Saturday 19th April 2008 - Salisbury 0-2 U's: JJ is OK
Life following a lower league football club around the country can rarely be said to be beautiful. From the new-town soullessness of Stevenage to the rustic chaos of Aldershot to the unfinished concrete desperation of Halifax to the barren, windswept horror of Farsley to the grey industrial-estate drabness of Stafford and Northwich to the sheer surreal peculiarity of the flats of Grays, there is little to please the eye or titillate the brain. So the approaches to a brand new destination, across Salisbury Plain, were a particularly striking pleasure: mile upon mile of undulating fields under a slate-grey sky heavy with dampness which hung so low as to seem to draw us into a gigantic watercolour painting, blurred and fuzzy with atmosphere like a Turner, serene and soundless and bereft of any apparent human presence.
Approaching Salisbury City's ten-year-old Raymond McEnhill Stadium, the surroundings became somewhat more prosaic. OK, bloody ugly. Built so far out of town that there is no sign of it, the ground lies near a small, unlovely housing estate, an Army Cadet training establishment and an industrial park which shows signs of having been previously under military use. Add to this a park-and-ride site and a building site upon which a number of houses and flats are in the early stages of construction, and you have a singularly unattractive setting bereft of the comforting presence of any pub, eaterie or shop.
The latter factor was especially regrettable for the six hundred-odd travelling United supporters. As the ground was built when its club was at a much lower level of the Pyramid than it is now, the situation of its clubhouse makes no allowance for segregation, meaning that when it is in force, there is no way for visiting fans to access, or be permitted access, to the club's only hospitality venue. And with the nearest hostelry over a mile away, a warm Wiltshire welcome is not exactly on the menu.
The 'RayMac' is basic, to put it mildly, and still has an unfinished air about it, evidenced by the random rubble strewn around its environs, the uneven, puddle-strewn approaches and the small grassy field in which away supporters were invited to park by a septuagenarian steward in an orange visibility vest. You might kindly call it quaint.
The people were unfailingly pleasant and friendly, the occupants of the tiny club shop telling tales of their recent deadly rivalry with our chums from Histon, who have accompanied them in their rapid rise up the Pyramid and have the unfortunate knack of always beating or at least drawing with them.
Both clubs, promotees from Conference South last season, have enjoyed a tremendous first season at their highest-ever level, and Salisbury have based their success on a magnificent home record, unbeaten there since 2nd December and boasting notable victories since then over Oxford, Burton, Stevenage and Exeter, all without conceding a goal. And with the eleventh-best average attendance in the league at 1,549, there appears to be the basis of a decent fanbase and therefore potential for more growth in the future.
It must be said that Salisbury have acquired something of a reputation for an, ahem, combative approach both off and on the pitch, although they were adjudged to be the victims of the most newsworthy incident at the stadium this season when that nice Garry Hill of Rushden was convicted of assaulting City player-coach Tommy Widdrington via the medium of his head to his victim's nose. We would see the proof of the pudding today.
The 'RayMac' saved its least impressive facilities, inevitably, for the away supporters. The main stand, containing the clubhouse, is a pleasantly modest affair with rows of six seats and some distinctly rickety-looking verandas poised above them with more seats therein. The home fans also occupied a covered terrace which started on the side next to the main stand and swept round the corner and across one end. There were two Lego-esque covered seated stands on the other side, one of which afforded away supporters their only sheltered accommodation, then the amber hordes occupied the rest of that side and all of the other end on a coverless but well-built concrete terrace which supplied a very decent view of a hard, bumpy pitch with a distinct slope down from its centre.
Lavatorial facilities consisted of six individual portaloos, so much room for improvement there, while the food from a large van was palatable and varied (pork and stuffing rolls!) if a little on the pricey side (a fiver for a burger and chips). The matchday programme was most professional, if heavy on the ad side, and provided a wry chuckle on its 'information' on famous U's fans: "You might be lucky and spot Mark B & Blade, a Hip-Hop group, or Jamie Oliver, celebrity chef, amongst the away fans possibly sampling the culinary delights at the tea bar." You'd be just as likely to see Robert Mugabe or Paris Hilton bouncing with the Amber Army...
