U's 2-0 York: Love Lee Day
Saturday 1st March 2008 - U's 2-0 York: Love Lee Day
It is interesting, n'est-ce pas, that in the Sky/Premier League era a hierarchy akin to a good old-fashioned class system has arisen not just between clubs, but between fans. Time was, back in the day, that football supporters all looked the same, flat caps, rattles and all, and all tended to identify with each other as one big sporting family. At least that's what Grandad used to say on the rare occasions he would look up from The Sporting Life or rolling the sort of cigarettes that should come with a warning yellow-and-black skull and crossbones sign.
Nowadays when I look at an Arsenal or a Chelsea supporter on the telly, the reaction is akin to seeing some Little-Lord-Fauntleroy public schoolboy with top hat and dress coat: posh git, got far too much money, doesn't know he's born, supporting in luxury with his thousand-pound season ticket and his Beluga bagels and his Emirates house wine. He doesn't know or care what's happening on the street, where we Dickensian waifs gaze up from the gutter, or the Blue Square Premier as it is more commonly known, guv'nor.
But every culture has its subculture, every hierarchy has its internal mini-hierarchies, and the BSP is no different. Today's visitors, almost four hundred of them, were kindred spirits, a big(ger) club fallen on hard times with a long League history and a good hardcore of traditional support. Perhaps followers of Droylsden and Farsley Celtic look upon the likes of Cambridge United and York City in the same way we look upon the likes of Man U and Liverpool. The grubby little oiks.
The U's and the Minstermen met at Malteser Mansions or whatever it's called on the first day of the season and the tone was set for both clubs in United's 2-1 win. We haven't looked back since and have remained in the top five continually, while York made a nightmarish start which saw them without a win in their first ten games. To their credit, they have recovered, changed managers and after losing embarrassingly at home to Salisbury on 17th November they embarked on a seventeen game unbeaten run, finally ending when they lost embarrassingly to Histon last week. We feel your pain.
So here they were again, back in sunny Cambridgeshire, although in markedly different surroundings and up against a markedly different type of opposition. They paid United a compliment that a growing number of visitors to the Abbey have paid this season in that they lined up in a 3-5-2 system to match and hopefully counteract their hosts' successful formation. The midfield would be packed tighter than Terry Wogan's trousers today.
Suspensions (Morrison, Peters, Gleeson) and injuries (Brown, Chilli, Quinton, Hyem) combined with Gavin Hoyte's loan to King's Lynn and Luke McShane's departure yesterday meant that for the first time ever, United could not name five substitutes and had to settle for four. Michael Morrison's absence meant that the U's had to revert to wing-backs after last week's 4-4-2 experiment, Mark Beesley restored to the side in the hole behind the Two Lees with Stephen Reed wide left and Courtney Pitt forced to fill in wide right. York were unable to name their loanee Leo Fortune-West for obvious reasons. No, he isn't suspended again. Yet.
United were so short of resources that even part of the Main Stand roof was absent due to last night's winds, resulting in the closure of Blocks A to C and relocation of its residents to the South Stand, while the visitors' noisy support was housed in the Habbin South. The wind remained powerful and swirling and would play its part in the afternoon's proceedings.
The hosts made a start almost as strong as the wind as they pinned York back into their own half in the early stages. Beesley gives the U's a new edge up front with his intelligent foraging and prompting, and on 4 he combined with Lee Boylan to set up Lee McEvilly for a shot that scudded past the near post.
Two minutes later Rob Wolleaston was felled by Nicky Wroe out on the left and Pitt's flighted free-kick found McEvilly unmarked at the far post, but it was a fraction too high (or, you may argue, Big Mac was a fraction too low) and he could only loop his header over the bar.
United's attempts to penetrate York's offside trap were not helped by a linesman on the Main Stand side who seemed determined to raise his flag at the slightest hint of a black and amber shirt, and slowly but surely the visitors began to gain a foothold in the match. Their formation exactly mirrored that of their hosts and so did their work ethic, working tirelessly to close the U's down all over the park and push probing little balls past the midfield to get a run in on goal. For the United boys, it must have been like playing a team of their own clones.
A quick breakaway on 23 forced Mark Albrighton into felling Craig Farrell just outside the box, but Wroe's free-kick was so bad as to be comical, sailing over the wall and high into the South Stand like a beach ball caught on the strong breeze. Well that's the 'up' bit of the 'up and down' mastered, anyway...
