Date: Saturday 29th August, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: blustery, cloudy
Goals:
United: Holroyd 41', Parkinson 66', Holroyd 90' (pen)
Cambridge United broke their home duck with the first goals and the first win at the Abbey this season. Two more goals for Chris Holroyd sandwiched one for Andy Parkinson in a much-improved performance.
Martin Ling named the same side that drew 0-0 at Tamworth last weekend, while Gateshead boss Ian Bogie made two changes to the side beaten at home by York on Tuesday, calling up Stephane Pelonde and Alex Francis in place of Karl Jones and Phil Turnbull.
United started well and Pelonde headed away a cross from Andy Parkinson just before Chris Holroyd surprised everyone with a quick turn and shot that almost caught out goalkeeper Jim Provett as he stretched to turn it behind.
Gateshead's Alex Francis fired well off target in the sixth minute and Dan Gleeson got forward to test Provett two minutes later, but the visitors' wingers Brittain and Phillips were lively and Danny Potter had to make a brave challenge to clear Brittain's cross.
Play switched immediately to the other end where Paul Carden set up Willmott for a shot that was charged down and hacked away, and Brittain tested Potter again on 11 with a ball that split the United defence and was seen late by the U's keeper, who did well to claw it away.
United raced away on the counterattack but Holroyd's tame shot along the ground was easy for Provett when he could have tried to pick out Crow at the far post, and the Gateshead keeper was alert on 14 when Robinson almost gifted a weak backpass to Crow and he was out in an instant to kick it away.
With play switching from end to end, Brittain's cross was met by Mackay with a header into Potter's hands, and on 18 a good United move involving Reason, Crow and Willmott ended with a cross to Holroyd who rose well but Provett's strong aerial challenge saw the ball fly wide.
On 22 Willmott's teasing cross towards Holroyd got glancing contact from a defender to divert it towards Provett, and the goalkeeper threw his body bravely in the way of Holroyd and Crow as they arrived at the same time in a tangle of bodies and boots. Provett needed attention from his physio for a moment before continuing.
The first booking came on 34 for Pelonde's late challenge on Holroyd, Provett was called upon two minutes later when he smothered Crow's goalbound angled shot, but after a dull spell the game burst to life again.
Six minutes before half-time another good build-up set up Parkinson for a shot that was superbly parried by Provett and hacked behind by a defender with Crow closing in, and United finally scored their first home goal of the season two minutes later.
It was created by Andy Parkinson with a threaded through ball to the feet of Chris Holroyd feet ten yards inside the Gateshead half, he danced his way past a couple of challenges and cut inside to the edge of the area before driving the ball low past the advancing Provett for his sixth goal of the season.
A minute later Willmott's ambitious free kick flew narrowly wide from fully 35 yards, and in stoppage time the young winger saw his superb swerving shot clawed behind by Provett. Before the corner was taken Gateshead brought on striker Graeme Armstrong for the limping Richardson, and Willmott's flagkick was collected by Provett in the final action of the half.
Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"The U's are in front thanks to Chris Holroyd's great finish and it was a goal that came at the right time. United had started well but looked to be running out of steam when Holroyd pounced to net the first home goal of the campaign. Let's hope it leads to the first three points at home"
Second half:
Ian Bogie made his second substitution before the second half got under way, sending on Phil Turnbull for Brittain, and Willmott resumed as he had left off, testing Provett with two 25-yard efforts in the first two minutes.
Wayne Hatswell made an important intervention on 49 when he blocked Armstrong's snap shot behind for a corner, which fell for Gate to lift well over the United bar, and on 50 Baxter's cross was met by Armstrong with a crisp shot from the edge of the area that rose over the bar.
The atmosphere had gone flat but sparked to life again on 57 with Andy Parkinson's low cross to Willmott whose snap shot was parried by the impressive Provett, followed by a double booking as Willmott and Mackay raced after the ball at full tilt and out of play, colliding with some of the away bench and tangling angrily, and both players were booked for the unnecessary clash.
