Date: Saturday 19th July 2008
Competition: Pre-season Friendly
Weather at kick-off: Sunshine, showers
Goals:
United: Parkinson 1', 62', Willmott 73', Beesley 81'
Everton: Jutciewicz 20', 27'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter (c), Dan Gleeson, Josh Coulson (Gavin Hoyte 84'), Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin, Andrew Parkinson, Paul Carden, Mark Convery, Courtney Pitt (Felino Jardin 61'), Lee McEvilly (Robbie Willmott 11'), Mark Beesley

Everton:
John Ruddy, John Irvine, Phil Jagielka, Joleon Lescott, Nuno Valente (Lee Molyneux 71'), Andy van der Meyde (Kieran Agard 71'), Jack Rodwell, Phil Neville (c), Eunan O'Kane (Cory Sinnott 46', Mikel Arteta 71')), Andrew Johnson, Lucas Jutkiewicz (Jose Baxter 49').

The U's first home game of the season saw a good crowd in the Trade Recruitment Stadium for the match against UEFA Cup participants Everton, as David Moyes returned to the club he once played for and United's new gaffer Gary Brabin faced the side he recently worked for, in a game that was agreed as part of John Ruddy's move from Cambridge to Merseyside in 2005.

The U's made the perfect start with a move down the left involving Pitt and McEvilly, resulting in a half-volley from new signing Andy Parkinson looping over John Ruddy to give United the lead after just 19 seconds, scraping the former Cambridge keeper's fingertips on its way into the net. 1-0

Everton's first chance came after 7 minutes when Andy Johnson skipped around Danny Potter, but couldn't adjust his feet to supply the finish before the U's defence got back on the line and eventually scrambled it clear.

A few minutes later, Lee McEvilly was subbed off for Robbie Willmott after feeling a slight hamstring strain.

Potter was eventually tested in the 17th minute when Andy Johnson's deflected effort from the edge of the area found its way into Potter's arms. This effort was soon followed by one from Convery that deflected off Phil Neville and looped into the air, only to land comfortably in John Ruddy's arms.

Everton equalised in the 20th minute when youngster Lucas Jutciewicz ran through from midfield on the break to slot past Potter and level the proceedings.

Excitement followed with a couple of cases of pinball inside the Everton box as the U's sought the goal that would put them back in front, and as Everton broke Johnson was denied twice, first by Potter and then Coulson on the line.

Everton should have been in front on 25 when a corner fell to Lescott unmarked at the far post, but his air shot gave Hatswell the chance to clear for another corner, from which Lescott's header forced Potter into a diving save, beating the ball clear to keep the score at 1-1.

Young Everton winger Eunan O'Kane had time and space to let fly from outside of the box moments later, but he also missed the ball, much to the glee of the United faithful. However, Everton took the lead moments later when Lucas Jutciewicz deftly headed the ball past Potter from O'Kane's left wing cross in the 27th minute. 1-2

Jack Rodwell, England Under-18s captain and Everton's youngest-ever player, almost added another for Everton when a lapse in marking from a corner gave Neville the space to cross to him but his header was saved well by skipper Danny Potter, diving to his right.

The U's had a chance as half time approached, when Pitt, who had been causing right back John Irvine all kinds of trouble, put a dipping ball into the box which evaded recent England cap Jagielka, but Wilmott saw it late and all he could do was stumble into the ball, which deflected straight to Ruddy.

The first half ended without any further action. After the U's had made a positive start, taking the lead with the first move of the game, Everton then came back with two goals from youngster Jutciewicz, and pressed on to find another. Everton led at half time, but the result was by no means decided.

Second half:

Everton made a half time substitution, which saw David Moyes make a straight swap on the left wing, replacing one promising youngster O'Kane with another in Cory Sinnott.

Everton kicked off the second half and Jutciewicz could have had his hat-trick soon after, but Irvine's cross on the overlap narrowly evaded the busy striker.

Moments later, Jutzciewicz was replaced by highly-rated former England Schoolboys star Jose Baxter.

The second half of the game was struggling to live up to the excitement of the first, and it wasn't until the 57th minute that Beesley was played through on goal, only to be denied by Ruddy. This seemed to inspire Everton into action as Johnson broke into the box at the other end, but could only fire at Potter's legs from a tight angle.

The biggest roar of the day yet emerged from the Everton end as Mikel Arteta began to warm up, which was answered with renewed bouncing from the Newmarket Road End. Courtney Pitt then received a standing ovation as he was taken off for Dutch trialist Felino Jardin, just after the hour mark.

The home crowd were on their feet again on 62 as summer signing Andy Parkinson brought the ball down on the edge of the box before spectacularly looping the ball over Ruddy for the second time in the game. 2-2

The U's were playing with a spring in their step once more and almost restored the lead moments later when Beesley fired low to Ruddy's left, but the keeper managed to smother it.

It looked as if Everton had retaken the lead when Baxter's through ball was poked past Potter by Andy Johnson, but Gleeson managed to clear the goalbound ball for a corner as it slowly trickled towards the goal.

Everton then made a triple substitution on 71 as Arteta, Agard and Molyneux came on to replace Sinnott, van der Meyde and Champions League winner Nuno Valente.

Just as the game appeared to be calming down again, the U's restored their original lead as a through ball from midfield deflected straight to Robbie Willmott, who had the composure to get it under control and fire across the body of John Ruddy to make it 3-2 to Cambridge.

With 15 minutes remaining, Everton were pushing for the game's 6th goal and a cross from Irvine on the right flashed across the U's goal, only to go out of play for a throw in on the far side.

Arteta's first influence on the game came soon after, as he created enough space to pull the ball back to Rodwell who blazed over with all the time in the world, much to the glee of the home support.

Beesley almost added another for the U's at the other end after Carden won the ball in midfield, Willmott setting up Beesley for a shot which deflected wide for a corner. But from that resulting flagkick, the U's seemed to have the game wrapped up as Mark Beesley volleyed home to make it 4-2 in the 81st minute.

Another substitution followed as man of the match Josh Coulson gave way for Gavin Hoyte to see the game out.

As the game reached its closing moments, the U's defence sought to close off any chance of Everton pulling themselves back into the game, denying the likes of Johnson, Neville and Arteta any space to work in, despite the Toffees' best efforts.

As the fourth official signalled there would be two minutes of stoppage time, Everton had one last throw of the dice as Agard skipped through, but again Potter got enough on the ball to allow his defenders time to get back and clear the danger.

The last stages saw the U's bring the result home, blocking a series of Everton crosses and shots, to claim an impressive victory over the Merseysiders in an exciting game which saw plenty of attractive football and goal scoring chances for both sides. After such an intriguing and high scoring encounter, it was clear both sets of fans enjoyed the game as the players received a standing ovation as the left the pitch.

Adam Thrussell

Manager Gary Brabin commented afterwards, "First and foremost it's pre-season and we've got to prepare ourselves for the season. I'm absolutely delighted with the lads in the last three weeks and it was nice to get our first win against a Premiership side."

Final Score: Cambridge United 4-2 Everton

Attendance: 4,495 (away 1,608)

Referee: Mr Michael Thorpe

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