Gary Brabin included all of his summer signings in his first competitive line-up at Northwich Victoria, with central defender Phil Bolland one of five players making his U's debut in the centre of defence, along with new left-back Anthony Tonkin.

There were three new faces in midfield - wingers Andy Parkinson and Felino Jardin either side of £15,000 man Jon Challinor and player-assistant manager Paul Carden, who made last season's loan permanent last month. Only the front pairing was fully familiar as Mark Beesley lined up alongside another man who made his loan permanent in the close-season, Lee McEvilly.

Wearing amber and black stripes with a smart new black logo for away sponsors Kershaw, the U's made a lively start and Mark Beesley latched onto two early balls through the Northwich defence, denied first by the offside flag then by goalkeeper Scott Tynan who raced off his line to intercept.

Dutchman Felino Jardim was welcomed to English football when Richie Sutton chopped him down in full flow, and Jon Challinor settled into the midfield very quickly and showed that there is more to his game than goals in the 12th minute when Byrom muscled his way to the edge of area but Challinor slid in to get a foot to the ball and clear the danger.

Moments later Vics keeper Scott Tynan struggled to smother Beesley's shot from inside the area on the slippery surface and the alert striker darted in to follow up, but Tynan smothered it at the second attempt.

United looked a potent attacking force but with two defenders making their debuts and Bolland playing with his new team-mates for the first time it was hardly surprising that the defence looked a little uncertain at times.

A Northwich free kick in the 15th minute fell for defender Welsh who had his shot on the turn blocked by Hatswell, and two minutes later Barratt's deep cross was carried on the wind and Darryn Stamp climbed under pressure from Hatswell but headed wastefully wide from six yards.

The home side had already been warned a few times for their heavy challenges and fouls on the U's players but it was a United player who was first into the referee's book in the 22nd minute.

Jardim's through ball released McEvilly to challenge the keeper for the 50/50 ball outside the area, both men going in feet first and leaving Tynan in a heap. McEvilly was harshly booked as a result, when Tynan refused the striker's apologetic hand the U's fans showed their disapproval at his reaction.

But the U's took the lead in the 28th minute when the two debutant wingers linked to great effect. Andy Parkinson raced down the right and beat his man before pulling the ball back to Felino Jardim on the edge of the area, and the Dutchman celebrated his 23rd birthday a day early by driving a first time shot that gave Tynan no chance at all.

There was an almost carbon-copy move a minute later, this time Beesley advancing down the right before pulling the ball back for Jardim as he cut in from the left again, but this time he missed the shot.

With Northwich finishing the half strongly, Mullan tried a 20-yarder from the right on 37 that Hatswell blocked, and two minutes later Bolland gave away a free kick that Byrom curled around the wall but wide of the post and Danny Potter's grasping fingers, while United ended the half with a Jardim free kick that came to nothing.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A good first half of the Brabin regime and a stunning goal from Jardim, but the defence needs to settle down a little bit. More goals in this - hopefully for the U's."

Second half:
United started with a strong run from Anthony Tonkin who released Jardim ahead of him but the winger's cross flew out of play, and Northwich's front men of Stamp and Steel began to look very frustrated at United's solid offside trap as they found their moves arrested time and time again by the offside flag.

Five minutes in, Dan Gleeson escaped with a yellow card for a deliberate handball out on the flank as he dragged a cross from the air, and another long-expected card arrived on 55 when Jardim's marker Richie Sutton followed up a kick off the ball with a clattering challenge that left the Dutchman in a painful heap.

Jardim limped back into the game and responded with a late lunge on Sutton, and it was clear that the game could overheat if the referee didn't keep a rein on things so Brabin made a wise decision to switch him to the right flank and take him out of the direct running battle with Sutton.

Dino Maamria made a double change in the 59th minute, sending on popular striker Johnny Allan for Steele and midfielder Michael Byrne for Barratt, but the incidents continued and Allan introduced himself by leaving Tonkin in a heap and collecting a booking just two minutes after coming on.

The away fans were building up a head of steam on the side terrace with a prolonged chant of "Amber Army" but the home side were looking more threatening and Stamp headed Mullan's cross wide on 62, and two minutes later a Vics corner was only partially cleared and Crowell whipped a shot from the right across the area and wide of the far post.

The pace and sting had gone from much of the play but United went close again on 72 when Jardim slid a ball into the area for Beesley who went for it and missed but Paul Carden followed up and forced Tynan into action.

Gary Brabin made his first change on 75 to introduce United's sixth debutant of the day, Swansea loanee Chris Jones, and he trotted on in place of Jardim who left the pitch to warm applause from the United staff and substitutes.

Maamria's third change a minute later saw former U's loanee Chris Flynn replace Crowell, and Chris Jones was involved early in a move that saw McEvilly race through one on one again with Tynan but this time the goalkeeper got there first, and on 80 the Wales Under-21 international delivered a good corner that troubled the home defence.

Byrne from five yards outside the area swung a dipping shot that Potter had to dive at full-stretch to push wide with his fingertips. Stamp got his head to the resulting corner and Hatswell made a vital covering clearance, and the home side's frustration overflowed when Byrom was booked for a foul on Parkinson..

Parkinson joined him in the book two minutes later when he held up Sutton to prevent a Northwich breakaway, but the home side were forcing United deeper and deeper and they won a corner and a series of free kicks in the closing minutes as both sets of fans turned up the volume.

In stoppage time Ben Farrell replaced Mark Beesley who had run himself into the ground and thoroughly deserved his applause, and after United had resisted another corner deep in the fourth minute of stoppage time the final whistle marked United's third opening day win in ten years. On the two previous occasions, the U's finished the season in second place...

Northwich Victoria:
Scott Tynan, Richie Sutton, Michael Welch (c), Mark Roberts, Ryan Brown; Jamie Mullan, Joel Byrom, Matty Crowell (Chris Flynn 76'), Paul Barratt (Michael Byrne 59'), Darryn Stamp, Lee Steele (Johnny Allan 59').
Subs not used: Mike Jones, Mat Bailey.

Booked: Sutton foul 55', Allan foul 61', Byrom foul 86'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Andy Parkinson, Paul Carden (c), Jon Challinor, Felino Jardim (Chris Jones 75'); Lee McEvilly, Mark Beesley (Ben Farrell 90').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Gavin Hoyte, Robbie Willmott.

Booked: McEvilly foul 22', Gleeson handball 50', Parkinson foul 88'

Referee: Mr T. Harrington

Att: 1,445 (away 371)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A stunning goal from Felino Jardim after 28 minutes got the Gary Brabin reign off to the perfect start as the U's won the opening day for the second successive season. Jardim was one of six United men making their debuts so it was perhaps understandable that they weren't always on the same wavelength, but the Dutch winger illuminated a grey Cheshire afternoon with some sparkling wingplay while being kicked all over the park. The defence will take credit as well for their cussed resistance to a late Northwich onslaught and all in all it was a good day - a deserved win, a clean sheet, in fact just what the manager ordered."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Wayne Hatswell - won everything in the air and controlled the back line. Honourable mentions for Paul Carden who was solidly authoritative in the middle of the park, Felino Jardim until he was finally kicked out of the action, and Jon Challinor who started well but faded in the second half."

Ref: Mr Harrington - got some things wrong, including booking people he shouldn't and not booking some that perhaps he should, and was a typical ref in the Conference. 6/10."

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