The combination of wooden and corrugated iron fencing kept the chilly breeze from freezing the bones of the spectators as the sky remained resolutely battleship grey and threatening without ever delivering more than the spittiest of spots of occasional rain.
After the underwhelment of last week's defeat by Stafford, JQ reverted to 4-4-2, dropping Lee Boylan and Michael Morrison and without the suspended Paul Carden. Dan Gleeson and the returning Danny Brown were full-backs outside the central pairing of Mark Albrighton and Wayne Hatswell, while Ben Farrell and Courtney Pitt flanked Rob Wolleaston and Stephen Reed in midfield behind strike pairing Mark Beesley and Jack Jeffery.
Proceedings got off to a lively start in the first minute as the hosts wasted no time in getting stuck in to their lofty visitors, lank-haired midfielder Rob Sinclair clattering Pitt to the floor with a tackle which might well have earned a booking later in the game. Reed arrowed the free-kick in from the left and found Albrighton evading his marker at the near post to volley wide in mid-air with his left foot when he should have done much better.
The sides tussled for dominance, Farrell, Gleeson and Wolleaston combining well in triangles down the right and the U's trying to play it through midfield rather than rely on the old route one. Reed was flattened unceremoniously by the aptly-named Michael Fowler, but the ref missed a chance to clamp down early by not even having a word with him, while City's star man Matt Tubbs wasted no time in displaying his unpalatable repertoire of dives and exaggerations, conning a free-kick out of the man in black on 10 by tumbling under Albrighton's unremarkable challenge.
United settled, however, using the full width of the pitch, and Reed essayed a blaster on 12 which was blocked by defender Scott Bartlett. The contest was altered irrevocably, however, two minutes later when Fowler assaulted Wolleaston in the centre circle with a nasty two-footed foul which provoked something of a kerfuffle between both sets of players until ref Phillips stepped in with the straight red Fowler deserved. Perhaps if Phillips had clamped down earlier on such challenges...
The home fans, predictably, did not take kindly to the dismissal, but they could have no complaints, although that didn't stop them complaining, and the same could be said for their assistant manager, Barry Blankley, performing his best ranting Steve Evans impersonation in the technical area, trying in vain to intimidate Mr Cool, Willy Wordsworth (JQ was sat in the back of the stand) and on one occasion pushing the fourth official in the chest as he tried to calm him down. Blankley by name...?
After ten minutes of inconclusive toing and froing, Hatswell was carded on 25 for a shove on Liam Feeney, then Beesley was to be found mysteriously collapsed to the floor, clutching his face, but despite the ref consulting with his linesman, it seemed neither man had seen anything of the off-the-ball incident. Someone was very lucky indeed.
Gradually United began to exert some pressure, Pitt seeing a rifled right-foot shot blocked by Jon Bass on 28, and a minute later they gained their reward. Reed flighted another free-kick into the area and after a spot of pinball Wolleaston had a shot blocked behind; Reed's corner was helped into the six-yard box by Brown, and there was Jeffery, as predatory and ruthless as Heather Mills, to turn and prod home for his first goal in the black and amber. 1-0.
Now the U's began to lay siege in earnest, pressing home their advantage. Wayne Turk was next in the book for an unsubtle clog on Reed, and on 38 some neat approach play set up Jeffery for a shot on goal with only keeper Ryan Clarke to beat, but the man in the lurid lime green shirt was quickly off his line and made a close-range block; it rebounded to Beesley, but his goalbound shot was cleared from inside the six-yard box by Aaron Cook, and the ball eventually fell to Pitt, who blasted over.
