Wednesday 23rd July 2008 - Soham 2-4 U's: Jardim of Eden

What is your idea of heaven? No, not that place with angels playing harps on clouds that those blokes in dresses talk about, but heaven on Earth. Best to stick to footballing heaven, else your disgustingly febrile imaginations would probably conjure up something so unspeakably sordid that it could never be discussed on a family website. Don't deny it.

How about a beautiful, warm, peaceful, summer's evening, in a pleasantly rustic location with good beer on tap, delicious chips, an uninterrupted close-up view alongside your friends, and an exciting, attacking match which your side wins 4-2? Sounds like footballing Nirvana to me. And that is just what we got at Soham on Wednesday evening.

All that was good about pre-season was there, and all for the princely sum of six pounds. It would be fair to state that sometimes this is the best part of the season for U's fans, with its attendant expectation and lack of immediate pressure, although last term was an honourable exception to that. Enjoy it while you can.

Our county neighbours have flourished in the four years since we last met them, with the Ridgeons League championship last season being rewarded with a first-ever jump up to the Southern League, just one level below Cambridge City. Their neat, tidy ground down a leafy lane has changed little, with just one very small seated stand next to the splendid club house and one-level covered terraces at each end, although there is plenty of space along the open opposite side to build a decent stand should finances permit. It was noticeable, however, that four of those pesky mobile phone masts had sprung up, half-hiding in the trees, in various places around the ground.

The United line-up had a distinctly 'reserve' look about it, with only Josh Coulson retained from the team which had laid waste to the mighty Everton on Saturday. The club's lack of cover in goal was exposed when CRC back-up Sam Beagle became stranded with his colleagues in the Czech Republic, so local youngster Jamie Nightingale, fresh from playing for United's fans' side in their game at City last Friday, was pressed into service for the team he supports. Brave man.

Trialist Pat Bexfield got another outing at right-back, while Gavin Hoyte and Jordan Collins completed the back four. United sported two out-and-out wingers in Craig Bussens and Dutchman Felino Jardim (now we know how to spell his name, we know he is 22 and has had spells with Feyenoord, RKC Waalwijk and Sparta Rotterdam before coming over here initially to trial with Bedford Town), with the biggest surprise in central midfield where Ben Farrell was partnered with former U's legend 'Tiny' Tom Youngs.

Tom last turned out for the U's on 25th March 2003 in a 2-1 win over Bournemouth, and has since trod an injury-littered path through Northampton, Orient, Bury, Stafford and Cambridge City before recently trialling with Stevenage. And he is still only 28. He also doesn't seem to changed at all, so he would be a great asset at the Abbey if he could recapture some of the sparkling form of his early years.

Up front, Robbie Willmott was paired with teenage Bury trialist Domaine Rouse, who exposed the inaccuracy of the Lancashire club's website statistics by not being 5' 6' at all, but a rangy six-footer. Unless he's shot up dramatically in the last few weeks.

United only had four players on the bench, discounting Paul Carden, in Darren Quinton (returned from injury at last), Mark Convery, Courtney Pitt and teenage ex-QPR trialist centre-back Andy Howell. And there was another familiar face from the past in new coach Stuart 'Bimmo' Bimson, last seen in a playing capacity for the U's in the club's last Football League match (until our inevitable return) on 7th May 2005.

For the hosts, former U's trialist and ex-Histon striker Charles Libam was up front, while at the back was former United centre-back Martin McNeil, who was a regular in Roy McFarland's side of 1999-2000 at the age of nineteen, but then seemed to lose his way and ended up jacking in full-time football for the exciting world of banking.

There may been some initial concerns about the Julius Martin Lane pitch, which although grassy undulated between hillock and hollow like the Gog Magog Hills, but any difficulties were soon forgotten as Soham took the lead with only two minutes gone. United failed to clear a corner, it fell to trialist Kentoh Gray at the far post, and he lashed home with the help of a deflection off Bexfield to give Nightingale no chance. 1-0.

United's makeshift side took some time to settle against an energetic and committed home team, but it soon became apparent that most of their play was going to be directed down the wings, where Jardim and Bussens both looked capable of beating their men and arrowing in crosses almost at will. This did mean that the centre of midfield, and Youngs in particular, was being bypassed to a significant extent, although neither Rouse nor Bussens were exactly the huge target man type.

It was the impressive Bussens, swapping wings regularly with Jardim, who set up the visitors' first dangerous moment of the evening on 15 when he found Rouse in the middle; with some neat footwork he evaded his marker and powered a shot against the left-hand post, and although one could argue he should have hit the target from such close range, it was a decent enough effort.

