U's 2-1 Altrincham: Deflected Glory
Saturday 26th January 2008 - U's 2-1 Altrincham: Deflected Glory
The knotty subject of one-minute silences, or indeed one-minute rounds of applause, is very much in the news at the moment due to the imminent fiftieth anniversary of the Munich Air Crash. But the U's missed an opportunity this week to mark the passing of someone whose work is known and loved by every supporter, but his name to practically none: John Stewart. Who he? Only the man who wrote 'Daydream Believer'... or, as we denizens of the Abbey prefer to call it, 'Cheer Up Barry Fry'.
OK, the legendary Californian singer-songwriter who passed away last Saturday of a stroke at the age of 67, might not possibly have contemplated the changing of his words to include phrases like 'fat Boro b*stard' or 'sh*te football team,' but anyone whose last-ever song was called 'They Took My License Away' and whose main musical collaborator was called Dave 'Dave' Batti is all right by me. Rest in peace, John, and honour his memory next time you sing that marvellous old song.
As for our old chum Barry, he was about to see his side turfed out of the Cup by the boing-boing Baggies. For the bounce-bounce U's, concentration on the league is now paramount after the recent blip and Tuesday's gubbing of Droylsden was the perfect manner in which to start four games in a row at the Wembley of the Fens.
United were unchanged save for the absence of injured Danny Brown, Mark Convery restored to a line-up which kept Stephen Reed at left wing-back with Courtney Pitt 'in the hole' behind new strike pair Scott Rendell and Lee McEvilly. Altrincham would not be the pushover that Droylsden were, having hauled themselves out of the bottom four, and like many visitors to the Abbey this season, they packed the midfield with five men in a like-for-like bid to counter the hosts' system.
It was a mild, overcast day and, in contrast to Tuesday, the South Stand was reasonably full thanks to the Junior U's. United, reinvigorated by their impressive new signings and showing no sign of being affected by the recent boardroom shenanigans, started in lively style, Robins keeper Stuart Coburn making his first save on 2 from Dan Gleeson's deflected cross, with the thundering hooves of the galloping McEvilly drumming ever-louder into his ears.
The U's continued to dominate possession, Convery and Rob Wolleaston working hard in the engine room and the forwards always mobile and available, but Coburn was not called into action again until 10. Gleeson (above), looking twice the player he has been for the last month, cut inside and made a positive run for goal; his subtle through ball sliced the Alty defence wide open, and McEvilly was clear on goal just inside the box. Unfortunately the ball got stuck a little beneath his feet and his low left-foot shot was delayed, but still on target, and Coburn blocked well with his feet at the expense of a corner.
Reed's flag-kick was half-cleared to Pitt, whose shot was punched clear by the keeper. United continued to set the pace, and James Jennings was first into the book on 16 for a brutish late tackle on Gleeson. The visitors were not merely cannon fodder, however, with skilful, speedy strikers in Colin Little and Chris Senior ever ready to catch the U's on the break, and they earned their first corner on 17. Jennings' inswinger was well plucked from the air by Danny Potter, as was his next one a few minutes later, while his third fell onto the roof of the net.
United were rewarded for their efforts, however, on 23. Wolleaston's perceptive through ball down the right channel caught the Alty back line on the hop and Rendell sprinted clear. McEvilly started his run into the box early, gaining several yards on the visitors' defence, and when Rendell reached the byline and pulled his low ball across the box, his strike partner was first to it, sidefooting calmly past the exposed Coburn from close range. Two in two for the Big Mac: 1-0!
A couple of minutes later Rendell's nod set up Gleeson for a cut-in and shot, blocked by Greg Young, then the visitors responded on the counter and caused a few butterflies in amber stomachs when Ryan Toulson's cross-shot was poked just wide of the near post by a lunging Mark Albrighton.
Back came United with all the intent of Cheryl Cole armed with a rolling pin. Pitt fired for goal on 28 and saw his shot hit McEvilly, Reed blasted wide, then in another burst forward Convery could have sent McEvilly clear to his left but chose instead to feed Rendell to his right, but the United marksman's cross-shot flew harmlessly wide.
