Date: Saturday 14th October 2006
Competition: Nationwide Conference
Referee: Mr. John Hopkins
Att: 3,445 (away 98)
Weather at kick-off: sunny

Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side that won at York on Tuesday, recalling Trevor Robinson and Rob Gier to the starting eleven in place of Ritchie Hanlon and Matt Bloomer, and reverting to 4-4-2. Friday's non-contract signing, defender Liam Norval, was named among the substitutes.

Crawley manager John Hollins made three changes to the side beaten 3-0 at home by Weymouth last time out, calling up Ben Strevens, Danny Brown and former U's midfielder Lee Blackburn in place of Mills, Lovegrove and former U's winger Tony Scully (injured).

With over 1,000 free tickets for the South Stand distributed to residents and workers in the local Abbey Ward and participants in the recent CFU Youth Tournament, the match kicked off in sunshine in front of a bumper crowd.

United kicked off towards the South Stand and an early move involving Jon Brady and Rob Gier saw Liam Marum run onto Gier's through ball and earn a corner, which was well-worked and caused problems in the area until the visitors managed to scramble the ball away.

In the fifth minute Rob Wolleaston had a 20-yard shot charged down, and Trevor Robinson escaped a 12th minute booking for a late challenge on Dannie Bulman, who needed lengthy attention on the pitch. From the free kick Jake Edwards took advantage of hesitance in the new-look United defence as he ghosted in and saw a shot kicked away by Paul Crichton.

Two minutes later Courtney Pitt tricked his way forward, drawing Crawley men towards him, and Bulman was booked for a lunging challenge, and Jon Brady's free kick was clutched by Reading loanee Ben Hamer.

A lacklustre match was not allowed to flow due to the pickiness of referee John Hopkins, who seemed to object to any physical contact, although he ignored a 28th minute incident that saw Marum clattered and stay down for attention.

United had two efforts on goal just after the half hour mark as first Courtney Pitt pulled a shot just wide of the near post, and a minute later he set up Marum just outside the area but the shot drifted wide, and in the 34th minute some good interplay again involving Pitt saw the winger try his luck from outside the area but the ball went wide.

In the 35th minute Brady's cross was headed behind and his subsequent corner was partially cleared by Woozley before being crossed in again by Michael Morrison and headed over by Watford loanee Ben Gill.

The match limped to the half-time interval with an assortment of stoppage and free kicks, with just one shot by Brady turned behind, and the whistle came as a relief to onlookers and a chance for some of United's players to approach the referee as they left the pitch.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A low key half smothered by an over-officious referee has been a real disappointment so far in front of a big crowd. Whether United are in form or out of form, they've never been allowed to show."

Second half:
The bemused players returned to the pitch and Crawley had the first chance of the half when Edwards made a good run before setting up Strevens for a lob that brushed the bar on its way over, and at a Crawley corner two minutes later Judge nodded Blackburn's flag kick wide.

Marcus Richardson had the ball in the net on 52 but the flag was already raised for offside, and three minutes later the big striker met Rob Gier's quickly-taken flighted free kick but headed just wide.

With United taking control of proceedings at this stage, Marum rolled a low shot through to Hamer when perhaps he could have pulled the ball back for Wolleaston or Brady, and on 59 Sedgemore and Pitt linked to set up Richardson but the striker was off-balance and screwed the shot wide.

Courtney Pitt showed good skill in the 61st minute to set up Marum but the striker was off-balance as he went for goal and fired across the face of goal with Brady calling for a pass, and a minute later Rob Gier made a vital headed clearance to divert Rendell's shot behind, and Strevens headed the resulting corner wide.

After failing to make the most of that pressure, United fell behind when the defence was slow to react as Edwards got to the by-line and pulled the ball back to Blackburn, and his cross from the left of the area was turned home from close-range by Scott Rendell.

Jimmy Quinn responded with a 69th minute double change, bringing on Danny Carey-Bertram for Liam Marum and David Bridges for Courtney Pitt, with Jon Brady switching to the left flank. A minute later John Hollins brought on Scott Marshall for Bulman.

More Crawley pressure saw a header by former United target Jake Edwards fisted away by Crichton and the same player's follow-up hit the woodwork, and although Danny Carey-Bertram led a lighting counterattack and linked with Brady, the Australian's cross was uncharacteristically poor.

With United's defence looking ragged under pressure, the troublesome Edwards cut into the box from the left and set up Rendell to score his second from 12 yards out in the 77th minute, and the celebrations from the Crawley players and officials showed that they thought the second goal had clinched the points.

Jimmy Quinn sent on Ritchie Hanlon for the tiring Ben Sedgemore and in the 79th minute Carey-Bertram showed quick feet to beat his man and get into the area, but once he was clear he lifted the ball over from eight yards.

Crawley's Jack MacLeod replaced Strevens with ten minutes remaining, and a minute later Carey-Bertram went for goal from 25 yards but struck the post.

That man Edwards cut in and fired into the side-netting in the 86th minute, and when Michael Morrison disputed the award of a corner he was booked for having words with the official.

Marcus Richardson had a chance to cut the deficit in the 89th minute when he ran onto a good through ball by Bridges, but his placed shot was too close to the advancing Hamer and the Reading loanee made the save, but in the third minute of stoppage time Jon Brady repeated his feat from Tuesday night of scoring a memorable late goal.

In space on the left, the winger drifted in and produced a magnificent right-footed strike from fully 30 yards to give Hamer no chance at all. It was too little, too late in terms of the points, but gave those in the crowd who were there for the first time something to remember as they left the ground.

Wrapped up by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Disappointment for United as their four-match unbeaten home run ended with a whimper against bottom side Crawley. In front of a big crowd and on the back of a good away win, the U's took an age to get going in a match stifled by a whistle-happy referee. When the U's finally woke from their slumbers they found that Scott Rendell had scored twice for the visitors midway through the second half and that left them with a mountain to climb, and Danny Carey-Bertram's glaring miss left them firmly in the foot hills. Jon Brady scored a stoppage time screamer but it was too little, too late, and with unbeaten Oxford next at the Abbey United know they can ill-afford another snoozy show."

Man of the Match:
"Jon Brady - very difficult to choose on a day when the team didn't perform, but Jon Brady's screamer of a goal was the only memorable event of the day. No honourable mentions in an all-round poor performance."

Referee:
"Mr Hopkins - Everyone's paid to see him, haven't they? 0/10."

[League table]

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