U's 1-2 Plymouth: United given both barrels
Saturday 21st July 2007 - U's 1-2 Plymouth: United given both barrels
We live in ever-changing times, and there is no better barometer of the way football has evolved in the last fifty years than in the names of those who play the game. You knew where you stood in the old days; footballers had simple, down-to-earth names like Tommy Flockett, Arthur Bottom, Charlie Weatherspoon, Ralph Gubbins, Stanley Scrimshaw and, er, Bernard Weakley.
Nowadays you can't move for exotic, flashy monikers like Guylain Ndumbu-Nsungu, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, and two of today's visitors to the Abbey, Plymouth Argyle's Mathias Kouo-Doumbe and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
Those names are not all indicative of the last few years' influx of players from all over the world, of course; the latter is a Cambridge boy, born and bred, and was on the books at the Abbey as a schoolboy until tempted away by the bright lights of Old Trafford. The impossibility of getting a game ahead of the money-dripping megastars in their first team squad led young Sylvan to decamp to deepest darkest Devon, and he seems to be doing all right for himself in what is now known as the 'Championship.' I prefer 'Blue Square Premier,' myself.
The Pilgrims of Plymouth were the first visitors of the season to the hallowed turf of Newmarket Road, doubtless admiring the new ski-chalet look of the portakabins as they dropped by before jetting off to Austria on one of those fancy pre-season tours those 'big' clubs seem to enjoy these days. What's wrong with playing Mildenhall and St Neots, anyway?
Argyle's first visit to the Wembley of the Fens was also for a pre-season friendly, back in August 1964. The Southern League U's sprang something of a surprise with a 2-0 victory over their Division Two opponents with goals from Jimmy Gibson and Matt McVittie. Their last visit was as long ago as December 1998 and again they went away winless, going down 1-0 to a very memorable goal indeed: John Taylor's 82nd United goal in all competitions which saw him beat Alan Biley's record. Those really were the days.
United continued their mix-and-match selection policy with a back three of Davies, Albrighton and Hoyte in front of keeper Danny Potter, the usual wing-backs in Gleeson and Pitt, a central midfield of Quinton, Convery and young Michael Hyem after his sparkling display on Tuesday, and up front Lee Boylan was partnered by Steve Burton, trialist striker (below) who appears to be surplus to requirements at Kettering. Well, how do you compete with Craig Westcarr and David Bridges, eh?
A decent crowd of 1,508 settled down with their new-look matchday programmes, and very smart they looked too, on a pleasantly sunny day. Their number included 235 away supporters, although one suspects that the vast majority were south-east based Devonians rather than obsessives who had travelled all the way from the rain-drenched south-west.
Ebanks-Blake did not start for the visitors, who preferred the twin towers of Rory Fallon and Nick Chadwick up front, but the men in black with green trim dominated the first half-hour as United sat back and showed their opponents far too much respect. Chadwick blasted over on 9 then the comfortingly menacing figure of Mark Albrighton foiled Fallon. Unfortunately Adam Davies was forced to withdraw after only twelve minutes, to be replaced by Michael Morrison; it seems Digger is having about as much luck with injury as the FA is in working out who the hell really owns Carlos Tevez.
The busily buzzing David 'Chuck' Norris was causing problems to the United defence and he headed Fallon's cross over on the quarter hour. That was only a brief respite, however, and four minutes later he played a neat give-and-go with Akos Buzsaky before slotting tidily past Potter into the bottom right corner before he or his defence could react. 1-0.
Two minutes after that Norris almost did it again but this time his half-volley was splendidly pushed round the post by the United keeper, then on 24 the Plymouth danger man linked up with Chadwick but he was stopped by an impressive last-ditch tackle from Gavin Hoyte.
At this point the U's simply were not at the races; in fact they had not progressed beyond studying The Sporting Life while sitting on the lav at home. Neither wing-back had ventured further forward than ten yards into the Argyle half, so the strikers were receiving no supply from wide areas, just hopeful high balls aimed from deep at the rangy Burton or, preposterously, at the diminutive Boylan. The United midfield ran around chasing shadows, and as an attacking force the team was all but non-existent. Their opponents were a decent side, true, but hardly world-beaters playing at the top of their game.
When United did gain a free-kick outside the Plymouth box, Mark Convery could only drive it into his opponents' suspiciously close-looking wall. Then at last, in the 38th minute, they managed a shot on goal, Burton finding Boylan who swivelled and shot swiftly, forcing keeper Romain Larrieu to save low to his left. A nasty-looking clash of heads between Dan Gleeson and Gary Sawyer forced the latter off on 41, Lee Hodges deputising.
The highlight of the half for the home fans came just before the break. Burton gained possession on the edge of the area but was then dispossessed. However, Hyem was following up, and with lightning pace and a rubbery stretch of his little legs he won the ball once, then a second time.
The second tackle took the ball clear of the defence but just too far ahead of him to get a shot in, but as Larrieu stood his ground, Hyem wriggled away to create just enough space for an attempt on goal which arrowed towards the top right corner but cannoned agonisingly off the bar. The applause for the youngster's tremendous efforts was prolonged and deserved.
A light shower descended on the green and verdant pitch as the players left the field, but the last ten minutes had at least brought a little hope to a subdued-looking United side. There were five changes made to both teams for part two, Plymouth's including the introduction of a new front two in veteran Barry Hayles and homeboy Ebanks-Blake. For United, Josh Coulson replaced Albrighton at the back, Stephen Reed came on for the disappointing Pitt wide left, Rob Wolleaston and Stephen Smith were introduced in midfield for Quinton and Hyem, while Burton got a new partner up front in the Simpsonesque shape (Robbie, not Homer) of Scott Rendell.
