Andrew Bennett continues his comprehensive review of last season, moving into the month of January 2008.

Tuesday 1st January: Histon 1-0 U's [att: 3,721, away 1,630]

The Glass World Stadium was bulging at the seams for the hosts' cup final, leading to extremely poor views of the pitch for anyone under 6' 5" in the away end who hadn't arrived early to grab a place at the front. Glad I remembered those stilts! On a mild New Year's Day the watching TV dozens were treated to the sight of someone in a dog costume gamely playing the drums out of time before the ritual bursting of the hoop.

LFW replaced Boylan but despite the controversy elicited by Fallon's comments about the pen pictures, Abbey car parking facilities etc etc, the game itself got off to a low-key start with United quite some way from their best, while Histon were just Histon. Potter saved well from a Wright header, his counterpart Danny Naisbitt did the same from a Wolleaston shot, but the breakthrough on 53 came, with crushing inevitability, from a set piece.

Adie Cambridge lofted in a free-kick, Matt Langston headed it on and his centre-back partner Mat Mitchel-King stabbed home from close range. Rendell had an overhead kick saved on 56 and both he and Wright missed good chances later on, but ultimately United slumped to a lacklustre defeat, not having truly played well since that reverse at Kidderminster. The U's remained without a New Year's Day win since 1991.

JQ was unimpressed, stating flatly, "We got what we deserved - absolutely nothing" as his side dropped to 5th, and admitted to looking at 'one or two players' now the transfer window was open again. Fallon harped on about Boxing Day: "There was a lot said about that game and a lot went on that wasn't professional from their point of view. We used a little bit of that." Man of the Match: Mark Albrighton

There was cheerier news later in the week when Paul Carden rejoined on loan until the end of the season 'with a view to a permanent deal' and no recall clause. Albrighton and Wolleaston ("Two key players") signed two-year extensions to 2010, and Hoyte an extra year to 2009. Of United's increased Molineux allocation of 4,128, they had now sold 3.884.

Saturday 5th January: Wolves 2-1 U's (FA Cup) [att: 15,348, away 3,973]

All thoughts of local unpleasantness were put into perspective as a vast amber army descended on Wolverhampton; the sight of 28 coaches wending their police-escorted way through the traffic-stopped streets was truly a wonder to behold, packed with the lapsed, the lost and the merely curious alongside United's ever-growing contingent of loyal supporters. They occupied the lower tier along one whole side plus a section at one end and outsung the home fans from start to finish.

JQ opted for a canny 3-4-2-1 formation, with Rendell as lone striker, Wolleaston and Convery just behind him and Brown and Carden holding, the strategy being to flood the midfield, stifle the Wolves and break quickly themselves when the opportunity arose.

The Yellow Pages tickertape welcome was most impressive and after a few early nerves United began to settle, Rendell having a header cleared off the line by Darren Ward on 9. Danny Potter led the resistance to the hosts' insistent probing and up the other end Convery had a golden chance to put his side in front on 22, his shot cannoning off keeper Wayne Hennessey's chest. Wolves snarled, United snapped back, Potter saved superbly from a Ward header with a Gordon Banksesque dive to paw around the post, then on 41 Neill Collins handled and the U's had a penalty. Rendell stepped up and slotted coolly home to send the amber hordes into delirium: 1-0.

Albrighton cleared a Keogh header off the line in the last minute to send his team into the break ahead. Wolves huffed and puffed but United's house remained resolutely un-blown down until the hosts introduced Michael Kightly on the hour, just returned from injury, to great acclaim from the Molineux faithful. Nine minutes later he had scored the equaliser, nipping between the U's defenders to prod home a Jarvis cross. United began to tire after a Herculean effort and Wolves were desperate to avoid the replay their opponents deserved, so much so that Jay Bothroyd was booked for a pathetic dive in the box on 84.