United were almost caught out, however, shortly afterwards when some poor covering allowed Libam and Gray to slip through down the middle, but Nightingale did very well to advance and stand his ground to block Gray's effort before Coulson completed the clearance.

The U's continued to improve, Farrell grazing the woodwork with a shot on 21, then Bussens' floated cross found Hoyte unmarked in the Soham box and the big defender really should have done better than to head wide of the far post.

The equaliser finally came on 24, Willmott latching onto a basic long ball down the middle and showing his growing stature as a striker by holding off a couple of challenges, controlling the ball and bustling through a posse of defenders to slot coolly home from fifteen yards. Good goal: 1-1.

The attacks continued to flow down both wings, Jardim cutting inside and curling a shot just past the far post on 28, and three minutes later he did exactly the same thing again, except this time his curler nestled precisely in the bottom corner of the net. Nice: 2-1.

Soham struck back almost immediately with a quick break down the right channel, United's defence caught out as Dodou lashed home, catching Nightingale out at his near post. The rookie keeper had a right to deserve better protection than that.

The contest continued to be dominated by wing play, Jardim and Bussens switching from left to right and back again and well supported by their midfield and full-back colleagues, but neither keeper was caused any great concern until the interval except when Michael Simpson found Dodou unmarked but his deliberate effort was well blocked by Nightingale, although the offside flag was raised.

The half-time whistle saw a welcome break on a balmy summer's night for both players and spectators, who adjourned swiftly to the bar (the latter, that is, although the players must have been sorely tempted too), but the team was out again several minutes before Soham or the ref. Howell was introduced in place of Coulson while the hosts made two changes, with several more to come.

It seems United's trio of slapheaded Scousers (sorry Cards, you've still got SOME hair) must have had words of great wisdom and inspiration to impart during the break, as the team promptly scored twice more in the first six minutes of the second half.

Jardim, starting on the left, picked up possession deep on 48 and cut inside; meeting no resistance, he scampered on towards goal like a little terrier (without the lolling tongue) and when he reached the edge of the box, fired low and accurately into the bottom corner as Soham stood off, petrified. Beware of the dog: 3-2.

Three minutes later Bussens fed Willmott, he scurried forward then lashed home under keeper Lee Jordan's rather feeble dive. 4-2.

Jordan was soon replaced by Sean Greygoose, son of Dean, who until quite recently was playing for Soham himself, and also turned out in 26 League games for the U's, all in the calendar year of 1984 over two seasons. Goalscorer Gray was withdrawn in favour of trialist Lynch.

Soham still competed vigorously, occasionally too strongly against the wingers whose pace attracted several clumsy late fouls, and on 55 Andy Coleman slid a shot just past the post, its bounce against the outside of the net causing premature goal celebrations from the home faithful.

Willmott had a good chance for his hat-trick just before the hour, sprinting clear but firing wildly over the top as he went for glory, and he was soon withdrawn for Quinton to make his first appearance since his injury at home to Salisbury on 20th October last year. Tiny Tom moved up front alongside Rouse.

Bussens cut inside to draw a save from Greygoose Junior on 63 with a daisycutter from twenty yards, and after a couple more home subs, Bexfield saw a 25-yard free-kick glance off the wall and onto the outside of the upright.

With the game effectively over as a contest, 'shoot on sight' seemed to be United's watchword as they launched a succession of long-range blockbusters which did not trouble Greygoose but probably disturbed some of the wildlife in the tall trees behind him. The RSPCA will be in touch.

Jardim lifted one over when he went for his own hat-trick and Bussens and Farrell were equally inaccurate, while Rouse was trying almost too hard and kept losing the ball when caught attempting to do too much with it. Neither he nor Youngs could manage a shot worthy of the name.

There was still the odd gap to be found behind the United back line, none more so than on 87 when sub Ely was sent clear. Nightingale stood his ground and blocked the first effort, but it rebounded to the Soham player; however, he had been held up sufficiently for the defence to funnel back, and Howell spectacularly blocked his follow-up shot almost on the line.

There was just time for one more run and shot from Jardim, but a blocking defence ensured there would be no hat-trick tonight. Nonetheless, a good time had been had by all and we were left to savour the memory of a warm, comfortable evening whose memory will sustain us in the depths of winter while being lashed by sleet at Barrow or Altrincham. Soham will seem like Brigadoon then...

Statto Corner
United first met a team from Soham back on 10th March 1923, but it was neither Town nor Rangers, but Soham Comrades. The then Abbey United defeated their Fen rivals 3-2 in the semi-final of the Cambs Minor Challenge Cup semi-final at Milton Road, before succumbing 1-2 to the mighty Cambridge GER in the final at the same venue two weeks later.

