Saturday 17th January 2009 - U's 4-1 Woking: United revival on the Cards
The Osmonds seem to have got it sussed. Always grinning those toothy smiles, wealthy, successful and with as many wives as you can shake a stick at, they are the most famous Mormons on the planet. So when their church advises all of its members to prepare and keep a '72 hour kit' in case of evacuation, including food, water, bedding, clothing, fuel, light and a shopping list of equipment, supplies, medication, money and documents, including of course those all-important Scriptures, you have to ask yourself: why? What do they know that the rest of us don't? Are they going to tell us before it's too late?
Gary Brabin is not, to my knowledge, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but he needed his own 72 hour emergency kit after Wednesday's debacle at the Abbey, an act of Steve Evans rather than God, although the rotund and vociferous Scottish one might claim there is little difference. Our Gary trained, he thought, he plotted, he might even have prayed (although not to Steve Evans), and he revealed his survival kit on the third day to an amber army desperate for a sign of hope after the despair of the Trophy match.
The manager's solution was a radical change of formation, to one which seemed best suited to the players at his disposal. With Jon Challinor and Dan Gleeson suspended and Paul Carden injured, wingers Felino Jardim and Robbie Willmott were dropped to the bench as Our Gary went for wing-backs.
Josh Coulson joined Phil Bolland and Wayne Hatswell in a three-man defence flanked by wide men Rory McAuley and Anthony Tonkin, and if anyone was perfectly designed for a flying wing-back role, it is the man from the West Country. Ben Farrell was joined by new signing Daryl 'Wolverine' McMahon in midfield (below), Mark Beesley was stationed ahead of them in the link man role which so suits his game, and Chris Holroyd teamed up with Danny Crow up top.
United's need for a result to get the promotion push back on track was helped by the presence of visitors Woking, always obliging opposition who had not even scored against the U's in the clubs' last five meetings, which resulted in one goalless draw, one 3-0 win and three 1-0 victories for the U's. The Cards' line-up included two former United men in Danny Bunce and Liam Marum, both decent players who enjoyed only brief spells at the Abbey, but there was no place in the squad for transfer-listed Abdou El Kholti.
I don't know what speeches Our Gary packed in his emergency kit, but they must have been pretty darned inspirational because his side got off to a flying start. In the first minute Holroyd darted forward and set up Beesley for a first-time shot which was stopped by loan keeper from Huddersfield Simon Eastwood, and within a couple of minutes that vital early breakthrough had been achieved.
United worked the ball down the left channel from McMahon to Beesley, his cushioned pass found Crow inside the box and with a little cut inside across the keeper, he drove a powerful shot into the top right corner of the net. What a corker: 1-0!
Crow tested Eastwood again with a low shot a couple of minutes later, and the U's were firing on all cylinders. With the solid base of the back three and Farrell and McMahon in the middle, McAuley and Tonkin were able to gallop down the wings almost at will, and with Beesley directing the traffic with subtle prompting behind a mobile and hungry-looking front two, it looked like this team had been playing together for ages.
It was not perfect, of course. Woking's front men, Marum and Wilfried Domoraud, assisted by winger Joel Ledgister, threatened to weave their way through the U's back line on occasion and got several shots away, Marum firing over on 11, Domoraud having an effort blocked by the impressive Coulson on 14 and Marum blasting wide a minute later, while Bunce tried his luck from long range on 17 but also missed the target.
From a feeble supply line on Wednesday, the United strikers were almost spoilt for choice now as the wing-backs pushed forward and Beesley and McMahon were always looking for ways to thread balls through. Another splendid move on 22 doubled the hosts' lead, McMahon finding Tonkin's overlap, Tonkin finding Beesley, and again he slipped it to Crow in the box. The chunky hitman's second finish was if anything even better than his first, half-volleying athletically over Eastwood and again into the far top corner. 2-0!
But this determined and energetic United team showed no sign of resting on its laurels. McMahon had overhit a couple of early crosses, but his free-kick from the left on 25 found Coulson at the far post and his header for the top corner was well clutched by Eastwood. Then an excellent ball over the top from the splendid McAuley sent Holroyd scurrying down the right channel, leaving marker Joe Magunda trailing in his wake, but his low shot for the near post from a difficult angle could only find the side netting.
So overrun were Woking that their boss Phil Gilchrist and his assistant Neil Lyne (yes, THAT Neil Lyne, who cost United £75,000 in 1993 and produced exactly no goals in 17 ineffectual appearances before being offloaded to Hereford) withdrew the hapless Magunda after only half an hour and replaced him with huge Ivorian defender Patrice Konan. Insert 'Barbarian' joke here.
The visitors continued to try their luck at goal, the immaculate Bolland blocking a Domoraud shot on 32, then McMahon was desperately unlucky not to notch a debut goal when he seized upon a loose ball on the edge of the box and fired a low shot past Eastwood which cannoned off the foot of the inside of the post and rebounded across goal and off for a goal-kick. McMahon's deft left foot also came in useful at set pieces, and when Konan fouled Beesley on 35 he curled a free-kick over the wall but just wide of the right-hand post with Eastwood scrambling across to cover.