The U's continued to push and probe patiently at the other end, Pitt producing a decent run on 25 that culminated in an underpowered shot into keeper Tom Evans' arms, and two minutes later a clearance fell to Reed thirty yards out and his speculative right-foot volley was accurate but again lacked the velocity to trouble Evans.
York continued to threaten when they countered, finding space with some neat passing, but the final ball tended to elude them, and when they did get a sight of goal, their finishing remained about as accurate as a Martin Taylor tackle. Paul Carden, covering immaculately across the back line, was harshly penalised for a challenge on Onomo Sodje by a fussy ref on the half-hour and another free-kick was slashed wide, this time by Stuart Elliott. Danny Potter drew on a figurative cigar.
Martyn Woolford also missed the target on 34, McEvilly had a shot blocked and on 37 Woolford fired wide again, while back up the other end Pitt was felled brutally and left in a crumpled heap by visiting skipper Dave McGurk, but surprisingly the man in black just waved play on.
The wind almost gifted York a goal on 39 when the ball fell out of the sky to Elliott, and he improvised a Di Canioesque flying volley that soared into the air then dipped viciously onto the bar with Potter as helpless as the expression on Kevin Keegan's face as Newcastle sink to yet another defeat.
Back came United in a competitive half in which every yard was challenged by a snapping tackle. McEvilly bustled gracefully through the York defence like a wildebeest in a tutu and had a shot palmed away, then had another shot blocked by two flailing red-shirted bodies after good work by Pitt, but just when it appeared that two well-matched sides would be going into the interval on level terms, the busy, buzzing Boylan finally gained the reward for his hard work.
Perhaps the wind was a factor, perhaps not, but on 45 McEvilly headed on down the middle and Darren Craddock looked favourite to mop up as he got goalside of Boylan.
The ball ran, however, to the edge of the area and as Evans advanced from goal and Craddock tried to shield it, Boylan sneaked around him and got his foot to the ball between the two York players as Craddock attempted a point-blank back-pass; his contact was perfect and the ball bounced into the empty net as Craddock and Evans looked thunderstruck at each other and the amber hordes acclaimed a brilliant piece of opportunist goal-poaching with equal parts applause and laughter. 1-0.
Boylan celebrated his first goal of 2008 while a part of the York supporters' contingent got decidedly ugly, and I don't mean they decided to stage an alfresco gurning competition. The half was over, though, and United were halfway to defying the Manager of the Month 'curse' for the second time this season. Apparently JQ doesn't even like champagne; goodness me, Jimmy, you'll never get to the top league with an attitude like that...
Battle recommenced in similar style, Beesley dragging a shot wide on 46 and Woolford copying him a minute later. On 50, however, it was time for the hosts' master lock-picker to strike again. Sodje tried a misjudged back pass, and as the entire York back line hesitated for a second, Reed saw his chance and sprinted into space after it into the box down the left channel.
His low cross across the six-yard box just evaded Boylan, but the little hitman gave chase and from the narrowest of angles to the right of goal forced the ball in at the near post, the ball hitting Evans on the outstretched leg as he tried to get across but only deflecting high into the net. 2-0.
The visitors' first change ensued, Anthony Lloyd replaced by Manny Panther, who most United followers had expected to start anyway. For the next few minutes the U's continued to press, searching for that killer third goal, and the front three combined well again to set up McEvilly for a shot which he flashed over.
York made another change, swapping defenders when Darren Kelly replaced Craddock on 53, and shortly afterwards Sodje became first bookee of the day for fouling Reed. Kelly soon showed that his shooting was about as accurate as that of his colleagues by blasting wide on 58.
Boylan was carded on the hour for clumsily bringing down Ben Purkiss near halfway, and four minutes later the impressive Josh Coulson blocked a Farrell shot at the expense of a corner; Wroe's flag-kick set up Woolford for a shot which squirmed wide off Albrighton.
It was clear that United had lost some momentum as York battled gamely to get back into it and on 71 JQ withdrew Beesley, who had enjoyed a splendid game, and replaced him with the pace and athleticism of Ben Farrell.