United's first encounter with Soham Rangers was on 11th September 1926, a 1-1 draw at the 'Celery Trenches' in Cambs League Division One. Rangers and the 'Wasps' were to become regular league rivals during the Twenties and Thirties.

Matches against Soham Town were altogether rarer, and the clubs first met on 28th December 1935, United triumphing 3-0 in the Creake Charity Shield at the Abbey. The only season in which United and both Town and Rangers (pre-merger) competed at the same level was 1938-39, when all three were in the Cambs League Premier Division. United finished runners-up to Linton Granta, Town came fourth behind Histon Institute, and Rangers came last of thirteen with a disastrous record of one win, one draw and 22 defeats.

More recently, United and Town Rangers have met seven times in friendlies in the last eleven years, with five wins for the U's and two draws. Last time was on 28th July 2004, a 2-2 draw with U's goals from John Turner and Ash Fuller.

Most controversial, though, was the contest on 23rd July 2003, when an over-zealous ref sent off Terry Fleming and an opponent for a little flare-up. United ran out 4-1 winners with goals from Dave Kitson (2), Justin Walker and Luke Guttridge, and the U's fielded a full first team apart from French trialist left-winger Olivier Brassart. Subs included Dan Gleeson, Paul Wanless, Dan Chillingworth, Flory Zinga (see previous match report) and Ender Gunlu. Who? Read on...

Trialist Trivia
Ender Gunlu was in some ways ahead of his time. Born in France, although as his name suggests, of Turkish extraction, his appearance as a trialist at Soham pre-dated the French revolution at the Abbey by almost a season, United still being managed by dear old Shaggy at the time. A nippy attacking midfielder, he had come through the youth system at Olympique Lyonnais, but had been judged surplus to requirements at the age of eighteen after the end of the 2002-03 season.

Following his rejection in England after a fleeting appearance at Julius Martin Lane, his continent-trotting career has typified the modern European footballer. He enjoyed two seasons in the Swiss Third Division in which he averaged a goal every four games for first Etoile Carouge then Urania Geneve Sport, then moved to the same level in Spain for CF Orihuela. In 2007 he relocated to Turkey, once again in the Third Division, and joined Adana Denirspor. In February this year he switched to Bursa Merinosspor at the same level. That big break still eludes him. I wonder if he ever looks back at his brief evening in East Cambridgeshire and thinks, if only?

Player Ratings
Nightingale 7. Full marks to the youngster who must have been wishing United played in brown shorts after filling in at the last minute for the club he supports and letting a goal in so early. Thankfully he settled in well and, apart from a disappointing second goal, he acquitted himself as well as anyone in his position could have wished.
Bexfield 6. Fairly ordinary evening for the trialist right-back who looked OK on the ball but had several uncomfortable moments defensively.
Coulson 7. Perfectly adequate 45 minutes.
Hoyte 7. Seems to be even bigger than last season and with that huge physical presence, needs only to know his limitations to challenge convincingly for a starting place this season.
Collins 7. Useful outing from United's second choice left-back, sound in defence and giving good support going forward when needed.
Jardim 8. Far too good for Soham, who were reducing to kicking him or, in most cases, the empty air where he has just been.
Youngs 6. We all know Tiny Tom's class, but he got few chances to show it in a match dominated by wingers. Hope he gets another opportunity.
Farrell 7. Comfortable and authoritative.
Bussens 8. Excellent effort, running past his markers almost at will down both flanks and providing a good supply to the middle.
Rouse 6. Looking to have some skill, although caught in possession too often, he is at least worth another look, particularly with more first-teamers around him.
Willmott 8. Robbie continues to fill in impressively up front and he showed his striking colleague to way to play with strong running and cool finishing. He's starting to resemble a young Robbie Keane.

Howell 6. Nowhere near as imposing physically as Hoyte or even Coulson, he nonetheless looked safe and tidy and deserves another go.
Quinton 6. Gentle half-hour's easing-in after a long lay-off, with the game already over as a contest.

Match Summary
A shadow United side produced plenty of positives in a dynamic winger-dominated win over a decent and competitive Soham side. The squad is gradually beginning to look stronger, although a few more bodies would not go amiss.

Man of the Match
Felino Jardim. Tore Soham to pieces down both flanks, showed he can score, too, and crucially, displayed a great attitude and work ethic for the full ninety minutes. Inching towards a contract.

Ref Watch
Grey-haired bloke 7. Reffed sensibly and had words with errant defenders when necessary. Might have known who he was if Soham had bothered to do a team sheet/programme for once...

Soundtrack of the Day
Elbow 'One Day Like This'

Andrew Bennett

Andrew's previous match reports

The views expressed on this page are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cambridge United Football Club or the webmaster.