Date: Sunday 28th September, 2008
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: sunny, bright
Goals:
United: McEvilly 90' (pen)
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Danny Brown; Mark Convery, Jon Challinor, Paul Carden (c), Felino Jardim (Lee McEvilly 76'); Danny Crow (Robbie Willmott 90'), Chris Holroyd.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Chris Jones, Steven Drench.
Booked: Crow 15' unsporting conduct
Grays Athletic:
David Button, Kenny Davies, Gavin Dayes (Stefan Bailey 76'), Jamie Stuart (c), Sam Sloma; Mark Molesley (Barry Cogan 72'), Stuart Thurgood, Stuart Elliott, Ishmael Welsh; Sean Rigg, Kieran Saint Aimee (Jonny Dixon 58').
Subs not used: Steve Arnold, Luke Hickie.
Booked: Saint Aimee 45' foul, Molesley foul 52', Dayes foul 59', Cogan foul 87'
Lee McEvilly came off the bench to win a nervous game for United from the penalty spot with his seventh goal of the season.
Gary Brabin made two changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Oxford on Tuesday, with Lee McEvilly and Robbie Willmott making way for Chris Holroyd and Mark Convery.
Caretaker manager Tim O'Shea also made two changes to a side without a point on their travels this season, calling up defenders Kenny Davies and Gavin Dayes in place of injured pair Rob Gier and Fabian Wilnis.
United made a bright start with an early free kick and a couple of early corners, Challinor chipping the second one goalwards after good work by Danny Crow and drawing a save from Tottenham loanee David Button.
For Grays, Bristol Rovers loanee Sean Rigg turned Hatswell and produced a dangerous cross that fell just behind Kieran Saint Aimee, and United countered down the left through Mark Convery who picked out Holroyd as he sneaked between two defenders but was narrowly beaten to the ball by Button.
There was an end-to-end spell after 13 minutes when Stuart Elliott pounced on a clearance and tried his luck from the edge of the area, Potter smothering the ball despite an awkward bounce, and as play switched to the other end a Convery free kick led to a long-range snap shot by Challinor that was blocked by Stuart.
The first booking arrived on 15 when Danny Crow was slow to retreat at a Grays free kick, and Elliott slammed the ball into him to ensure the U's man was booked, and a minute later Challinor rifled a 30-yard shot wide of the left hand post.
United appeared to be denied a clear penalty in the 19th minute when Chris Holroyd made a strong run into the area under pressure from two Grays men and was hauled back. Referee Smedley appeared to be playing advantage as the ball fell for Crow, but when his shot was turned behind he only signalled a corner, from which Challinor's header was tipped over by Button.
More good work by Holroyd and Convery set up Paul Carden for a shot from ten yards outside the area, which was blocked by Stuart, and a minute later the impressive Holroyd went on another strong run with his shirt being pulled again, but although he managed to get a cross away there was no one in the area.
In a strangely subdued atmosphere, Stuart Elliott escaped a booking on the half hour when he clattered through the back of Jardim and left the Dutchman in a heap. Two minutes later Jardim was fouled again, and when goalkeeper Button flapped at Convery's free kick it fell for Bolland who turned quickly but his shot ran just the wrong side of the post.
Holroyd went close on 38 when he turned on halfway and made a jinking run as the defence backed off and Crow made a decoy run, finally firing a low shot from just outside the area that rolled inches wide of the near post.
Three minutes later Dan Gleeson did well to get all the way to the goal line, robbed a defender and delivered a cross that was cleared for a corner, which Felino Jardim scissor-kicked over the bar, and with United finishing the half strongly another corner a minute later was plucked from the air by Button.
Saint Aimee was booked in stoppage time for a far from saintly challenge on Gleeson that left the U's defender in a heap, which was the final incident of the half. Half-time 0-0
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Plenty of effort but no end product in a half when both sides look better going forward."
Second half:
The visitors started at pace and Wayne Hatswell was forced to concede a free kick as Rigg threatened to leave him trailing, Bolland making the initial clearance but Molesley following up with a good cross that caught out the U's defence and was eventually cleared by Hatswell.
