Date: Saturday 8th August, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: warm, humid
Goals:
Barrow: Logan 62', Walker 90' (pen)

Paul Carden named a familiar-looking line-up for the opening match of the new Blue Square Premier season, although he was short of attacking options on the bench with strikers Danny Crow and Lee Phillips both injured, but wingers Courtney Pitt and Jordan Patrick were among the subs alongside youngsters Sam Ives and Rory McAuley and sub keeper Laurie Walker who signed non-contract this week.

Making his first competitive senior appearance was teenager Darryl Coakley who played at left-back throughout pre-season due to Anthony Tonkin's injury and has been praised by Carden for his performances.

Following an impeccably observed minute's silence in memory of Sir Bobby Robson, who died last week, United kicked off towards the South Stand and a smattering of travelling fans.

Putting aside the further off-field disruption this week, United's players started well and the fans showed their appreciation of acting manager and captain Paul Carden each time he touched the ball in the opening moments.

Blue-booted Robbie Willmott snapped into a couple of early challenges to set a determined tone, but Barrow striker Jason Walker was the first man to be booked, escaping a card for a challenge in the fourth minute but then booked anyway for failing to retreat at the resulting free kick.

But the action was mainly at the south end as United attacked at pace and played some neat football, although the visitors looked dangerous on the break.

Willmott seized on a good through ball to race down the left and deliver a cross that was just too high for Chris Holroyd and was claimed by Barrow keeper Stuart Tomlinson, on 7 Wayne Hatswell rose to meet a free kick but flicked a header wide of the far post, and a minute later a quick break involving both strikers and Carden ended with a cross for Willmott that was cleared by Spender for a corner.

Tomlinson made a great save in the 12th minute to deny Holroyd after the lively striker had beaten the offside trap, and as Barrow began to exert a little pressure of their own Josh Coulson made a couple of strong challenges.

The visitors' best chance so far came on 18 when Spender picked out midfielder Andy Bond who buried a first-time shot into the sidenetting, while the impressive Coakley made a good run to get behind the Barrow defence but his cross was blocked. On 26 Andy Parkinson spotted Tomlinson off his line and showed great vision with a shot from fully 35 yards that dipped late and threatened to drop under the bar until the keeper got back well to parry.

Barrow went close soon afterwards on the break as Andy Bond cut in from the right, chased all the way by Willmott, but was denied by Potter, and as United broke away at pace Holroyd went down in the area but Mr Martin awarded a free kick to Barrow.

Maintaining their pressure against the resolute Barrow defence, another good United move on 32 saw Jai Reason try his luck from outside the area and as play continued Willmott curled a shot just wide of the far post with the keeper scrambling to get there, then on 33 the ball dropped for Holroyd and he lifted a shot just over the bar from the left side of the area.

Mark Beesley also tried a shot from the left edge of the area and fired wide of the far post, then on 38 Parkinson was hauled back by his shirt as he surged into the box but United's penalty shouts were turned down.

Five minutes before half-time Dugdale's close-range header following a Barrow corner was parried at point-blank range by Potter and Walker's follow-up shot rolled wide, and as United broke away again Gleeson and Parkinson linked well down the right to earn another corner but the Barrow defence closed ranks and allowed Tomlinson to smother the ball.

Sean Newton was struggling against Gleeson and Parkinson on the right flank and he collected Barrow's second booking for blocking off another move, Jai Reason tumbled over under a challenge as he tried to turn in the area but again Mr Martin waved the penalty claims away, and the half ended with United on the attack again as Hatswell just failed to connect with a Reason free kick.

Half-time 0-0

The game resumed with United attacking towards Newmarket Road, but there was a break in play just three minutes in when Carden stayed down after a strong challenge by Spender. There was a worried hush as the skipper received attention from the physio and Spender was booked, but Carden eventually regained his feet and was able to continue.

The atmosphere ignited soon afterwards when Holroyd won the ball with a brave challenge but was then victim to a terrible two-footed challenge from Newton. The challenge angered the United players and looked worthy of a straight red card but Mr Martin opted for a second yellow and then the red, although the result was the same as Newton left his side down to ten men for the remaining 37 minutes.

United almost scored straight afterwards as Reason arrowed a 25-yard shot that looked goalbound all the way but skimmed the wrong side of the post, and Barrow responded to the sending-off by sending on replacement left-back Mike Pearson in place of striker Darren Green.

