Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather: hot, sunny
Goals:
York: Farrell 38' (pen)
United: Hoyte 51', Boylan 56' (pen)

The 2007/08 season got off to a super start as United came from behind to record their first opening day win since 1998.

Gavin Hoyte and Lee Boylan scored debut goals to secure all three points after York had taken a first half lead with the first of two penalties. Craig Farrell slotted home the first spot kick but Hoyte equalised from close-range at a corner and Boylan scored the second spot kick after Stuart Elliott was dismissed for violent conduct.

York named five new players in a 4-4-2 formation, while United lined up in the now familiar 3-5-2 formation with six players making their debut. Danny Potter, Mark Albrighton and Gavin Hoyte were the debutants at the back alongside relative veteran Michael Morrison. Former York man Mark Convery made his first U's start alongside captain Danny Brown and Darren Quinton in midfield, with an all-new front pairing of Leo Fortune-West and Lee Boylan.

The match started at a furious tempo despite the blazing sunshine and both teams were clearly intent on stamping their authority on the game. United, resplendent in the new white away shirt paired with black home shorts, saw Courtney Pitt's early cross collected by Tom Evan, while good build-up play from York in the fourth minute ended with Robinson's shot deflected harmlessly wide off Farrell.

The action was competitive and Robinson complained about Fortune-West after an aerial challenge while Mark Convery was warned for tangling with former team-mates in midfield. United were first to test the 'keepers in the 13th minute when Quinton seized on a loose ball and picked out Boylan, and the striker forced a low save from Evans with an angled left-footer from 18 yards.

Gavin Hoyte was applauded for a well-timed challenge when Panther burst from midfield and advanced at pace, eventually robbed as the former Bedford man stuck out a long leg to take the ball off his toe.

York hit the woodwork in the 19th minute when a short corner routine led to a shot by Craig Farrell that struck the underside of the bar and although Brayson followed up his header skimmed over the bar, leaving United to breathe again.

Both sides looked lively on the counterattack and Beardsley advanced two minutes later to launch a shot wide from 30 yards, but for a spell the teams cancelled each other out and were restricted to long-range efforts, Woolford sending a 25-yarder across the face of goal and wide in the 29th minute.

It was noticeable that when the ball got close to Leo Fortune-West he usually attracted two defenders to him and in the 34th minute Courtney Pitt did well with a run down the left and a pinpoint cross to the big man. Although he was under pressure from McGurk and the York keeper, Fortune-West still got his head to the ball, heading just wide, and a minute later Mark Convery raced forward with Panther on his heels and brushed the bar with a curling shot.

But the game turned in the 38th minute when Morrison gave the ball away and Woolford burst into the area, where he went down somewhat easily under pressure from Gleeson. Referee Jock Waugh awarded a penalty, which Craig Farrell sent straight down the middle as Potter dived to his right.

Within moments of the re-start Danny Brown was booked for a foul on Panther, then tempers began to boil in the heat. Dan Gleeson stayed down needing attention following a crunching challenge, Danny Brown followed through a challenge on Panther but escaped with a warning two minutes after being booked, and in the 45th minute Hoyte joined Brown in the book for a foul on Farrell.

Pitt had clearly been identified as a danger man by York's players and in the first minute of stoppage time he was clattered by Beardsley who became the third man booked by Mr Waugh, and at the end of the half the referee was escorted from the pitch by stewards as United's players tried to speak to him.

Half-time summary from Match Commentator Mark Johnson:
"A reasonable start went haywire towards the end as the half turned very eventful, and Farrell's penalty was one of those you'd hope to get at home."

Second half:
The half started much as it had ended when Pitt caught Jones on the ankle, and York had United pinned back in the opening moments, almost taking advantage three minutes into the half. Panther's cross into the area flicked off two United players and fell for the surprised Farrell who snatched at the shot and poked it wide of the near post.

But United countered to level the scores with a well-worked 51st minute corner. Mark Albrighton arrived late in the area to meet Convery's flagkick and powered a header goalwards, and when the ball bounced off the keeper's chest Gavin Hoyte pounced by the post to lash the ball home from close-range.