Alty rejoindered with a Jennings long-ranger on 34, then two minutes later Robins skipper Darren Tinson felled McEvilly to present the U's with a free-kick just outside the box. Tinson, carrying an injury, was replaced by Chris Lane, then Reed arced a pinpoint kick into the danger zone which Albrighton met on the volley. The amber hordes shouted as one 'Goal!' only for the cry to stick in their throats like a Prittstick humbug as Coburn flung himself to his left to make a brilliant tip over the bar.
Coburn also stopped a Gleeson header on 39, and play continued to flow from end to end in a robust, entertaining encounter until finally the half-time whistle came. Alty had proved themselves worthy adversaries and a one-goal lead was overall most satisfactory.
There was no change of personnel for part two, but early exchanges were scrappy, no thanks to the all-too-frequent whistle of fusspot ref Fletcher. First real excitement of the 45 came on 55, United failing to clear their lines until the ball fell to Little eighteen yards out; his well-struck shot was equally well pawed away by the ever-alert Potter.
Back came United and just before the hour a nice build-up culminated in Convery's cross to McEvilly, but he prodded narrowly wide of the near post. Again the visitors responded, Jennings' free-kick from wide right on 64 finding Senior nipping in unseen at the near post, but Potter made a tremendous reaction stop on his line at point blank range.
United roared back again as if scripted by Little Kevin The Geordie Messiah himself, and Wolleaston's pinpoint cross on 66 to the far post seemed certain to set up a rising Rendell for number two until his marker Young flung himself at it first, clearing for a corner and colliding with the post for his (several) pains. The U's kept up the pressure and a low Convery cross was fumbled by Coburn, Rendell slid in for the rebound and was just beaten to it by that man Young. Astoundingly, the man in black saw fit to book the United no.9 for a perfectly innocent challenge.
Alty shuffled the pack soon after, swapping strikers with the introduction of Joe O'Neill for Senior, then they made their last change, the doughty Young withdrawn in favour of Richard Battersby.
On 71 the ever-improving Convery made a tremendous interception midway into the visitors' half, finding McEvilly who set up Gleeson for a run down the flank as Convery continued his burst into the box. Gleeson's low diagonal cross was perfect and Convery had a tap-in three yards out; but Coburn somehow blocked with his feet for another miraculous save.
Three minutes later another storming McEvilly run was halted by what looked like a clear foul just outside the area, but as the NRE howled for justice, Alty retaliated at speed and Robbie Lawton thundered a fantastic shot past Potter and off the underside of the bar, the ball bouncing out but it must have been close to or even on the line. Phew.
The attack-fest continued as United went straight up the other end and Rendell floated a cross from the right channel for which McEvilly had to stretch, but managed to drift a header which was dropping just under the bar until, who else, Coburn leapt to tip over the top.
The keeper repeated the trick from another McEvilly header following a Reed corner, then McEvilly again made a buccaneering run from deep, holding Lane off as he swept on like a runaway bulldozer until he reached the area, but he was slightly off-balance when he shot and Coburn made a fairly comfortable save low to his right. We might have lost Lee Power, but we have gained Big Mac's power, and very impressive it is, too.
JQ made his first change on 78, Ben Farrell making his second appearance in place of Pitt, who had never managed to be quite as influential as he had wanted to be. The Bedford youngster again settled in immediately, calm in possession and accurate in the pass.
Two minutes later Wolleaston tried one of his blockbusters from 25 yards, but it fizzed wide of the far post.
Then ten minutes from time came the equaliser that Alty had intermittently threatened. A United move down the left broke down on halfway, the visitors pounced at pace and O'Neill sent a through ball curling down the right channel behind the United defence. Little darted across the line before any defender could react, Potter sprinted off his line: too late. Little rolled it home: 1-1.
Robbie Willmott came on for McEvilly after a quite magnificent display of the powerful target-man's art from Big Mac. Reed blasted a free-kick wide, Gleeson also missed the target, but on 85 came salvation.
Another positive run from deep by Convery culminated in a low shot from 25 yards; it wasn't the greatest strike, but it took one deflection (Shotton), and another (Lane), and with Coburn wrong-footed and thoroughly bamboozled, it bobbled unerringly into the bottom right hand corner. 2-1!
It was lucky, but ample reward for United's adventure. Such was the players' joy that they flattened Convery in their pyramid-formation celebration and he required TLC from Greg Reid before he was able to continue. He was soon replaced by Mikey Hyem, on 88.
