend.

After a run of three straight wins, Torquay United welcomed strugglers Sutton United to Plainmoor, with the visitors failing to win in their previous seven league games. On paper, this game would surely result in a home win, but it was the visitors Sutton who picked up a 2-1 win on this occasion. Goals either side of half time were enough to see the London side through to an important victory down on the south coast. Reading defender Ramarni Medford-Smith recently joined Torquay on loan until January and made his debut in this game. Medford-Smith played the full ninety but was unable to help his side avoid defeat.

Another player who has recently made the move out on loan is striker Ben House, who has joined Vanarama National side Dagenham & Redbridge. Strikers always want to make a good impression as quickly as possible, and the youngster did exactly that, grabbing a brace on his debut in an emphatic 6-1 win for Dagenham against Aldershot. Goals in the 6th and 15th minutes from House got the hosts off to flying start, as the Daggers lead 4-0 at half time.

Despite being on a hat-trick, House was brought off with just under twenty minutes to go with the score at 5-0. Joe Quigley grabbed a sixth for Peter Taylor’s (yes, the former England caretaker manager) side, with Aldershot grabbing their goal just a minute later. The Reading man will be delighted with his contribution in his first game but will be disappointed not to play the full ninety to see if he could grab the match ball on his debut!

As the Belgian second tier moved into its second phase of the season, KSV Roeselare hosted Westerlo in an epic contest that saw the visitors pick up a 5-3 win. Westerlo stormed to a 3-0 lead after thirty-nine minutes, with the home side pulling one back before half time. Roeselare then grabbed a second goal on the hour to cut the deficit to just one goal, but two goals in two minutes for the away side made the score 5-2 and put the game beyond doubt.

Marco Tulio did grab a further consolation goal for Roeselare in added time, but it was too little too late. Tom Holmes started the game for Roeselare but was brought off with twenty minutes to go as the manager made attacking changes in an attempt to get back into the match.

Coventry City followed up their FA Cup 1st Round win with a win in Sky Bet League One action, beating Rochdale 2-1 at home. The visitors took the lead just before the half hour mark, but a goal just before half time for Coventry brought the score to 1-1 at halftime. With just under twenty minutes to go Liam Walsh grabbed a winner for the Sky Blues, lifting them to third in the table. Tennai Watson was an unused sub in this game.