There was barely time to draw breath before the game was turned completely on its head. Referee Jock Waugh had not shirked the decisions and in the 55th minute he spotted a hand raised by York midfielder Stuart Elliott to Fortune-West as the players left the area. Elliott was instantly dismissed and a penalty was awarded to United in front of the jubilant away fans.

Billy McEwan reacted immediately by sending on midfielder Ross Greenwood for striker Paul Brayson, and Lee Boylan stepped up to take the penalty, scoring his first goal for United from the spot as he tucked the ball beyond Evans' fingertips as the York 'keeper dived the right way.

There was defending to do soon afterwards as Woolford had a shot blocked by Hoyte and Dan Gleeson made a timely clearance on 61 when he hacked the ball behind for a corner, while the hard-working Quinton sent a shot wide at the other end between those chances.

McEwan made his final two changes a minute later, bringing on popular young striker Onome Sodje for Farrell and forward Richard Brodie for Beardsley.

Boylan drew a save from Evans at close-range in the 65th minute and three minutes later Jimmy Quinn made his first change, bringing on Stephen Reed for Convery. United had defending to do on 70 when Albrighton headed Purkiss' cross behind and the corner was only half-cleared, eventually falling for McGurk who headed wide.

United's next substitution came 72 when Stephen Smith replaced Pitt, with Reed moved out to the left, and three minutes later Boylan went within inches of extending the lead when Fortune-West teed the ball up for him and the former Canvey man curled a snap shot onto the top of the net.

Gavin Hoyte looked to be struggling and was replaced by Mark Peters in the 76th minute, just before defender Carl Jones shanked a 30-yarder well wide. With the home crowd urging their players on, Sodje also tried his luck from distance but fired wide of the far post, and with four minutes remaining Mr Waugh played advantage following a foul by Quinton and Panther threw himself at the ball six yards out but couldn't keep his header down.

Both teams kept going admirably in the heat, Fortune-West putting a shot wide with a minute left, and the U's players saw out the three minutes of stoppage time to ensure that first opening day win since 1998.

A good day was enhanced with the news that CRC, comprising mainly United's scholars, won 4-0 at the Abbey Stadium against Woodbridge.

York City:
Tom Evans, Ben Purkiss, David McGurk, Carl Jones, Mark Robinson; Craig Farrell (Onome Sodje 62'), Emmanuel Panther, Stuart Elliott, Martyn Woolford; Chris Beardsley (Richard Brodie 62'), Paul Brayson (Ross Greenwood 56') .
Booked: Elliott 55' (red card - violent conduct)

Cambridge United
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton, Gavin Hoyte (Mark Peters 76'); Dan Gleeson, Darren Quinton, Mark Convery (Stephen Reed 68'), Danny Brown (c), Courtney Pitt (Stephen Smith 71'); Leo Fortune-West, Lee Boylan.
Booked: Brown 39' (foul), Hoyte 45' (foul)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"United came from behind to claim a win on the opening day for the first time since 1998, but they had to do so the hard way. Behind to the kind of penalty you only concede away from home, two goals in five minutes early into the second half gave the U's the points in a spicy encounter in sizzling conditions. United looked in trouble after Farrell's harsh 38th minute penalty, but Gavin Hoyte converted a well-worked corner routine and Lee Boylan won it from the spot after Stuart Elliott had stupidly thrown a punch. There's a long way to go yet, but United have made an excellent start."

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match:
"Darren Quinton - covered every single blade of grass, was influential going forward and made some crucial interceptions too. Honourable mentions for Mark Albrighton for some obdurate defending when needed, and the front two; if they play like that the first time they've played together, I can't wait to see them after a few games."

Ref: Mr Jock Waugh - "Never missed a thing and both sets of fans were annoyed with some of his decisions so he must be doing something right. Impartial and almost unfailingly accurate, he sets the standards. 9/10"

Att: 3,136 (away 516)

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