Table Topping U's:5 Celtic:1

If this report is full of spelling mistakes and bad grammar, it’s because I was up late last night staring at the league table. Here it is.

I don’t remember the last time we were top of anything, we don’t even seem to win awards for our bacon rolls or our programme nowadays. So however short lived it may turn out to be, I guess we should enjoy our spell as Conference leaders while it lasts.

Last nights game was the first one I’ve have seen this season, and I think it’s quite obvious how we’ve got to the top of the league (which is good) and why we probably won’t stay there (not so good). While we’re solid, strong, formidable in the air, and fairly clinical in front of goal, we look susceptible against pace and movement and still lack the right balance in midfield at times.

Nevertheless, it seems a little churlish to be moaning about the team so much after a 5-1 win, especially when our squad was supposedly riddled with a virus. Despite this sickness, the only change to the line up from the Oxford game was the return of Danny Brown in place of Stephen Reed. Farsley, who’s rise from pub league obscurity mirrors that of our dearly beloved village neighbours, lined up in an attacking but ultimately suicidal 4-3-3, presumably to try and go man for man with out three central defenders. Needless to say it didn’t work.

The first goal came after two minutes. Rob Wolleaston cut in from the left, rode a challenge on the edge of the area and fired in a shot which took a big deflection off a defender (the official site says Leo Fortune-West, but it looked like a green shirt from where I was standing) and wrong footed the keeper.

From the off it was clear the Farsley defence was, to put it politely, not the best. They didn’t seem to know how to deal with LFW’s height, and he added the second goal in the tenth minute, turning the ball into the net after Mark Albrighton’s header had been fumbled away by the keeper.

Farsley woke up at this point, and it’s easy to see how they’ve had so much success over the last few years. Some intricate passing football just lacked the finishing touch, and when Gavin Grant did get a sight of goal, his shot was weak and Danny Potter made a comfortable save. We went straight up the other end and made it three when Darren Quinton’s cross was scrambled away as far as big Leo, who slammed a shot high into the net from about 10 yards.

The veteran striker was in imperious form, and was denied a hatrick twice in quick succession when first a goal bound header was cleared off the line, then the keeper came out quickly to block a shot.

United started the second half sluggishly, and for about 20 minutes Farsley looked capable of mounting a comeback. We gifted them the softest of soft goals when Wolly aimed a back pass at Potter from the half way line, not noticing that Grant was lurking in between them. Potter got hands to his shot but couldn’t prevent it creeping into the net.

But, galvanised by substitute Stephen Reed, United ended the contest with ten minutes left. Quinton played a great pass into Lee Boylan, whose cross was tucked by LFW, who looked entirely under whelmed at completing his first U’s treble.

Four became five when Albrighton headed his first goal for the club from Reed’s teasing corner, and the final whistle followed minutes later to confirm our position as league leaders.

The final score probably flattered us a bit, but conversely we could have easily had seven or eight goals against a Farsley side who will go the way of St Albans if they don’t tighten up their defence. It was pleasing that we scored five goals despite minimal involvement from Lee Boylan, who had a quiet game, and we should certainly be full of confidence going into what look like two winnable games over bank holiday weekend.


Man of the Match: Leo Fortune-West – Despite not really doing much in the second half, and looking like a big grumpy bear throughout, you can’t really fault a man who scored a hatrick. Keep up the good work Leo, and try to smile!







The big man looking intellectual

Buffoon of the Match: The bloke standing behind me in the Habbin who kept up a verbal assault on Danny Brown throughout the game, even after he had been substituted. “You’re a fucking disgrace Brown, Piss off” was one particular highlight.