Date: Tuesday 21st August, 2007
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather: heavy drizzle
Goals:
United: Wolleaston 2', Fortune-West 10', 28', 80', Albrighton 89'
Farsley: Grant 65'

Cambridge United shook off a virus scare to move to the top of the table with a third successive win. The U's cruised into a 3-0 lead by half-time but Farsley caused problems after the break and it took a goal from them to lift the U's again, with Leo Fortune-West completing his hat-trick and Mark Albrighton scoring late to put the result beyond all doubt.

With his players all reporting fit to play despite eight seeing the doctor yesterday with the effects of a virus, Jimmy Quinn made just one anticipated change to the side and brought back captain Danny Brown, who missed the Oxford game through illness, for Stephen Reed, who suffered a thigh strain against Oxford.

Farsley Celtic manager Lee Sinnott made two changes to the side that lost 1-0 at Rushden & Diamonds last week, calling up Ryan Sugden and James Knowles for Damien Dunne and Graeme Law.

Kicking off towards the Newmarket Road end in heavy drizzle, United made a dream start with a goal inside two minutes. Rob Wolleaston made a mazy run from midfield and unleashed a shot from 20 yards on the right of the penalty area, and the ball was deflected beyond the helpless Kyle Sutcliffe to put the U's ahead.

Two minutes later, with the drizzle turning into heavy rain, Farsley's Reeves put the ball in the net but the offside flag was already raised, and on 5 Danny Potter collected a 30-yarder from the towering Bambrook.

The rain was making conditions difficult and Courtney Pitt curled a cross out of play behind the goal, but redeemed himself soon afterwards when Fortune-West's header was cleared off the line and Pitt followed up to have his shot brilliantly tipped over by Sutcliffe.

Wolleaston took the resulting corner and United took full advantage of hesitant defending as Boylan climbed at the far post to head goalwards, the keeper fumbled the ball, and Leo Fortune-West was on hand to tuck it over the line.

With the score already at 2-0 in the 10th minute, Farsley looked shellshocked and United were brimming with confidence, although Potter was called upon to collect a couple of crosses and Mark Albrighton was imperious when called upon.

Farsley had their best chance so far in the 25th minute when Reeves' cross found Grant in space but he rushed the shot and Potter made the save as Jimmy Quinn and Alan Lewer berated the team from the touchline.

But United extended the lead again in the 28th minute when the lively Darren Quinton seized on a knockdown and crossed a low ball from the right, goalkeeper Sutcliffe spilled it and Fortune-West punished him again with another alert finish, this time from 12 yards.

Less then a minute later Quinton strode forward leading another break and sent Dan Gleeson away down the right to drop a dangerous cross into the area, and after scenes of mild panic in the Farsley area Amjad Iqbal hacked it away.

United kept the pressure on, forcing a series of crosses and a corner, and play was stopped in the 31st minute for attention to visiting defender Mark Jackson who was stretchered off to be replaced by Bailey Camfield.

United forced two more corners, Fortune-West heading the second one on for Albrighton to nod over, and on 36 Fortune-West met Quinton's cross but his header was blocked and although he pounced on the loose ball Sutcliffe managed to save with his feet. A minute later, with Farsley rocking under the incessant pressure, Albrighton headed the ball on for Fortune-West who rounded the keeper but lifted the ball over.

In the 28th minute Danny Brown made one sliding challenge too many for referee Mr Graham Scott and was booked for fouling Bambrook after receiving an earlier warning.

Lee Boylan tried to get in on the goalscoring act with a volley on the turn in the 40th minute that Sutcliffe clutched gratefully, and Farsley showed that they were not about to lie down with a quick counterattack, Bambrook's shot parried by Potter and Albrighton completing the clearance.

A minute before half-time Reeves got the better of Morrison and curled a shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the area, but it was United who left the pitch with their heads held high to warm applause. Half-time 3-0.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"If anyone thought United were going to take this for granted, those worries had gone after two minutes. United have scored three, they could have had six - can we be greedy and hope for more?"

Second half:
Lee Sinnott made a half-time change, bringing on German winger Roy Stamer for striker Ryan Sugden, and the visitors started with intent, penning United into their own half and forcing an early corner that was cleared but led to a long-range effort from Iqbal that was charged down by Danny Brown.

The pressure continued with crosses and free kicks in United's half and, with the home fans showing signs of restlessness, Bambrook drove a 30-yarder through a crowd of players all the way through for Danny Potter to smother.

