U's:2 Fleetwood Green Rovers:0

When was the last time we scored direct from a free kick? I know Reedy had the one against Burton credited to him earlier this season, but it took such a massive deflection that I don’t think it counts. The last one I can remember before Wayne Hatswell’s thunderbolt on Saturday was Shane Tudor’s last minute curler against Mansfield in 2004, which seems like a life time ago. Answers on a postcard please.

But anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. I must confess I wasn’t convinced about the 4-4-2 line up JQ opted for ahead of Saturday’s game, but it worked pretty well, with Morrison filling in adequately at right back and Hatswell looking solid on the left. Although Wolly didn’t really take to his unfamiliar right wing role, wandering inside far too often, the increased freedom afforded to Pitt on the opposite flank saw him get forward at every opportunity. The Pittster's crossing has also improved noticeably in recent weeks, perhaps as a result of some hard work on the training ground.

That goal arrived in only the fourth minute, when Reed was fouled about 40 yards from goal on the left hand side. With everyone (including FGR keeper Ryan Robinson) expecting a cross, Hatswell stepped up and thumped a tremendous effort into the top corner. To quote Alan Partridge, the goalkeeper was left with football pie all over his shirt, 1-0.

Like every other team that visits the Abbey these days, FGR lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, with the formerly prolific Stuart Fleetwood stationed on the right wing behind lone front man and former U Danny Carey-Bertram. Apparently Fleetwood has vowed not to shave his beard until he scores again, (he last found the net before Christmas) and if Saturday’s disinterested showing is anything to go by, it will be down around his knees by the time he inevitably leaves the New Lawn in the summer.

On this performance FGR reminded me of an inferior version of Burton, knocking the ball back and forth across the pitch neatly, but lacking any kind of cutting edge. The first half was dominated by United, with Pitt having a goalbound volley blocked, Boylan firing in a snapshot that was easily saved, and McEvilly showing some delightful skill to get away from his man and put in a low cross which narrowly eluded his inrushing striker partner Boylan.

The visitors were getting a helping hand from referee Langford, who seemed happy to award a free kick any time a player in green went to ground. The same privilege did not extend to United men, with Pitt in particular coming in for some rough treatment which wasn’t punished. This begs the question why the referee didn’t at any stage feel the need to book the winger for diving.

In fact Mr Langford is surely one of the worst of a long line of terrible referee’s we’ve had this season. Not quite as bad as that joker who awarded then unawarded a penalty in the FA Cup game against Aldershot, but certainly up there in terms of sheer crapness. In the opening moments of the second period the pernickety whistler denied United what looked like two clear spot kicks. The first came when Boylan escaped down the right and crossed for McEvilly, who looked set to sidefoot home until he was brought down by a defender. Nothing doing said Mr Langford. Moments later, Albrighton’s on target shot was blocked by the extended arm of a defender, again no penalty.

With DCB contributing very little, and Fleetwood setting up camp in Hatswell’s pocket, FGR’s only threat was the pacey Ishmael Welsh on the left. But despite a couple of excellent runs from the Yeovil loanee, Danny Potter was not extended at any stage.

Evil was having an immense game leading the line for United, holding the ball up with aplomb and also winning his share of headers in defensive situations. It was his persistence that created the second goal, as he chased a long ball over the top, and caused defender Mark Preece to chest the ball over his own keeper and into the net. 2-0.

With a comfortable lead in the bag United sat back, with Potter embarking on all his favourite time wasting routines. This frustrated the visitors so much that both Fleetwood and Chris Giles both went into the book after a scuffle which emanated from Giles leaving his boot in on the U’s keeper. Fleetwood finally got a chance to show us what he was made of in injury time, but after sidestepping a couple of challenges he could only role a weak shot into the keepers arms.

JQ also gave new loan Jack Jeffery a run out in the final 20 minutes, and he put himself about energetically to little effect. However, with the two Lee’s both giving good accounts of themselves, and Mark Beesley set to return to the squad for the York game, hopefully we will not miss he-who-must-not-be-named too much.

Man of the Match: Lee McEvilly – A lung busting performance from Evil, who at times in the second half seemed to be everywhere on the pitch.






Semi-interesting fact of the match: Dan Chillingworth is part of a successful ten-pin bowling team. Perhaps the permanently-injured, non-scoring striker should consider a change of career.