Former Cambridge United striker Michael Gash lined up for new club Ebbsfleet United last night and admitted afterwards that he was "desperate" to score against the U's.
Gash joined the U's from Cambridge City along with Robbie and Josh Simpson and spent the first half of the 2006/07 season in amber and black before returning to City. He joined Ebbsfleet earlier this season for £30,000 and scored his first goal in their opening day 2-2 draw with Mansfield.
"I really was desperate to get a goal out there with Cambridge being my old club and I thought I had at the end, but the keeper came out and blocked well.
"But whoever would have scored for us, we deserved to win the game," he stated. "In the first half we had the majority of possession and did well but we were very unlucky to go in a goal down.
"We went in half-time extremely disappointed that we'd had the better chances and it was a poor goal for us to concede. We work on defending set pieces in training and the gaffer didn't have to tell us what to do during the break.
"We came out in the second half and to the game to Cambridge and fully deserved the goal and were really unlucky not to go on and win the game."
Referee John Hopkins produced a flurry of cards last night - five yellows for Ebbsfleet and three yellows and a late red for United - and Gash continued, "It gets confusing out there - you don't know from game to game what you are allowed to do.
"I still don't know what I got booked for! Nowadays you are not allowed to ask or question referees so you let it go and just be hopeful when you next jump for a ball you don't get a second booking."
The sending-off for United debutant Rory McAuley came deep into stoppage time and Gash commented, "I felt sorry for your young lad getting the straight red. It's disappointing for anyone to get sent off but if you lead with your studs up the refs say they have no choice but to send the player off.
"He had a very good debut up until then. I don't think there can be too many complaints about the decision though. The Cambridge lads looked resigned to it and there weren't many complaints."
Gash ended with positive words about United's chances for this season and for our new number 9 striker.
"Cambridge look a good side again this year, and despite the run of injuries they've had a good start to the year. You can see they utilise the big man McEvilly up front and play off him well.
"They will get results throughout the season and even when they're not playing well, like tonight, they have the ability to grind out the points."
Interview by David Gray
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