But United's brave resistance was finally broken two minutes from time in controversial circumstances. Albrighton was penalised for a foul on Kightly near the byline in a decision which the ref reportedly admitted later was erroneous. Kightly lofted the free-kick into the six-yard box, and there was Collins rising to bundle the ball home. Boylan and LFW entered the fray but it was too late, Freddy Eastwood spurning a good chance for a third in added time, and Wolves' reaction to their narrow squeak of a win was simply that of relief. The near-four thousand strong amber army rose to acclaim their unlucky heroes, and JQ expressed his pride at the team and the fans. So near, but so far. Man of the Match: Mark Convery

Sometimes familiarity breeds, if not contempt, at least a jaded sort of apathy. Two days before United were due at Histon again for their FA Trophy tie on the 12th, it was announced that the match was no longer all-ticket as sales had been 'much slower than expected.' On the Saturday, the game was called off in the morning due to heavy overnight rain, to almost no-one's regret. A new date was set for next Wednesday.

JQ expressed his frustration with the transfer market as he sought to strengthen the squad, complaining that clubs were 'asking fortunes'. United had agreed a fee with Millwall for winger Chris Zebroski, currently on loan at Torquay, but he turned the move down. There had been no firm interest in Michael Morrison, one club having got in touch but not returning. The U's finally announced a new signing on the Wednesday, midfielder Ben Farrell moving from Bedford Town until the end of the season with a further year's option. No fee was payable as he was on non-contract terms at The Eyrie.

Wednesday 16th January: Histon 2-0 U's (FA Trophy) [att: 1,928, away 1,136]

Here we go again. The attendance was this time below Histon's official capacity of 3,500 - well below - on a cold, unappetising night with a heavy, mud-encrusted pitch. United went back to 3-5-2 with Pitt and Boylan replacing Brown and Reed, and like last time, the first half was an even, low-key, positively subdued affair; even Fallon's programme notes bore a distinctly conciliatory air, while the chairman's column acknowledged the criticisms of his club's facilities on New Year's Day. Perhaps we were all going to be friends again. Then just before half-time Histon took the lead in the most predictable of fashions: an Adie Cambridge long throw into a packed area, Nathaniel Knight-Percival flicked it on with his head, and it flew over everyone else's heads into the net.

The hosts doubled their lead six minutes after the restart, Antonio Murray beating Morrison to the byline, the U's defence froze as he crossed, and Wright stepped in to scud home unmarked from eight yards. Two shoddy goals to concede, and the amber hordes experienced that familiar sinking feeling. United failed to respond either in terms of football or attitude, only Carden and Coulson able to hold their heads high. But worse was to come. LFW replaced Boylan on the hour and wasted no time in flattening old adversary Pope before he had even touched the ball, picking up a yellow card for his trouble.

The match dragged tediously on to its queasy climax. Five minutes from time Robbie Nightingale clattered Carden fearsomely and the United man responded with an irritated tap to the back of the head. The ref's rough justice was red for Carden and yellow for Nightingale. A second dismissal on full-time was the icing on the cack for the U's, LFW ordered off for a foolish lunge at Okay. JQ revealed afterwards that he was looking for a couple of strikers after apologising: "That was abysmal tonight... no excuses... I can only apologise to the fans and I'm very, very disappointed by that tonight." There were allegations of racial abuse of LFW directed at Pope and Histon promised a full investigation, but nothing seemed to come of it. Man of the Match: Josh Coulson

Next signing was a defender, experienced centre or left-back Wayne Hatswell moving from Rushden until 2010 for an undisclosed fee, a defender most famous for a legendary own goal when playing for Forest Green that has become a YouTube staple. He was closely followed by a forward, Scouse Northern Ireland international Lee McEvilly arriving on loan from Accrington until the end of the season. Gavin Hoyte was packed off to Hinckley United on a three-month loan to gain more first-team experience.

Saturday 19th January: Grays Athletic 2-1 U's [att: 1,403, away 400]

The two new boys made their debuts at Grays' residential flat & leisure complex, replacing Coulson and an injured Boylan, while Brown returned for the suspended Carden and Reed came in for Pitt. United took the lead slightly against the run of play on 26, Gleeson crossing for Rendell to lash home at the near post, although the most entertaining aspect of the first half was the PA announcer and his cheery "The winning ticket was won by me, so hard luck to everybody else!" before reading out the wrong draw number.

