Andrew Bennett reviews last season, continuing with the month of August 2008.
August 2008: "His agent was a plant pot"
United's final friendly, due to be played at Braintree Town on Friday 1st, was dramatically called off by the referee due to the pitch being unfit less than two hours before kick-off, despite both clubs stating that they were happy to proceed with rolling substitutions to minimise the risk of injury. Phil Bolland had been due to make his debut in the match. The evening did, however, produce one of the rarest ever programmes for a United game, a lucky few early arrivals snapping one up before it was withdrawn from sale, never to be seen again.
Global Self Drive were announced as United's new home shirt sponsors, estate agents Haart having been permitted to withdraw from the second year of their sponsorship due to the moribund state of the property market. So that was why they had played all three of their home friendlies in their white away kit. The club also intended to use its black and amber strip as often as possible away from home, with a special black Kershaw logo on the front.
It was revealed that Courtney Pitt would miss the start of the season and may need an operation on the left knee injury he sustained against West Ham. For the benefit of all you Casualty fans, the knee was exhibiting some postero-lateral rotary instability of the arcuate ligament complex, while the orthopaedic surgeon diagnosed a tear of the popliteal hiatus. Well it's a bit more detailed than 'his knee hurts...'
Danny Brown was making good progress after the shoulder stabilisation surgery he received at the end of last season, and he was on course to return to non-contact squad training within the next week. Darren Quinton signed a contract to the end of the season after recovering from his cruciate ligament injury.
There were two new faces at the Abbey on the 6th. Former Cambridge City and Kalamazoo Kingdom midfielder Jon Challinor was signed for £15,000 from Rushden & Diamonds on a two-year deal, Brabin advising "He's a goalscorer and I mainly want to play him in midfield, although I know he can play up front as well. He's got a little bit of everything."
Promising youngster Chris Jones joined on loan from Swansea City until the New Year in the face of offers from Football League clubs. Brabin assured us, "He's quick with good feet, he scores goals and he can play as a centre forward or out wide on either flank."
There was more good news when Felino Jardim put pen to paper on a year's contract after a 'compromise' had been agreed with his agent. He would be wearing the name 'Felino' on the back of his shirt at his own request.
Paul Carden was appointed team captain after the armband had been passed around Gleeson, Hatswell, Potter and Tonkin in pre-season, Brabin labelling him a 'good natural leader.' The manager's final message before the league season started was: "I want us to have a good solid back four, keep clean sheets, and be exciting and play football and break teams down."
Saturday 9th August 2008: Northwich Victoria 0-1 Cambridge United (BSP)
Scorer: Jardim 28 | Attendance: 1.445 (away 371) | League position: 5th
Just fifteen weeks after their last visit, United travelled to the Marston's Arena, its sign proudly proclaiming 'Home of Manchester United Reserves and Northwich Victoria,' for the first Blue Square Premier match of 2008-09, although the matchday programme bore the logo of the Blue Square North. Potter started in goal, of course, Bolland and Tonkin made their United league debuts alongside Gleeson and Hatswell at the back, Challinor and Carden were flanked by Parkinson and Jardim in the middle, and McEvilly and Beesley started up front. It looked like a good blend.
The hosts gave Jardim a rousing welcome to England by scything him down twice in the first five minutes, but he just got up again and carried on regardless, and it soon became apparent that brute force was their only 'answer' to his pace and skill. After a lively start, with Darryn Stamp missing what looked like an easy header for Northwich, United's goal was a peach, Parkinson haring down the right, McEvilly drawing two defenders with a run into the six-yard box, and Parky cunningly pulled his cross behind them to the waiting Jardim to lash unequivocally home from just inside the box.
The Vics responded spiritedly but could not force their bombardment through a resolute back line, and after an excellent league debut Jardim was replaced by Jones with a quarter of an hour to go. Potter confirmed the three points with a splendid late save from Michael Byrne, and the U's were off and running after a thoroughly professional day's work.
Brabin wanted to praise everyone: "We had two of arguably the best centre-halves that have played in this league in the last five years…The whole team was excellent." The United supporters were 'awesome': "They were the home team and I think the deafening roar of our fans disheartened them a little bit, and it definitely drove us on for the last 20 minutes or so."
There was not so good news early the next week when Andy Parkinson suffered 'considerable derangement of the knee' in training and was referred to a specialist. Furthermore, Courtney Pitt was to have an operation on his knee on the Wednesday and it was expected that he would be out for 8-12 weeks.
