U's:2 Stevenage:1

I always find matches against Stevenage are a bit like listening to a new Oasis album for the first time – you hope it’s going to be brilliant, just like old times, but are always left feeling a bit unfulfilled by the end. The fixture should really be a derby, but even now we’ve been in the Conference for a bit it still doesn’t capture the excitement quite like a fixture against the Scummers or Northampton.

To be fair the atmosphere was pretty good last night, despite the Setanta-induced kick off time of 5.15, with the 600 or so Stevenage fans made plenty of noise and the NRE doing their bit too. On the pitch, JQ made good on his pre-match threat of leaving Rendell on the bench. He and Reed were replaced by Pitt and Ben Farrell, in for his full debut. I’m sure I wasn’t the only U’s fan who questioned the sense in resting a player who has presumably been, er, resting, for the ten days since our last game, but then again perhaps that’s why I’m not a football manager.

Farrell continued to build on the promise he’s shown on his previous cameo appearances from the bench, and it made a big difference that he, Carden, and Wolly are all so comfortable on the ball. Shorn of the headless chicken stylings of mssrs. Brown and Reed, our midfield looked like an effective unit for once. Ahead of them, Beesley was quietly impressive alongside Evil, and his shuffling style and clever passing are reminiscent of a pre-Beck Tom Youngs.

For all our possession there was little in the way of chances in the first half. Peter Taylor (or to give him his full name, former England manager Peter Taylor) attempted to ‘do an Exeter’ by flooding the midfield and leaving Steve Morison alone up front. One suspects Morison hasn’t scored the amount of goals he has in the last couple of seasons thanks to a diet of hopeful long balls like that which he was served last night.

Most of our efforts on goal had all the accuracy of a Histon penalty (keep up the good work boys), with Gleeson and Farrell the main culprits. Pitt did get a cross in that just evaded the lunging toe of Evil, while Beesley created the best moment with a clever through ball which found Mark Peters, lurking in the area following a corner. But, as we know, pace isn’t one of the big man’s assets, and before he could get his shot away a defender nicked the ball off his toe.
Stevenage only ever looked likely to score from a set play, and they were getting plenty of those from whistle happy ref Mr Gibbs, who seemed happy to award the visitors free kicks every time one of their players hit the deck. But they too struggled to get a shot on target, with Peters, Hatswell and Co throwing themselves in the way of any goal bound efforts.

The Pittster was enjoying one of his better days, cutting in from the left successfully on a couple of occasions early in the second period but seeing shots blocked. United were enjoying the bulk of the play now, with Farrell and Carden using the ball well and switching the play from one flank to the other at regular intervals.

When our goal came, it was actually courtesy of a long clearance from Potter. Pitt pulled it out of the sky with ease, and fed Beesley, whose first time cross was parried by Alan Julian into the path of Courtney, who met it with a first time bobbler of a shot that dissected two defenders on the line and found the net.

But to be fair to FEMPT, he’d obviously done his homework regarding our current vulnerability at corners. We’d already seen several flag kicks aimed right under our cross bar (with little success) before they equalised on 77 minutes. A good run from Psycho Fred Murray won a corner, which was met by giant centre back Luke Oliver, who escaped his marker Evil and headed past Potter. 1-1.

Almost immediately JQ introduced Rendell for Beesley, and United went back on the attack, winning a string of corners. One of these saw Evil have a header saved by Julian, while another was met by Carden who unleashed a dipping half volley from just outside the box which the Stevenage keeper turned round the post.

It seemed like we’d be ruing another two points dropped, but with two minutes left on the clock, another run from Pitt saw us win a free kick 30 yards out. The wingback took it himself, whipping it into the back post. Again Julian flapped unconvincingly, palming the ball down to Farrell. He hit a shot into the ground which was probably heading for the far corner before Rendell, lurking by the post like the goal poacher he is, made sure by nodding it over the line. Kiss my face Stevenage, 2-1!

There was no time for another Boro comeback, and three sides of the Abbey were soon celebrating another crucial win over one of our play-off rivals. Stevenage are certainly not the formidable side they were earlier in the campaign, and Aldershot will present a tougher challenge on Tuesday night. Jimmy and Willy will need to work on our defending of set pieces if we are to come away from the Recreation Ground with a point or three.

Man of the Match: Ben Farrell – If he can sustain this form he will be some player. The former Bedford man was everywhere and almost marked his debut with a goal. Well played on working a sly swearword into your post match interview as well, and for taking the much sought after title of Cambridge United player who looks most like Bradley from Eastenders.

Annoyance of the Match: A big bundle of cables hanging down from the camera gantry which blocked my view of part of the pitch. TV stardom always comes at a high price.