First goalscoring opportunity went to the visitors when Coulson fouled fellow sub Dan Gosling, but Luke Summerfield's free-kick was a threat only to the vehicles in the front car park. The contest was more even this half, though, as United strove to drive forward and Rendell and Burton tried to build an understanding.
Norris sent Ebanks-Blake scurrying into the box on 58 but he was denied by a courageous block from Potter. The resultant corner soared to the back post where Kouo-Doumbe was lurking unmarked, but his point-blank header was well blocked by the soaring United custodian. Two minutes later it was United's turn for a free-kick and Reed curled a creditable effort just over the angle. Norris scuffed a tame shot into Potter's arms before the Pilgrims made three further changes on the hour. Then Gleeson set up Smith for a shot but he could not derive sufficient power to overly trouble Larrieu.
United's greater positivity finally bore fruit on 68. Wolleaston had played little part so far, but when Burton set him up for a run down the left channel, he headed straight for goal and after skipping past Krisztian Timar's challenge on the edge of the area he thrashed a thunderbolt of a shot past Larrieu and in at the far post. Superb goal: 1-1!
Even the away support applauded appreciatively. As is so often the way of things, Plymouth responded by reasserting their grip on the game. Robbie Willmott was introduced in place of Gleeson and he made a good impression with his enthusiastic running, while at the other end Ebanks-Blake almost slalomed his way through again before being forced wide to the byline and his attempted pull-back was helped clear by Potter's flailing paw.
Reed sent an effort heading for the top corner on 75, although it was unclear whether it was a shot or a mishit cross (don't tell them, Pike!), but four minutes later the visitors restored their lead. Another sub, Reuben Reid, found Ebanks-Blake eighteen yards out, and although the lunging Hoyte might have got a touch, his powerful shot arrowed low into the bottom left corner. Local boy makes good: 2-1.
Willmott had already produced a couple of searching crosses, and his next one was a peach, cutting inside and curling an angled ball in with the outside of his right foot.
It was Convery, of all people, who ghosted in and met it with a flying header, and almost everyone in amber was shouting 'Goal!' until Larrieu did his best Gordon Banks impersonation and dived low to his left to scoop it around the post. I won't tell what everyone in amber shouted instead, but it would not be acceptable before the watershed. Who keeps water in a shed, anyway?
Andy Hughes replaced Burton five minutes from the end, and the jury remains out on the big striker; he had been involved in some good things, but had looked almost too unselfish to be a goalscorer. He deserves another chance at least.
Last chance fell to Kouo-Doumbe, a header over, then the final whistle heralded an honourable result for both sides; plenty of room for improvement, but plenty of promise too and still four matches away from the start of the league season.
JQ didn't hang about, dashing off to Wembley Arena to play for West Ham in the Sky Masters six-a-side tournament for grizzled old pros. In his first match he came up against an Arsenal side that included four ex-U's in Danny O'Shea, Matt Joseph, Mark Flatts and (Lordy!) Gus Caesar. Suffice to say the Gunners managed a 100% record - played three, lost three - while West Ham's only points came against... you guessed it. Neither, of course, made the final.
It's about time they invited a U's team to play now that the legendary Beck/Turner side of the early 90s is 'of a certain age'. Imagine a squad comprising Messrs Vaughan, Daish, Dublin, Claridge, Philpott, Kimble, Taylor, Wilkins and Cheetham. A veritable Dream Team! Now those truly were names were to conjure with. Speaking of which, whatever did become of Igor Latte-Yedo...?
Player Ratings
Potter 8. Cool, confident and no chance with the goals.
Davies 6. Poor injury-prone Digger lasted all of 12 minutes.
Albrighton 7. So rock-like you could build a city on him and call him Gibraltar.
Hoyte 7. Mostly reliable but still needs to improve his concentration to get rid of those occasional 'moments.'
Gleeson 6. Subdued and hardly made any contribution in the Plymouth half.
Quinton 6. Made little impression on Plymouth's experienced midfield.
Convery 8. Stuck at it to increasing effect.
Hyem 7. Super little trier unlucky to be denied a tremendous goal just before half-time.
Pitt 6. As unwilling or unable to get forward as his wing-back partner, Courtney is easing himself into the season very gently indeed.
Burton 6. He had a go despite the rather variable supply, but failed to entirely convince on this showing. Worth another look though, at least.
Boylan 6. Starved of decent service but still had one reasonable effort.
Morrison 7. Thoroughly reliable.
Coulson 7. Impressively mature performance from the youngster.
Smith 7. Energetic in the engine room.
Wolleaston 7. Not his most influential game, but what a marvellous goal.
Rendell 7. Always looking to sneak through and will score with better service.
Willmott 7. Some sparkling moments going forward; looks like the next breakthough from CRC.
Hughes 6. Late cameo to little effect.
Match Summary
United's pre-season build-up continued with an honourable, slow-burning defeat to a strong Plymouth side. Still some signs of rust but if they continue to progress they should pass the Conference MOT.
Man of the Match
Danny Potter. Always vocal, alert and commanding, he made some decent saves but, more importantly, inspired confidence in his colleagues and supporters alike. Some nifty footwork, too!
Ref Watch
Deadman 8. Almost invisible, just the way we like 'em.
Soundtrack of the Day
Roisin Murphy "Overpowered"
Andrew Bennett
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