Still United pressed. A minute later a corner was half-cleared to Beesley on the edge of the area and his goalbound shot was blocked away by Michael Kamara amid fruitless requests for a penalty. Woking broke swiftly down the other end and their attack was brought to a halt when Crow, of all people covering back, felled Matt Pattison thirty yards out and was rather harshly booked for his pains.
Bunce limped off on 38 to be replaced by former Arsenal and Watford man Paolo Vernazza, then Marum tried an ambitious shot from well outside the box that was comfortably collected by skipper Danny Potter. Reading loanee Daniel Spence was the visitors' first cardee on 43 for bringing McAuley down while in full flight, swiftly followed by Konan for chopping down the ever-nippy Holroyd. And as the interval beckoned, Konan was very fortunate to avoid a second yellow when Tonkin knocked the ball past him out on the left and was cynically baulked; ref Cooper gave the free-kick but no more. Spare the red, spoil the player.
Domoraud had the last shot of the half, straight at Potter, but it was United who were applauded appreciatively from the field by a crowd which had enjoyed 45 minutes of exciting, swift, attacking passing football from a team in which everyone seemed comfortable with their role and was hitting something like top form. What a difference three days make.
Of course, as Our Gary has said before, 2-0 is a dangerous lead, so the sooner United could get that vital third, the better. And they started the second half at an even more breakneck pace than the first in their determination to do just that.
Tonkin, terrorising Woking with his coruscating runs down the left, set up Beesley for a shot within a minute of the restart which was magnificently stopped by Eastwood low to his left, and despite a bout of pinball in the Cards' box their goal remained intact for the moment.
Vernazza fouled Holroyd on 48 and Hatswell tried one of his outrageous 35-yard free-kicks, seeing Eastwood off his line, but the keeper leapt to clutch safely. Then another fantastic Tonkin run saw him cut inside across the edge of the box, beat two men and fire a right-footed shot that forced Eastwood into another brilliant reaction save, one-handed low to his right, and somehow the Woking goal survived again. This was fun.
The visitors still threatened intermittently, Bolland foiling Ledgister on 55, then came another great chance for the hosts when McMahon's corner was nodded on by Bolland and it fell into space for McAuley ten yards out, but Eastwood was fast off his line and blocked the United wing-back's flicked shot and the danger was eventually cleared.
Most of Woking's shots seemed drawn magnetically towards Potter, the U's custodian catching an effort from Pattison on 62, and three minutes later the increasingly desperate visitors made their last throw of the dice in replacing the diminutive and ineffective Goma Lambu, who has enjoyed such gripping Battles of the Midgets with Courtney Pitt in past encounters, with Giuseppe Sole.
Sole's first action was to foul McAuley, an athletic menace who cruised up and down the right flank tirelessly all match. McMahon lifted the free-kick into the area, Eastwood half-cleared, it fell to Beesley in the D and he coolly passed the ball into the bottom left corner of the net with his left foot for the goal that his work and play had deserved. 3-0.
Marum headed a Vernazza corner wide a couple of minutes later, then on 70 the hard-working Holroyd was withdrawn to much appreciation in favour of Robbie Willmott, Our Gary presumably wishing the latter to experience playing in the new formation, which remained unchanged.
Beesley, now brimming with confidence, essayed a long-range blaster just over on 73, and five minutes later the spirit of the whole side was summed up when Coulson intercepted a pass on halfway, saw space ahead of him and forged forward, eventually crashing a tremendous shot narrowly wide from 25 yards. Great stuff.
United's energy and quality deserved another goal, but there was more than a hint of fortune when it came on 83. Konan, still fouling away, brought Crow down out by the Habbin touchline halfway into the Woking half. Willmott arced the free-kick towards a crowded box, but instead of the usual hopeful floater this cross was whipped goalward with pace and curl. A crowd of bodies threw themselves at it, but everyone missed and it continued on its merry way past a baffled Eastwood and nestled into the far corner of the net. 4-0.
Mission accomplished. Pitt replaced the magnificent Tonkin before the sides kicked off, Vernazza was last into the book for a foul on Beesley, then young Sam Ives followed his FA Trophy cameo with a League debut on 87 in place of Beesley, who also enjoyed a marvellous match. That's what happens when you put square pegs into square holes.
It should have been five as added time approached, Willmott crossing towards three unmarked United men six yards out, but it hit Hatswell on the shoulder and somehow bounced away to safety. Woking, to their credit, kept plugging away and nicked a scant consolation in the vinegar minutes, Marum outpacing Pitt to plant a diagonal ball across the box which Sole touched home from close range, to Potter's displeasure at missing out on a clean sheet.