On the brighter side, Brabin finally got his man and signed Chris Holroyd on a one-year deal with a one-year option after his release by mutual consent from Chester City. Stockport had been interested, and he had been offered - and had declined - a trial at Bournemouth. Brabin was pleased that his persistence had paid off for this "pacy, exciting forward".
Tuesday 12th August 2008: Cambridge United 2-1 Kidderminster Harriers (BSP)
Scorers: McEvilly 27, 61, Richards 90 | Att: 3,008 (away 85) | League position: 4th
United lined up against their 'hoodoo club' with Robbie Willmott in place of the unfortunate Parkinson, but otherwise unchanged. The deadlock was broken in a hard-fought affair when Challinor sliced the Harriers' rearguard apart with a ball to Beesley, he drew keeper Adam Bartlett then squared it, with a touch from the Kiddie No.1, and McEvilly slotted home past two defenders on the line.
Potter saved well from an unmarked Simon Russell, then repeated the trick early in the second half; ex-loan U Darryl Knights flashed a shot narrowly wide, and McEvilly just missed with one of his trademark free-kicks. Then United's second goal was a peach, Jardim aiming an inch-perfect cross from deep left right onto the head of the waiting McEvilly, who did not even have to move his feet to power a close-range header past Bartlett.
After that Kiddie looked a beaten side, and Beesley spurned a number of chances to make the scoreline more comfortable before Justin Richards stabbed home from a corner in added time for the visitors. But United held on for their first win over the Harriers since 22nd September 1959. The best things come to those who wait.
Brabin dedicated the win to the missing Parky: "I'm gutted to lose a player like that and I was made up with the win - it was for Andy a little bit today."
The bad news about Parkinson was confirmed the next day: he had a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, would require surgery within fourteen days and could miss the rest of the season while rehabilitating. Worse, he also had a torn lateral meniscus, but the club's swift response had at least prevented a larger haemothrosis developing. Nasty. Greg Reid advised that big thanks were due to consultant orthopaedic surgeon Mr Dennis Edwards, who had also just operated on Courtney Pitt.
Histon enquired about taking Ben Farrell on loan, noting that he was initially out of favour this season, although it seemed that the suggestion had initially come from another source, Brabin saying "I think the lad was a little frustrated on Tuesday and as far as I can gather his agent acted on that." But the boss did not want him to go, and following talks between George Rolls and Gareth Baldwin, no deal was done.
Brabin stated, "I'm really happy with the squad of players I've got at the moment. There's healthy competition and a few of the lads are chomping at the bit to get in the side, but they understand that the lads who have started have performed well."
Saturday 16th August 2008: Cambridge United 2-1 Barrow (BSP)
Scorers: McEvilly 28, Hatswell 40,Tait 36 | Att: 2,663 (away 138) | League position: 1st
So far the league had been thoroughly topsy-turvy, with Barrow on top of the table and pre-season favourites Oxford and Stevenage languishing at the bottom. Now the early leaders came to the Abbey for the first time since April 1972, a resolute, hard-working outfit who believed in playing long, direct balls down the channels and making the most of set pieces. Hmm, sounds familiar.
United's line-up remained unsurprisingly unchanged, although Holroyd replaced Quinton on the bench. Keeper Tim Deasy made a good early save from an increasingly confident Willmott, and although possession was fairly even, it was the U's who were getting the attempts in on goal. And when Challinor fed Jardim, the little winger sprinted forward, cut inside, shot for goal and when Deasy could only parry, McEvilly was lurking to roll the ball into an empty goal.
Barrow, however, responded spiritedly, and equalised when Mark Boyd's free-kick was flicked on for Paul Tait to loop a header into the top corner. And they kept on coming with all the confidence of a team on a long winning run going back to last season.
But they were undone by another Wayne Hatswell special before half-time. Jardim was cynically body-checked by Mike Pearson some 40 yards out, and United loaded up the box as Hatswell set his sights for the free-kick in a similar position to that from which he scored that astounding goal against Forest Green last season. Just as then, the opposing keeper was anticipating a cross, and just as then, the United defender let fly for goal with stunning power. This time Deasy was behind it, but in a comical display of juggling, he fumbled it behind him and into the waiting goal. With hilarious consequences.
Deasy stayed kneeling in the back of the goal for some time, evidently claiming some sort of injury, although one suspected there was little the physio could do to treat wounded pride. United did their best, though, to reciprocate when a hideous mix-up between Bolland and Potter allowed Lee Hunt to toepoke between them, and their embarrassment was just saved by Dan Gleeson chasing back and clearing almost off the line.