Another good move by United started with Darryl Coakley as he brought the ball out of defence and ended with a first time shot by Gleeson that dipped over the bar from from just outside the area.

The teams traded free kicks and it was from such a set piece that Barrow took the lead against the run of play. Gleeson brought down Walker just outside the area and Carlos Logan smashed the 62nd minute free kick over the wall and into the top left corner, giving Potter no chance.

Gleeson went agonisingly close to an equaliser on 67 when he hit a first time shot that was streaking towards the top corner until Tomlinson got a hand to it and clawed it over, and three minutes later Willmott flicked the ball on to Beesley who headed off target.

Courtney Pitt then replaced Coakley, who had enjoyed a good debut and received deserved warm applause as he left the pitch, and on 74 Reason stung Tomlinson's hands with a left-foot drive that was saved at the second attempt.

Pitt's scurrying run earned a corner, from which Beesley's shot was blocked, and as Carden tried to press home the advantage he went over in the area but was booked for diving.

With ten minutes remaining teenager Sam Ives replaced Reason, two minutes later Willmott's free kick was snatched by Tomlinson, then Beesley brought the ball down in the area but with Barrow standing firm Dugdale hacked it away before he could shoot and a 20-yard drive by Carden flew wide.

Another first year pro made his debut with four minutes remaining, winger Jordan Patrick coming on for Parkinson, and he was involved immediately with a good run and cross that led to a corner, but Gleeson and Hatswell couldn't force it home.

Controversy followed in the 90th minute as the offside flag stayed down and Jason Walker raced onto a long ball, Josh Coulson closed him down and the ball bounced up awkwardly inside the area to hit his hand, and Mr Martin finally decided to award a penalty, which Walker calmly rolled past Potter to seal the win.

There was further controversy in stoppage time when Patrick was clearly wrestled to the ground inside the area under a heavy challenge, but the referee mysteriously awarded a free kick against the winger, causing an outburst of frustration from the home fans.

Between two late substitutions for Barrow, Dan Gleeson cut in from the right to draw another save from Tomlinson from just outside the area, and there was just time for Holroyd to race into the area and collide with the keeper before the whistle ended a frustrating and disappointing opening day defeat.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Josh Coulson, Wayne Hatswell, Darryl Coakley (Courtney Pitt 72'); Andy Parkinson (Jordan Patrick 86'), Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason (Sam Ives 81'), Robbie Willmott; Chris Holroyd, Mark Beesley.
Subs not used: Rory McAuley, Laurie Walker.

Booked: Carden 80' unsporting behaviour

Barrow:
Stuart Tomlinson, Simon Spender, Paul Jones (c), Adam Dugdale, Sean Newton; Robin Hulbert (Mark Boyd 90'), Andy Bond, Paul Rutherford, Carlos Logan; Jason Walker (Aaron Taylor 90'), Darren Green (Mike Pearson 55').
Subs not used: Tim Deasy, Phil Morris.

Booked: Walker 4' unsporting behaviour, Newton 43' foul & 52' foul, Spender 48' foul
Sent off: Newton 53' (2 yellows)

Referee: Mr Stephen Martin

Attendance: 2,990 (away 195)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"A disappointing end to another difficult week at the Abbey saw the U's slip to an opening day defeat. Barrow are never going to be the strongest side in the Conference but they were well-organised and rode their luck a couple of times when United had strong penalty shouts waved away. The U's had their chances and Robbie Willmott, Andy Parkinson and Dan Gleeson were denied by good saves, but they lacked an obvious target man to complement their tidy build-up work. The visitors were reduced to ten men soon after the break but went ahead on the hour when Carlos Logan curled in a free kick. Jason Walker made it 2-0 from the spot right at the end, and to cap a memorable day for the visitors their chairman walked away with the half-time draw."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Paul Carden - the model professional did his best to get the result deservedby his integrity over the last few weeks. Honourable mentions for Robbie Willmott who gave the Barrow defence kittens, particularly in the first half, Darryl Coakley continued his pre-season form on his senior debut, and Dan Gleeson was at his buccaneering best marauding forward."

Ref: Mr Martin - had some calls to make and got some wrong and some right. Unfortunately some of the ones he got wrong were in the Barrow penalty area and left United confused and confounded. 4/10."

AT090808 web@cambridge-united.co.uk