Grays equalised within 45 seconds of the restart, Potter blocking a Watson shot but the ball spinning across goal to present Michael Standing with a point-blank tap-in. United failed to respond with any conviction or quality, and the hosts took the lead on 72, Alan Power's free-kick half-cleared into the air by Morrison, and the U's defence could only stand and watch as Standing ran in to blast a tremendous 20-yard volley past the helpless Potter. United rallied at last, galvanised by sub Willmott, but it was too little, too late. They seemed to have lost both their edge and some of their self-belief over the last month, and had now sunk to four defeats in a row in all competitions. JQ opined "We just need a win to get us going again." Man of the Match: Mark Albrighton

Lee McEvilly (above) was not pleased with his debut but promised better to come, stating honestly "I look overweight, I probably am a bit overweight, but I feel fine and I know I can do a job for Cambridge." It turned out he had nearly signed for the U's at the age of eighteen, but then-manager John Beck had been sacked the day he came to put pen to paper and the deal fell through. Coming back to Cambridge, now was the first time he had lived away from home and his mum and dad. Bless.

The following Monday there was a shock when chairman Lee Power announced his resignation amid mutterings of him feeling undermined. Fingers pointed at (CEO) Norman Gautrey, who wasted no time in giving us his side of the story: "It was quite clear during our meeting that he had been fed incorrect information from within the club... it is a concern of mine that at Cambridge United, like many football clubs, there is far too much rumour mongering... during my discussion with the Chairman I offered to resign, so as to facilitate a situation whereby he felt able to remain at the club. This offer was declined... we need to dramatically improve our off-field activities if we are to get them to the standards that I would expect... Lee, I wish you well and have no axe to grind."

Amen to that, as Power had presided over the regeneration of a moribund club, appointed Quinn and stuck by him when many had called for his head. And who could forget Forest Green last season, when he rolled up his sleeves and marched to the dugout to help Chris Turner inspire the team to come back from a goal down. JQ called him the "best chairman I've ever had." Finance Director Geoff Peck followed Power out of the door, while Brian Attmore defeated Colin Proctor to be re-elected as Fans' Elected Director.

Tuesday 22nd January: U's 5-0 Droylsden [att: 2,000, away 11]

Everyone at the club needed a pick-me-up, and who better to provide it than BSP whipping boys Droylsden, without an away win all season, on a run of six defeats in a row and fresh from a 5-0 tonking at Stevenage. Their brave band of ten supporters (the other one in the away end was a local neutral) was applauded warmly when they appeared a few minutes before kickoff to populate a previously empty South Stand. Brown started wide left with Pitt in the hole, and it took the U's a mere eleven minutes to take the lead, the bustling McEvilly dispossessing Ashley Burberry, beating another opponent and crossing from the byline to Rendell who screwed his close-range shot across the keeper.

United went into cruise control against spirited but limited opposition and doubled their lead on 33 with a Wolleaston special, a wonder strike into the top corner from 25 yards which the keeper did not even see. It was 3-0 on the hour, McEvilly bringing down Reed's corner and rifling his first goal in the black and amber, and now hitting their stride United made it four on 69, a great run and cross from Pitt setting up Rendell for a commanding header.

Ben Farrell (above) entered the fray for his debut and settled in with impressive confidence. Six minutes later it was 5-0 when Rendell controlled a Convery cross, stumbled, regained his balance, switched feet while the Droylsden defence stood and watched like so many paralysed meerkats, and tucked home for a perfect hat-trick: right foot, head, left foot. The visitors hung on to keep the score down but were undoubtedly the worst side seen at the Abbey in a long, long time. All three new boys looked excellent and goal machine Rendell confirmed "I'm happy here and I want to stay." Man of the Match: Scott Rendell

Later in the week Luke McShane asked to be placed on the transfer list, in search of regular first team football, while Stephen Smith joined Cambridge City on a month's loan.