Two minutes later it was Beesley who wriggled through down the middle, but once again Clarke came out to block and the rebound was cleared from close to the line. But a second goal now seemed almost inevitable, and on 41 it arrived.
The creator was Jeffery, picking up possession in the right channel twenty yards out. He looked up, saw Beesley lurking at the far post, and arced a superbly accurate cross over the last defender's head for Beesley to dive and bury his header across the keeper and low into the far corner of the net. Four in five for the skilful striker: 2-0.
Shellshocked Salisbury finally managed to gain their first corner in added time, and a short routine culminated in a cross to Cook at the far post to head goalwards, his effort tipped expertly over the top by Danny Potter, but a foul was given anyway for a push.
So ended a most satisfactory half for the U's, doubtless helped by the sending-off, but they had shown cool heads against some provocative tackling, good understanding in a relatively unfamiliar formation, and solid professionalism in putting their depleted opposition to the sword. More of the same in part two, please.
After trooping down the steps from the clubhouse, United came agonisingly close to increasing their lead further in the first minute of the second half. Jeffery fed Beesley then went for the return, and despite (or perhaps because of) a stumble and miscontrol or two, he slalomed his way through to the box and unleashed a low shot for the near post which left Clarke flat-footed, but cannoned off the outside of the woodwork.
Salisbury battled to get back into it as United sat back just a little, and Gleeson was booked on 52 for catching Darrell Clarke. Still the hosts could not trouble Potter, though, the U's defence resisting resolutely, and they nearly nicked number three on 56 when Reed's corner from the left found Hatswell sneaking in unmarked at the far post; his header was on target, but could not negotiate the sea of bodies in the six-yard box and it ricocheted off for another flag-kick which was cleared.
Up the other end Bass tried a long-ranger on the hour which Potter tipped calmly over the top, and seven minutes later the hosts withdrew a defender in favour of a striker, Marvin Brown replacing Bartlett. Good work by Gleeson out on the right on 69 culminated in a low cross which fell just behind Beesley, but Reed managed to flick it on to Pitt at the far post twelve yards out; but with time to spare he slashed wildly over the top. Thank you, Jonny Wilkinson.
Cook nodded a Feeney corner wide on 70 for the hosts, then the officials finally had enough of Blankley's rantings and sent him from the technical area. I'd have preferred them to have used a large pink plastic dummy, myself, although he'd probably have spat it out.
United introduced the fresh legs of Morrison on 73 for Farrell after another impressive performance, MM slotting at right-back and Gleeson moving forward down the flank. Preposterously, Morrison picked up a booking a minute after coming on as he stooped to re-tie his laces at a throw-in, for timewasting, apparently a more serious offence that kicking someone up in the air.
Three minutes later United surged forward again and Jeffery fired a spectacular twenty-yarder for the top corner which had to be tipped over by a flying Clarke. On 78 Jeffery was replaced by Boylan after his best appearance for the U's by some way, while Nick Eastham came on for Feeney for the hosts, and on 80 Pitt was withdrawn in favour of Robbie Willmott , Reed going wide left and Gleeson moving infield to accommodate young Robbie on the right on his fourteenth cameo appearance this term.
Perhaps relaxing a bit now, United had the game taken to them by Salisbury in last ten minutes. They were undone down the left on 85, Eastham beating two men then finding Tubbs at close range by the near post, but his thunderous shot was pawed wide by Potter. The ensuing corner was headed on to Tubbs at the far post, but he could not make adequate connection with an attempted scissors kick and the danger passed.
United countered with an excellent move down the right, using Willmott to the full, and he skipped past two markers before a splendid low cross from the byline narrowly evaded all the United players in the box. The U's saw out the remaining minutes in cool possession-football fashion, and another ruthless and vital away win was theirs. One more win required, and they look up to it and up for it at the moment. So are we: bring on the Torquay!
Statto Corner
United have now won three away games in a row for the first time in nearly ten years. The last time they achieved that feat was in September/October 1998 with victories at Southend (1-0), Hull (3-0) and Cardiff (1-0). They also prefaced that run with a Worthington Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday, again by their favourite 1-0 scoreline.
