U's:0 Creepy Crawley:1

Over the last few weeks life at Cambridge United has often been described as a pantomime. So we probably shouldn't be surprised that the pantomime villains finally turned up on Tuesday in the shape of Steve Evans and Paul Raynor.

Like a fatter, uglier, version of the Chuckle Brothers, the "Blue Square Special One" and his stooge entertained the Abbey crowd with their usual comedy routine, contesting refereeing decisions with gusto, waving bits of paper around at anyone who was watching, and generally acting like a pair of knobheads.

I'd like to say that their team cheated its way to victory, but that would be unfair as Crawley kept it fairly clean for once, and were deserved victors in what was a frustrating match from a United perspective. Too many players had off days, and although we were unlucky to go in behind at half time, our second half display was more limp that a two-week old lettuce.

The only goal of the match appeared to me to be a good couple of yards offside. I was almost exactly in line as Ben Smith slipped the ball through to Jamie Cook, who seemed to be lurking behind the last defender. But the lino's flag stayed down, and Cook finished with aplomb, selling Danny Potter a dummy before clipping the ball over the grounded keeper.

United could have already been in front, with several promising moves fizzling out to nothing. Robbie Willmott was the instigator of most of these, beating his full back time and time again with pace and skill. He came closest to a goal with a thunderous free kick which crashed against the angle of post and bar, while Beesley tested the keeper with an angled shot that was palmed away for a corner.

But as time progressed the match became more and more reminiscent of the Barrow game, with United attacks breaking down at the edge of the area. Pitt and Crow were introduced as Lingy tried to shake things up, and although the former had more impact than the player he replaced (Parky), it was to no avail, and in fact Crawley came closest to a goal in the closing stages. Charles Ademeno, looking leaner and meaner than he did during his time at United, hit the woodwork twice, while Coulson hooked a goalbound effort off the line.

So yeah, not the best of days, and plenty for our new leader to ponder. Neither Carden nor Reason got to grips with Crawley's midfield trio, with Reason in particular giving away far too many free kicks. And at the back we were all over the place at times. I love Hatswell, but I don't think he copes too well with the pressure of being the senior man alongside two youngsters (Coulson and Coakley). I also think the deficiencies in his game are shown up when you take away the pace of Tonkin, who last season often swept up behind his colleague if he was done for pace. For that reason the return of our regular left back can't come soon enough, together with the addition of that much needed extra centre half. Hopefully they'll be some good news on that front later today.

Man of the Match: Robbie Willmott - Final ball still a bit iffy, but Robbie was about the only United forward who looked likely to make things happen.





Community Service Award of the Match: Paul Carden for kicking the ball at Evans at the end of the game. Shame he didn't get him in the face.