The Grays pressure continued with a free kick smuggled behind for a corner by Gleeson, and a further free kick passed to Sam Sloma whose 20-yarder slammed off Danny Brown and away.
The referee had played advantage following a foul on Holroyd but pulled play back to book Molesley on 52, and on 55 United lifted the atmosphere by drawing two fantastic saves from Grays' loanee goalkeeper.
First Convery's deep corner kick was headed back into the danger area by Hatswell to Danny Crow whose deft flick was bound for the top corner until Button made a top drawer save to tip it over. Then the Spurs loanee followed up with another when Convery's resulting flagkick fell for Brown and Button pushed his 12-yard shot against the bar and over with his finger tips.
The first substitution came on 58 when Jonny Dixon was sent on for the already-booked Saint Aimee, who had just received a stern final warning from the referee, and moments later there was another chance for United as Crow raced onto Bolland's through ball and was hauled down on the edge of the area by Dayes, who escaped with a yellow card. The free kick was awarded on the edge of the 'D' and Mark Convery lifted it over the wall but also just over the angle of the bar and far post.
Gleeson escaped punishment when he pushed Welsh to make sure the winger didn't get away from him to deliver a cross into the area, and on 64 there was a similar non-decision when Challinor was shoved in the area but no action was taken.
A minute later Mr Smedley, who had earlier trotted over to speak to his assistant, withdrew to be replaced by fourth official Graham Bielby, and on 72 Chris Holroyd made a good run and cut inside before firing a shot from the left of the area that was blocked by Stuart.
Three substitutions followed in quick succession as Mark Molesley was replaced by Barry Cogan, Lee McEvilly replaced Jardim (with Holroyd moving to the right wing), and for Grays the injured Gavin Dayes was replaced by Stefan Bailey.
Grays were growing in confidence and Thurgood had an 82nd minute long-range drive parried by Potter, but United countered quickly and Holroyd did well to keep Bolland's flick in play by the touchline before feeding Challinor, but the ball fell awkwardly and Button managed to gather the ball at the midfielder's feet.
The visitors threatened again on 84 when Rigg curled a shot just wide of the far post from a difficult narrow angle, and as United broke away two minutes later stand-in ref Mr Bielby decided not to play advantage when Holroyd was fouled by Cogan and stopped play instead to book the Grays man, to mass frustration from United's players, staff and supporters.
Lee McEvilly turned on the edge of the area in a good position but the ball was bundled away from his feet, and he was involved again on 89 as he started a move involving Convery and Challinor and then made himself available for the cross but the ball was cut out by the doughty Grays defence.
With disappointed home fans heading for the exits, Robbie Willmott replaced Danny Crow just as five minutes of stoppage time was announced, and a minute later his cross was nodded down by McEvilly to Challinor whose shot was charged down.
But it all changed moments later as Hatswell rose to connect with Challinor's throw-in, a covering defender was deemed to have handled the ball and Mr Bielby pointed to the spot. Substitute Lee McEvilly stepped up to take the penalty and powered into the top of the net to notch his seventh goal of the season and win a nervous encounter for United.
Ref: Mr Ian Smedley (Mr Graham Bielby 65')
Att: 2,971 (away 103)
Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A dramatic win as Lee McEvilly climbed off the bench to score a 95th minute penalty that ended Grays' obdurate resistance. The match was a tale of two penalties - the one not given to United midway through the first half, and the one that settled the match, ironically in time added on after an injury to the referee who had denied the first one. United were twice thwarted by the athletic visiting goalkeeper after the break, but with time ticking down and United running out of ideas and a palpable tension around the ground, the replacement referee handed McEvilly the chance to win the game. It was an offer he couldn't refuse."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Dan Gleeson - an inspirational performance at right back, solid as ever and inspiring confidence in those around him. Honourable mentions to Danny Brown, another solid citizen at left back with a good range of passes, Jon Challinor, who buzzed around like a persistent wasp annoying the visiting defence, and particular credit to Messrs Holroyd and Crow who ran themselves silly up front."
Ref: The first ref, Mr Smedley, was inconsistent and inaccurate at times and went off injured, although it could just as easily been a tactical substitution. The second official was much better and more even-handed."
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