Saturday 26th January: U's 2-1 Altrincham [att: 3.595, away 91]

Brown succumbed to ankle injury again so Convery returned to the starting line-up, Pitt remaining in the hole, and in front of over 1,000 Junior U's in the South Stand, United were rewarded for a lively start with the lead on 23, Rendell crossing for McEvilly to sidefoot home. Albrighton nearly repeated his Boxing Day goal on 36, keeper Stuart Coburn making a brilliant tip over from the skipper's volley, but Alty looked a decent side despite their lowly league position in an entertaining contest.

Coburn produced another miracle save on 71, preventing a Convery tap-in, and in a warning shot across the bows Robbie Lawton hit the underside of the bar for the visitors on 75. Five minutes later they were level, top scorer Colin Little darting onto a through ball to roll the ball past an outrushing Potter. This season's United, however, were a lot stronger, and they came back to reclaim the lead five minutes from time, albeit fortuitously as Convery's 25-yarder took two deflections off defenders and bobbled into the corner. The scorer was flattened in the celebratory human pyramid of joy, but his withdrawal shortly afterwards was, we were assured, down to cramp.

A deserved win over reasonable opposition, and with Aldershot and Burton losing and Forest Green and Exeter taking points off each other, ten points separated the top five with a five-point gap to the chasing pack. And the fifty-point mark had been breached. "The U's are staying up...!" Man of the Match: Wayne Hatswell

Rumours began to circulate of a possible England call-up for Dave Kitson from new boss Fabio Capello, which would have meant 'significant' dosh for the U's, but sadly they came to nothing. The Promotion Fund, meanwhile, stood at £41,000 and had helped to bring in four new players. On the 28th it was reported that a bid for Rendell had been rejected from an 'unnamed Football League Club.'

At the AGM Philip Law was appointed as chairman, "...massively delighted but it was completely unexpected." Johnny Hon did not stand for re-election, living as he now was in Hong Kong and father of a new baby, and apparently due to business reasons he was unable to meet his commitments to the club at present but still wanted to help. His resemblance to Heroes' Hiro Nakamura made one wonder if he could perhaps contribute by stopping time at an appropriate moment in vital games. It seemed that a number of people had contacted the club to offer expertise or investment, and the new Chairman was right when he stated "Whatever happens now this season will go down as a success."

Next day another striker arrived, the classy Mark Beesley from Forest Green, the man who had been supplying the ammunition for Stuart Fleetwood, the BSP's leading scorer. He signed a deal until 2010, with CFU putting in £10k to clinch the move, and opined "No disrespect to Forest Green, but it's all set up here to go back into the League where it rightfully should be and the chance of playing in front of big crowds every week was a big draw." Some people say the nicest things.

Tuesday 29th January: U's 0-1 Exeter City [att: 2,769, away 145]

Beesley was thrown straight into the side hours after having met his new team-mates, replacing Pitt in the hole, while Carden returned from suspension in place of Convery. It was an intricate tactical battle played out mostly in midfield, but United were caught out on 35 as Dean Moxey swung a corner over, Potter was blocked off and Dan Seabourne guided home an unchallenged header.

Thereafter United simply could not find a way through. The Grecians almost repeated their corner trick in the second half, this time Rob Edwards with the unmarked header, but Potter saved with his face. Ouch. The U's lacked that vital spark of quality in the final third, even when Potter went up for a corner near the end, and McEvilly came closest when he had a header scooped around the post by Andy Marriott. Their 14-game home unbeaten run since the start of the season was over. Exeter boss Paul Tisdale remarked presciently "I wouldn't rule out us meeting again come the beginning of May!" I wouldn't rule out a similar match, either. Man of the Match: Lee McEvilly

The imminent closure of the transfer window saw LFW join York City until the end of the season, while Uncle Fester (Alan Lewer, above) decamped to join his old mate John Hollins at Weymouth to JQ's disappointment, although a compensation package was agreed. No offers were received for Morrison, but two League clubs, believed to be Rochdale and Peterborough, had bids turned down for Rendell. Mr Chairman said, "Jimmy is delighted and Scott himself is happy to stay so there are no issues between the player and the club and it's the right decision for all parties." So that was settled, then.

End of month position: 5th

Andrew Bennett

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