Courtney Pitt led a breakaway on 52 and Farsley had to defend as play switched to the right and Gleeson's cross was collected by Sutcliffe, and three minutes later Michael Morrison was booked for hauling back Iqbal.

Quinton's determination shone through as he won possession with two crunching tackles, leaving the towering Bambrook prone in his wake after the second, and play resumed with a drop ball after the fireman had received attention from the physio.

On 64, Danny Brown, who had moments earlier received treatment at the side of the pitch after a clash, left the pitch to be replaced by Stephen Reed, but moments later Farsley scored the goal they had been threatening since the start of the second half.

Goalscorer Rob Wolleaston played a poor backpass and Gareth Grant pounced to take full advantage and gave Potter no chance with a well-taken goal.

The goal seemed to give United a much-needed shot in the arm and a minute later Reed's quickly-taken free kick was met by Boylan who tried a shot on the angle, the ball falling for Quinton 12 yards out but he was denied a deserved goal by Camfield as the former Leeds trainee cleared the ball off the line.

Sinnott made his final change in the 71st minute, bringing on Andy Watson for Anthony Lloyd, and Camfield had a free kick claimed by Potter, while Gleeson got forward to cross and Stephen Reed lifted a shot over the bar from 30 yards.

With United still looking less than comfortable, Jimmy Quinn sent on the experienced Mark Peters in the 74th minute for Gavin Hoyte, the young defender leaving the pitch to warm applause for the second successive game. Albrighton was the third United man to be booked when he dived in on Grant in the 77th minute, but three minutes later United put the result beyond doubt with a well-crafted goal.

Mark Peters started the move from the halfway line, Quinton worked the ball on to Boylan who unselfishly squared it to Leo Fortune-West, and the big striker made no mistake from 12 yards with a low finish inside the near post to complete his hat-trick.

Jimmy Quinn responded with his final change on 81, introducing Stephen Smith for his former youth team colleague Darren Quinton, who left the pitch to a thoroughly deserved ovation, and Fortune-West came close to a fourth goal on 84 when Pitt's cross was only partly cleared and the big striker headed across goal and wide.

With three minutes remaining Wolleaston released Gleeson to charge forward and power a low shot from just inside the area. Sutcliffe did well to tip it over but United were not to be denied and Mark Albrighton rose at the far post to meet Reed's superbly flighted corner and planted a header into the corner.

In stoppage time sub Stephen Smith lashed a left-footer narrowly over the bar from 25 yards and at the other end Grant had a shot turned round the post by Potter, Crossley heading the corner over, before United left the pitch as leaders of the Blue Square Premier.

Cambridge United
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton, Gavin Hoyte (Mark Peters 74'); Dan Gleeson, Darren Quinton (Stephen Smith 81'), Danny Brown (c) (Stephen Reed 64'), Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt; Lee Boylan, Leo Fortune-West.
Subs not used: Scott Rendell, Michael Hyem.

Farsley Celtic:
Kyle Sutcliffe, Scott McNiven, Mark Jackson (Bailey Camfield 32'), Ryan Crossley (c), Anthony Lloyd (Andy Watson 71'); Amjad Iqbal, James Knowles, Simeon Bambrook; Damian Reeves, Gareth Grant, Ryan Sugden (Roy Stamer 46').
Subs not used: Ashley Allanson, Tristram Whitman.

Booked:
Cambridge: Brown foul 38', Morrison foul 55', Albrighton foul 77'

Ref: Mr Graham Scott

Att: 2,845 (away 40)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Cambridge United extended their unbeaten start to the season, climbing to the top of the table in the process, but the 5-1 win was at times less comfortable than the scoreline suggests. Rob Wolleaston put United on track after just two minutes and Leo Fortune-West chipped in with a brace before the break, but after a rampant first half United went off the boil after the interval as the effects of the sickness bug that had swept the camp took its toll. Farsley were gifted a goal midway through the period but any jitters were settled when Fortune-West completed his hat-trick and Albrighton rubbed salt in the wounds with a late goal."

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match:
"Leo Fortune-West - always difficult to look elsewhere when a player gets a hat-trick in resounding win. Honourable mention to Darren Quinton who worked his socks off again until replaced late on, and is repaying the manager's faith for his selection from the start of the season."

Ref Watch: "Mr Scott was patchy and he seemed to tire towards the end as he missed a number of fairly obvious offences under his nose. No argument with the bookings though. 5/10"

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