The welcome strains of 'Coconuts' marked one of United's finest performances of the season, all the more welcome in its unexpectedness, in a win accomplished with great style, attitude and spirit. Sterner opposition awaits, but there could have been no better warm-up for the Setanta cameras than this. The only question now is, can they keep this standard up against Wrexham? Only time will tell, but the amber army's answers will be tinged with a darned sight more optimism than 72 hours ago.
Statto Corner
Today was Woking's worst defeat of the season by far. They had previously only once conceded more than two goals in a match despite their lowly league position, in a 3-2 defeat at Burton.
United have scored more than three goals in a game only twice this season, and both occasions were within the last month; the previous one was the 4-0 victory over Salisbury on 20th December.
Last season the U's did not score exactly four goals in a match at all. However, they did notch five on four occasions, against Farsley, Stafford (FA Cup), King's Lynn (FA Trophy) and Droylsden.
Today saw Danny Crow's first-ever goals at the Abbey. His only previous scores for United were at Boston (FA Cup) and Forest Green. When Robbie Willmott scores, United are in the goals; he has only previously made the score-sheet in the above-mentioned win over Salisbury and that 3-2 Cup win at Boston.
Daryl McMahon is only the third United player to wear the number 4 shirt since squad numbers were introduced in 1999. He succeeds Andy Duncan and Danny Brown. McMahon is the second player of that surname to represent United after Sam, a former Leicester midfielder who made one appearance, plus two as sub, in 1998-99 before moving on to Stevenage.
Sam Ives is the fourteenth man to be allocated the number 19. Of its previous incumbents, Tommy Jaszczun made the highest number of appearances (26), Leo Fortune-West scored the most goals (8), and Graham Rush and Duane Eastall did not make the first team at all, bar friendlies. The most popular squad number has been 27, of which Scott Rendell was the seventeenth user.
Player Ratings
Potter 8. Always in total command.
McAuley 9. What a credit to CRC. In only his third first-team game he played as if it were his 103rd, strong, calm and skilful, and adjusted effortlessly to the tactical and fitness demands of playing at wing-back.
Coulson 8. Another exemplary performance from Josh, who looks ready to cement a starting place whenever Our Gary decides.
Bolland 8. An absolute masterclass in the central defender's art, he looked utterly unbeatable in his usual unflappable way.
Hatswell 8. Classy as ever.
Tonkin 9. In perhaps his finest display for United, the wing-back role suited him down to the ground, and his frequent high-speed forays forward caused chaos in the Woking ranks time and again.
Farrell 8. Firm, steady hand on the tiller in the absence of Carden.
McMahon 8. An impressively authoritative debut and unlucky to be denied a goal by the width of a post.
Beesley 9. Another square peg in the right hole, Bees ran the show from his station behind the front two and got through a phenomenal amount of work in the process.
Holroyd 8. A constant menace to the visitors with his exciting, scurrying runs and deserved a goal as much as his striking colleagues.
Crow 9. They say class tells in the end, and so it did today.
Willmott 8. Slotted into Holroyd's role with vim and vigour.
Pitt 6. Took his time to get into the flow of the game, which is unfortunate with only six minutes to go.
Ives 6. More valuable, if brief experience for the latest CRC graduate.
Match Summary
Wednesday's nightmare faded into Saturday's dream as a new-look, retooled United side took Woking apart with a glorious display of controlled but devastating attacking football which might have yielded six or seven goals were it not for the goalie and the woodwork. Now they have to keep this up against the tougher opposition which awaits them over the coming weeks.
Man of the Match
Danny Crow. The caterpillar suddenly blossomed today into a spectacular butterfly, banging in two goals of the highest quality and, just as importantly, making a vital contribution to the team with hard running and tackling back when needed. This is the standard.
Ref Watch
Cooper 7. Competent effort from the man in black, give or take the odd unnecessary free-kick and an otherwise welcome leniency with the cards which saved Konan from a dismissal which he would have received from many other refs.
Becky's World of Wit and Wisdom
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." [Charlton, 2/10/91]
Hello... Goodbye
Happy 29th birthday today to our very own Anthony Tonkin. He must be United's most south-western born player ever, hailing from Newlyn, near Penzance in Cornwall, home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the country as well as a thriving artistic community, from whence the famous Newlyn School of 'plein air' painters sprung in the late nineteenth century.
United is his sixth different club and Crewe once paid £150,000 to take him from Stockport. He has only scored two league goals his career, both for his first club, Yeovil, although he went mighty close to adding to that today.
This day in 1998 saw the United debut of one of the club's most popular servants, Andy Duncan, in a 1-1 draw at Shrewsbury. Initially signed on a one-month loan from Manchester United along with Grant Brebner, his loan was extended to three months before United splashed out £20,000 for his permanent transfer.
The craggy Geordie with the high-pitched voice played in a total on 345 league and cup games for the U's, scoring ten goals on the way, and also picked up four red cards, all in away games (at Orient, Brighton, Rochdale and Northwich). He is now part of the Chelmsford City team which sits atop the Blue Square South.
Soundtrack of the Day
Empire of the Sun 'Walking On A Dream'
Andrew Bennett
Andrew's previous match reports
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