Ben's York namesake Craig send a long-ranger into Potter's arms on 76 and United responded via a tremendous run down the left from a resurgent Reed which culminated in a low shot which flew just past the far post.
Still the visitors could not produce that killer ball in the final third and still they hammered long shots wide, United's back three looking as imposing and immovable as Stonehenge monoliths and well protected by the energetic Carden, Pitt and Reed.
Five minutes from the end any dreams Boylan might have had of a hat-trick evaporated when he was replaced by Jack Jeffery. Panther lifted yet another shot over the top for the Minstermen, but with three added minutes, United's experience and strength kicked in and they saw the game out with consummate aplomb.
Another win, despite a reduced squad, over in-form opposition (their Cambs allergy notwithstanding) and a gain of three points on Torquay in second; a good weekend for the Mighty U's. Only two of their last thirteen games are against clubs which are currently in the top ten. Don't mention the 'P' word, but surely we could not wish for a better opportunity to leave the gutter of the BSP behind and hang around again with the big boys like, er, Rochdale and Darlington. Well, snobbery is all relative, innit?
Statto Corner
Today marked another record for United: the first time they have ever 'doubled' York City, at the twelfth attempt. The U's have themselves been doubled by the Minstermen twice, in 1984-85 and in 1993-94.
York's away following of 382 was the sixth largest seen at the Abbey this season. The biggest, 711, was from a club two divisions below us: King's Lynn. Then come three followings which are remarkably similar: 647 (Aldershot, FA Cup), 646 (Stevenage) and 645 (Histon). Oxford brought 385, while Aldershot could muster only 305 for our midweek league clash.
As Scott Rendell settles into his exciting new career as 'unused sub' at London Road, it is worth recalling those players who have moved in the opposite direction, from North to South Cambs; those 'Reverse Judases', if you will.
The most notable was legendary left-winger Lee Philpott, who never really made the grade at Boro but was a star of the Beck side of the early 1990s. He was not the first, though. John Cozens made a successful move to civilisation in 1977 and was followed in the Eighties by Robbie Cooke, Paddy Rayment and Les Lawrence, none exactly Abbey legends.
More recently we have seen Rory Hutton, Luke McShane and Matt Nolan, and who could forget Fola Onibuje, who did not join directly from Posh but they were his previous permanent club when he signed for the U's after trials all over the place. He signed for Macclesfield yesterday, by the way. Adam Davies and Ash Fuller both started as youngsters at London Road, and in addition there were two memorable loanees at the Abbey from the blue half of the county in Scott McGleish and Simon Rea. Scott is still banging them prolifically for Wycombe this season.
Player Ratings
Potter 7. Rarely disturbed, except when he waved Elliott's shot goodbye and it cannoned off the bar.
Albrighton 8. Inspirational leader.
Coulson 8. What a terrific game young Josh had, winning every header and playing with a maturity beyond his tender years. He can only improve with such experienced colleagues alongside him to learn from.
Hatswell 8. Cruised through the game in third gear, which was all he needed.
Pitt 8. Made a splendid fist of his new temporary position.
Wolleaston 7. Not at his best, but a solid team performance.
Carden 8. Our very own Claude Makelele.
Reed 8. Now getting back to his early season form.
Beesley 8. Puts in so much good work that could easily go unnoticed; the invisible glue of the team.
Boylan 8. Could only be more of a predator if he grew stripes, claws, whiskers and some huge incisors.
McEvilly 8. Top quality line leader.
Farrell 7. Good last twenty minutes, and has the happy knack of settling into a team immediately.
Jeffery 7. Another lively late cameo.
Match Summary
The U's marched to their third consecutive win over decent opposition and did nothing to dispel the impression that we could really see a special end to the season in May. Dunno how special just yet, but don't make any holiday plans, eh?
Man of the Match
Paul Carden. Phenomenal work rate, brilliant covering, inch-perfect passer. We must make Accrington's loss our gain.
Ref Watch
Pawson 6. No major rickets, but yet another one of those men in black who seem unable to tolerate the slightest physical contact without blowing up. Except, of course, when Courtney Pitt is fouled, for some reason.
Non-League Player's Name of the Week
Guisley's Simon Sturdy, who presumably does what it says on the tin.
Soundtrack of the Day
Goldfrapp 'Road To Somewhere'
Andrew Bennett
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