Five minutes' added time was indicated to groans from the amber hordes, but United dominated possession throughout. Wolleaston linked well with Reed to lash a volley just wide of the far upright, and the U's held on comfortably for a hard-won but deserved win over stout opposition who belied their league placing and will soon be out of danger if they continue this sort of form.
Even better, the other results all went United's way: Aldershot lost again to confirm they have entered their blip at long last, Burton lost at Webbsfleet, Forest Green and Exeter drew with each other, and Stevenage had already dropped two points at Farsley on Thursday. That just leaves Torquay, who are at home to Histon on t'telly on Monday night. Hey Droylsden, your away attendance record of 11 could be under threat already. And congratulations to the Bloods, by the way, who bounced back from their two consecutive 5-0 thumpings to beat Kidderminster 1-0.
The standard of the opposition increases again on Tuesday when Exeter come a-calling. After this last week, we can look forward to it with confidence again. Cheer up, Daydream Believers...
Statto Corner
Robbie Willmott has now made nine appearances from the bench in league games this season without getting a start. If he doesn't appear again, he will equal the post-1970 no-start record of Alex Revell, who made no starts and nine sub appearances in the 2002-03 season. Although hopefully that is extremely unlikely.
Revell did, of course, go on to make several starts for the U's in subsequent seasons. The player who has come on most times as sub without ever starting for United in the league, present squad excepted, is loanee Craig Hughes, who came off the bench five times last season before returning to Colchester.
He is followed on four by Tom Beech (2004-05) and Bradley Wosahlo (1995-96) and on three by Lee Blackburn (2004-05), Jason Cowling (1986-87), Brian Dutton (2003-04) and Scott Taylor (2001-02). Of those, only Cowling ever scored.
One other current member of the squad is also presently a member of this club, although again surely this is only a temporary position: Mikey Hyem came on as sub once last season and five times this term and still awaits his first league start.
Player Ratings
Potter 8. Several excellent saves when needed.
Albrighton 8. Usual quality performance.
Morrison 7. Splendid game, except unfortunately when he lost Little for Alty's goal.
Hatswell 9. Already looks like a tip-top signing.
Gleeson 7. Beginning to find his early season form again.
Wolleaston 8. One of the stories of the season is how United's previously most inconsistent player has become one of their most consistent. Another display of pace, energy and class.
Convery 7. It is clear that Mark is not a 'click' player like Hatswell or McEvilly who can just slot into a team cold; he needs a run in a team to find his feet. Today he showed promising signs of doing just that, improving as the game went on.
Reed 6. One player who still has not regained his previous form, the standard of his passing was variable to say the least.
Pitt 6. His new role in the hole meant he should have been the team's creative fulcrum and a prime influence on the game. Disappointingly, he wasn't.
Rendell 8. Tireless worker and building up a great understanding with McEvilly already.
McEvilly 9. What masterly signings JQ has made this month. Apparently some way from full match sharpness, his strength, speed and alertness have all the hallmarks of a top-notch target man, and he can score 'em too.
Farrell 7. Calm on the ball, dynamic and an accurate passer. Superbly fast adjustment to jumping two levels.
Willmott 6. Another satisfactory late cameo, buzzing with energy.
Hyem 6. Held the fort in the last few minutes.
Match Summary
United look to have regained their mojo after a second win in a week, this time a much harder-fought affair over an Altrincham side much better than its league placing would suggest, with vital contributions from their impressive new boys. They will, however, need another upward ratchet in performance for the much greater challenges to come.
Man of the Match
Wayne Hatswell. Masterly defending, an attacking nuisance to the opposition at set pieces, and some bold forward runs down the left to boot.
Ref Watch
Fletcher 4. There is nothing more irritating than an inconsistent referee, and this guy was more irritating than a plague of locusts in your underpants. One moment he would be giving a free-kick for some laughably powder-puff challenge, the next he would be ignoring the most blatant foul imaginable. And he seemed to have something personal against Scott Rendell, against whom he overlooked pushes and fouls all afternoon and handed him a ludicrously harsh booking to boot.
Non-League Player's Name of the Week
Dulwich Hamlet's Henry Darko. Presumably Donnie's brother.
Soundtrack of the Day
Jeffrey Lewis 'End Result'
Andrew Bennett
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