Some tetchy exchanges followed all over the pitch as tempers threatened to boil over and Wayne Phillips was give a final warning after a series of niggly fouls, while United's new man Brian Saah continued his very impressive home debut with a headed clearance from Robinson's testing cross. Parkinson and Gleeson both had crosses cleared and on 65 the pressure was capped by a second goal.
From a good build-up down the left the ball was pulled back to Hatswell some 30 yards out, he stung Provett's hands with a shot that he could only parry, Danny Crow got to the loose ball first and showed good control to lift it over the keeper from a tight angle, and although he was denied his first goal of the season by Curtis getting back to nod it off the line, Andy Parkinson was positioned ten yards out to thunder it into the net.
Almost before the celebrations had died, Pelonde showed his frustration with a nasty challenge into the back of Crow's ankles and Mr Drysdale had no hesitation in reaching for a second yellow card and then the red, while Alex Francis was also shown yellow for dissent.
Crow was next in the book for a foul on Curtis, on 76 Gateshead midfielder Neale McDermott, son of Terry, came on for Phillips, and two minutes later Crow again did well to keep the ball in play and crossed for Reason but the ball sat up nicely for Provett to make the save.
Mark Beesley replaced Crow, who left the pitch to a thoroughly deserved ovation with ten minutes remaining, and after Parkinson and Holroyd had both drawn further saves from Provett, Sam Ives went on with four minutes left in place of Willmott, who also received deserved applause as he left the pitch.
Both sides created openings as the clock ran down, without really testing either keeper, but in the 90th minute Holroyd went on another run and pulled the ball back to Beesley, and when his shot hit Francis' hand Mr Drysdale pointed immediately to the spot.
Chris Holroyd confidently claimed the ball and although Provett dived the right way he tucked the perfect penalty inside the bottom of the post to increase his goal tally to seven.
There was still time for Francis to set up Mackay for a volley that drew a smart save from Potter and at the other end Reason's dipping shot dropped wide from 30 yards before the final whistle signalled United's first home win of the season.
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Andy Parkinson, Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason, Robbie Willmott (Sam Ives 86'); Chris Holroyd, Danny Crow (Mark Beesley 80').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Courtney Pitt, Laurie Walker.
Booked: Willmott 59' (unsporting conduct), Crow 71' (foul)
Gateshead:
Jim Provett, Craig Baxter, James Curtis, Stephane Pelonde, Mark Robinson; Martin Brittain (Phil Turnbull 46'), Kris Gate (c), Alex Francis, Wayne Phillips (Neale McDermott 76'); Steven Richardson (Graeme Armstrong 45'), Michael Mackay.
Subs not used: Jamie Harwood, Paul Farman.
Booked: Pelonde 34' (foul), Mackay 59' (unsporting conduct), Pelonde 67' (foul), Francis 67' (dissent)
Sent off: Pelonde 67' (two yellow cards)
Referee: Mr Darren Drysdale
Attendance: 2,417 (away 40)
Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"The U's kicked off without a home goal or a home point and finished with three of each after a comfortable win against Gateshead. Chris Holroyd sprinted clear to fire them ahead four minutes before the break to settle any nerves, and United never looked back afterwards. Andy Parkinson made it 2-0 midway through the second half after good work from Danny Crow and the visitors knew the game was up when they had a man sent off a moment later. With the U's in cruise control, there was still time for Chris Holroyd to net United's third from the spot in the final minute."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Chris Holroyd - a non-stop bundle of energy with two goals to boot. Honourable mentions for Brian Saah on an impressive home debut, while there was plenty of hard work from a number of other players."
Ref: Mr Drysdale - got one decision obviously wrong over a United corner, but other than that didn't seem to get much wrong. Wanted the game to flow and played advantage where possible, and communicated well and often with the players. 9/10."
AT090829 web@cambridge-united.co.uk
