U's:1 Salisbury:1

Just to prove that you don’t need any footballing knowledge to assess the failings of our teams on Saturday, here are some comments from the football virgins I went to the Salisbury match with:

“Its not good play to keep heading it backwards and forwards is it?”

“Aren’t they meant to take more than one touch?”

“Number 19 doesn’t win many headers for such a big bloke does he? And he seems to have a really negative attitude, he’s always moaning.”

The first South Stand Initiative match of this season was once again a great success, with over 1,000 new fans packing the South Stand, and in our case, Block F of the main stand. Credit must once more go to Will Jones and his army of volunteers. Unfortunately United didn’t exactly put in a performance that will have the newbies racing back for more, once again succumbing to a late goal and dropping two points against eminently beatable opposition.

We started well enough, with new boy Daryl Knights making a lively debut, playing in the hole behind LFW and Rendell. A spell of early pressure culminated in the first goal. A corner was cleared to Pitt, who shifted the ball back to the taker, Quinton. He put in an inviting low cross which Rendell reached ahead of a gaggle of defenders to poke the ball past the keeper via the post. Hurrah, 1-0.

At the other end Robbie Matthews was proving to be a useful outlet for the visitors, winning his share of headers against Mark Albrighton and co. Highly rated strike partner Matt Tubbs should’ve equalised when a poor Gleeson clearance fell to him just inside the box, but with Potter caught flat footed he fired past the post. Rendell headed wide for United, while Knights successfully chased a lost cause in the left corner, robbing a defender but dragging his shot off target.

Having let Salisbury get away with blocking quick free kicks three or four times, referee Beck gave an indication of the inconsistency that was to come in the second half by booking Leo for kicking the ball away. The perma-tanned official had already displayed a complete lack of understanding of the advantage rule, stopping play several times when he could have let it flow, and this was to cost United dear just before half time. Knights was fouled on the edge of the box, and the ball broke to Rendell, who clipped a superb first time shot over the keeper. Unfortunately Mr Beck had instantly blown for a foul, when a delay of a few seconds would’ve seen Scotty’s goal stand, grr. United wasted the free kick, and just before half time lost Darren Quinton to a nasty looking injury.

Never mind though, Salisbury didn’t look up to much and surely United would go on and secure the win? Er, maybe not. As the second half progressed, we got deeper and deeper, aiming long balls in the general direction of the strikers with little thought or pattern to our play. One breakaway saw Pitt race down the left but, with three players unmarked screaming for the ball at the far post, his cross was woefully underhit and easily dealt with by the defenders.The visitors were having plenty of possession now, and winning free kicks almost at will, thanks largely to the lovely Mr Beck. Every Salisbury tumble was greeted with a blast of his whistle, although he did turn away a penalty claim when Tubbs fell under challenge from Morro. United weren’t helping their cause by giving the ball away with alarming regularity, and somewhat inevitably Salisbury took full advantage with two minutes left. Gleeson and Wolleaston got in a muddle on the right hand side, and lost possession to Andy Sandell, whose low cross was tucked away by substitute Marvin Brown.

Draws are coming with alarming regularity now, and JQ and Fester need to sort it out ASAP. We face Torquay, Burton, and Kidderminster in the coming weeks, teams that won’t let us get away with a point if we play as badly as we did in the second half on Saturday. One hopes these dropped points in ‘easy’ games don’t come back to haunt us later in the season.

Man of the Match: Mark Peters – The back three acquitted themselves well for the most part, with Rhino in particularly unbeatable mood. The sponsors got it right for once.






Annoying-bloke-you-want-to-punch of the Match: The fella sitting behind me, who did nothing but whinge throughout. At one point he stated that “this is the worst match I’ve ever seen up here.” Did last season completely pass you by my friend?