The injury jinx struck again when Carden was unable to resume for the second half due to twisted ankle ligaments, Farrell depping. Bolland was lucky to avoid a red card for a studs-up challenge on Carlos Logan, the lovely Amy Rayner only showing him yellow, and the contest continued in lively, committed but rarely unpleasant fashion. Deasy recovered some self-respect with fine saves from sub Jones, McEvilly and Beesley, but Pearson committed one foul too many when he clattered Jardim into the air a minute from time and received his second yellow and, inevitably, first red.
Barrow had made for stubborn and highly competitive opposition, but United had matched them then bettered them in their sternest test so far. The 100% record extended to three games as they went top of the table.
Brabin knew it: "It's a good start but I knew it was going to be tough and messy today... Someone's trying their best to injure all my players at the moment but overall I'm made up with the attitude of the lads."
Chief Executive Norman Gautrey revealed on the 21st that he would be stepping down within the next month. Law paid tribute: "We are indebted to Norman for his effort, energy, vision and expertise. His contribution to the Club has been fantastic and in no small way responsible for the giant strides we continue to make."
The manager finally found his cover goalkeeper when he signed Steven Drench on loan from his old club Southport until the New Year; he had previously signed him for the Sandgrounders from Morecambe in June.
At the Fans' Forum, Brabin was quizzed about various players he had chased since coming to the club. On the subject of Woking's Tom Hutchinson, he said "Both Tom and Phil (Bolland) were targeted at the same time. I admire Tom but again nothing has materialised although he is very keen to come here."
Cambridge City's Josh Simpson? "We spoke to him but nothing materialised and since then we have signed Jon Challinor who we are delighted to have brought to the club." And Tom Youngs? "I decided we were looking for something different."
On the subject of Chris Holroyd, Brabin revealed "he was young and naïve but it was nothing personal on his part. He spoke to his agent and his agent was a plant pot and leaked the interest out to other parties. Chris has since sacked his agent and got a new one so we were delighted to be able to sign him."
The manager enthused: "It's good having healthy competition for places and people like Chris Holroyd have come into the squad to put pressure on players and he's chomping at the bit for a start. But you have to earn that and as it stands, with the way Macca and Bees are playing at the moment, they'll be staying in the side."
Saturday 23rd August 2008: Eastbourne Borough 0-3 Cambridge United (BSP)
Scorers: McEvilly 21, Farrell 40, Holroyd 84 | Att: 2,105 (away approx 500 - no segregation) | League position: 1st
It was a seaside-tastic warm, sunny day for United's first-ever visit to Eastbourne's pleasant and unsegregated ground, the BSP newcomers still recovering from a 6-3 mauling at Oxford the previous week. Brabin made no changes to his 100% team, although Drench made his first appearance on the bench, and United made a lively start against a vulnerable-looking back four for the hosts; it was no surprise when McEvilly notched his fourth goal in three games with a sweet left-footed shot across the keeper halfway through the first half.
Eastbourne fought gamely, but they lacked United's cutting edge and Jardim set up Farrell for their second, an emphatic strike from the edge of the box, and Challinor was denied a third by keeper Lee Hook's legs just before the interval. It already looked like game over for the hosts.
The U's fans enjoyed the rare novelty of changing ends at half-time, and their team seemed to be content with protecting its lead in part two, Eastbourne flailing like a small child punching the air with his fists while a patient adult holds him at arm's length until he wears himself out. Holroyd replaced McEvilly on 79 and within five minutes he had his debut goal, a cracker to boot, beating two men in a spring-heeled run before lobbing Hook with consummate ease. It sealed a thoroughly comfortable win against earnest but limited opposition; four out of four.
Brabin was pleased: "It was a great, dead professional performance from the lads... We've got a few players on the bench at the moment chomping at the bit to come on. Young Jonesy has looked absolutely fantastic in training and he probably can't believe he's not getting a game because he's looked unbelievable, so I'm impressed with him. Chris Holroyd has been chomping at the bit too since he came in and I fancied him to score when he went on."
Monday 25th August 2008: Cambridge United 0-2 Kettering Town (BSP)
Scorers: Westcarr 51, Beardsley 81 | Att. 3,489 (away 315) | League position: 2nd
Bank Holiday Monday saw United's first live telly appearance of the season, kick-off moved to 4.15 and Jimmy Quinn returning to the Abbey as guest pundit. Brabin rewarded Chris Jones for all that impressive training with his first start in place of Willmott, otherwise the league leaders were unchanged against another newly promoted club.