Today saw only the second time in his career that Michael Morrison has come on as substitute for the U's in a league match, against 105 starts so far. The first was his debut on 15th October 2005 as a replacement for Nick Robbins (whatever happened to...) in a 1-0 defeat at Halifax. The other two who came off the bench that day were Mark Angel and Matt Nolan.
Only three former United players have gone on to play for Salisbury: Dave Lennard, Brian Mundee and Adam Wilde, to which can be added the name of Jimmy Glass, who spent a brief non-contract period at the Abbey as cover keeper without making a first team appearance. One ex-U was born in Salisbury: diminutive Nineties midfielder Lenny Pack.
Salisbury player/coach Tommy Widdrington has played against United six times, and only finished on the losing side once, in a 4-0 tonking for Port Vale at the Abbey in September 2000. He faced the U's again twice for Hartlepool in 2002-03, then three times for Macclesfield, in two FA Cup clashes the following season and in a league match the season after that. He never scored, though.
Player Ratings
Potter 7. Little to do for much of the match, but produced the goods when it mattered.
Gleeson 8. Splendid in three different positions.
Albrighton 8. Getting back to his imperious best.
Hatswell 8. Immaculate strength.
Brown 8. Cool and rock-solid.
Farrell 8. Always busy and involved, and will surely be a key player next season.
Wolleaston 7. Good, steady game without producing anything spectacular.
Reed 8. The picture of assurance in the middle.
Pitt 7. So much more comfortable as a conventional winger.
Jeffery 8. Scored one, made one, hit the post; now we are seeing how good this lad can be.
Beesley 7. Combined well with Jeffery and is in a welcome goalscoring groove.
Morrison 7. Filled in competently at right-back.
Boylan 6. Busy without getting the opportunity he needed.
Willmott 6. Some more positive, promising touches from the mercurial young winger.
Match Summary
Ruthless United cruised to a comfortable and professional victory over ten-man Salisbury despite the hosts' agricultural attempts at tackling and the unnecessary touchline rantings of their management. It will take more than that to intimidate these guys.
Man of the Match
Dan Gleeson. An expert full-back, a quality wide man and a cool holding midfielder all in one.
Ref Watch
Phillips 5. Took too long to clamp down on Salisbury's reckless fouling, and although he showed Fowler a deserved red card he remained inconsistent throughout, particularly when laughably booking Morrison for 'timewasting' when more serious fouls went unpunished.
Non-League Player's Name of the Week
Wantage Town's Paul Belcher.
Soundtrack of the Day
The Raconteurs 'Salute Your Solution'
The MP3 Files
Mark Peters attempts to listen to the Ray Mac sounds. "My Auntie Bronwen, poor thing, has been losing her hearing for several years now, and she has now taken to listening to her favourite, Shirley Bassey, on headphones turned up so loud her jewellery vibrates! I tell her it will only make things worse, but she just says she can't hear me.
"I knew how she felt at Salisbury today, who had the quietest PA I have ever not quite heard. It must only have been audible in the main stand and for most of the afternoon resembled a man mumbling into a bucket! The announcer, a Geordie chap who clearly fancies himself as Ant, or Dec, managed to turn the volume up eventually so he could introduce some people in the stand and read out some dedications like some cheesy local radio DJ, but the volume was soon down again so as to make any music almost entirely inaudible. And any safety announcements certainly couldn't be heard by the away fans, which might interest the Health & Safety people.
"The only sounds I could make out were Sweet's 'Ballroom Blitz' and Madness' 'In The City,' which seemed to be intended to be some sort of anthem for the team. That would have been fine, but Salisbury's ground is barely in the same county as the place its club is named after, never mind 'in the city'! Next time, City, try finding the volume button, eh? Hwyl! MP3 verdict: 1/10."
Andrew Bennett
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