Kettering had made a decent start to the season, drawing all four games so far, and it was soon apparent why; a highly-organised team playing a high-energy pressing game and relying for their attacking threat on long balls over the top and set pieces, fuelled by man-mountain Exodus Geohaghon's prodigious long throws. The first half was a grim spectacle for spectators both in the ground and at home, with no flow, poor passing, ferocious tackles, and little invention up front from either side. United had been thoroughly hassled out of their stride and sorely lacked Carden's cool guiding head.
There was some light relief at half-time when our very own Wayne Purser stepped up to take the Blue Square Challenge, given a minute to chip as many balls as possible into a blue box on the centre spot from the edge of the centre circle. Unfortunately his total score was, how shall I put this, less than one...
It got even worse for United early in the second half when ex-U Craig Westcarr's miscued cross floated flukily into the net to give the Poppies the lead. And on 67, after some fruitless substitutions came the coup de grace: Farrell gave chase to a loose ball, went for it along with Westcarr, the Kettering man went down as if shot and Farrell received the harshest of straight reds from inept ref Creighton. Chris Beardsley sealed the visitors' win with a close-range second goal, but United were long since a spent force with no answer to the Poppies' bruising game plan. The 100% run had ended with a dull thud.
Brabin did not like what he had seen: "We knew what to expect from them and I think word is getting round now that we like to play football, and the old British way is 'let's get stuck into them'. I go to all these meetings about what the referees are going to do this year, and I'm still waiting to see it... We can do better than that today and I've told the lads not to hide behind excuses... today was a bad day at the office."
Of the sending off, even Kettering boss Mark Cooper was moved to comment "I thought the sending off was very harsh... Farrell was unlucky..." while the victim himself was even more forthright: "I thought the red card was embarrassing. I couldn't believe it. I miscontrolled the ball and went for the tackle and he (Westcarr) bottled it while I carried through and got sent off. I didn't even expect a card - I expected to carry on."
United duly appealed, but to no avail, although Farrell's three-match ban was not increased as it could have been after a failed appeal.
In cheerier news, Dan Gleeson was called up by the England 'C' squad for a trip to Sarajevo on 16th September against Bosnia's 'A2' team, while Mark Johnson and his team won the prestigious Programme Monthly Non-League Programme of the Year award.
Saturday 30th August 2008: Weymouth 2-2 Cambridge United (BSP)
Scorers: McPhee 72, Malcolm 83. McEvilly 42, Beesley 45 | Att. 1,367 (away 281) | League position: 3rd
Paul Carden made a welcome return to the side in place of Farrell, and Willmott was recalled for Jones, who had made little impression in his first start. United made a slow start, perhaps waiting for the away travel coach to arrive, which it did some seven minutes after kick-off. After soaking up the hosts' early pressure, however, they got a foothold in the game and created several chances themselves before McEvilly stepped up to smash home a spectacular free-kick from twenty yards not unlike the 'special' he scored at Burton in last season's play-off semi.
Deep into added time McEvilly flicked Hatswell's free-kick on to Beesley, who turned and rifled home number two to end a satisfactory first half for a U's side which looked halfway to another three points.
An increasingly ill-tempered second period saw the hosts' Cameron Mawer shown a straight red for a kick at the teasing Jardim just after the hour, and not long after McEvilly could have sealed the win when he ran clear of the home defence but was foiled by keeper Barnard. Convery and Coulson replaced Jardim and Gleeson, but the hosts pulled one back when ex-U Stephen Reed's free-kick rebounded off the upright for Chris McPhee to tuck home.
United were denied a decent penalty claim when Santos Gaia felled Challinor in an increasingly fraught atmosphere, and with nothing to lose Weymouth pulled out all the stops, adopting a 3-3-3 formation which bore fruit when Michael Malcolm found space in the box to fire home the equaliser.
The sides went at each other hammer and tongs in the closing minutes, and United were denied a clear winner in added time when Beesley forced the ball home from a corner but it was cleared by Reed's hand, and in the melee the officials were unable to spot either the ball crossing the line or the handball. All in all, a most unsatisfactory second half and two points that had got away.
Brabin was not impressed: "I'm not happy with the way we finished the game. With the circumstances and injuries again, I feel as though I'm using the same excuses after every game but refereeing decisions and injuries are killing us at the moment."
Reed admittedly candidly "Mark's chance in the last minute was in but I put my hand out next to the post and cleared it." He was probably smirking when he said it...
Andrew Bennett
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