United line-up: Barrett, Joseph, Granville, Preece, Craddock, Raynor, Ashbee, Barnwell (Richards 81), Taylor, Kyd, Beall.
Subs not used: Thompson, Benjamin
Booked: Beall

Terry Wilby's match report:
This was my third time of selling Rabbits at the Cut Throat Lane entrance, as I did such a good job in the past Steve gave me an extra 20 to sell on top of the usual 50. I managed to sell 61. This meant no time at all in the Supporters Club, so another game with a dry throat! I probably could have sold them all if I'd wanted to by not letting on that they were not the match programme, but my sense of fair play got to me when old ladies or young kids wanted to buy one. Incidentally, the programme sellers ran out of programmes, so does that mean I have a possible collectors item?

The yellow hat and a face full of stubble did the job and we got 3 points. I thought we looked quite comfortable, but didn't make enough clear cut chances, although their goalkeeper (he of the chicken legs) had to make a quite a few relatively easy saves.

The team was much as expected, Barrett, Joseph, Granville, Preece, Craddock, Raynor, Ashbee, Barnwell, Taylor, Kyd, Beall, subs: Richards, Thompson, Benjamin. The formation was adjusted slightly to put Craddock in the middle of the back 3 with Granville and Joseph either side. Ashbee seemed to be a little further back on our left, with Raynor further forward on the right, Preece and Beall in the middle, and a front row of Barnwell, Taylor, and Kyd, so it was really a 3-4-3 formation, which changed to 4-5-1 when we were having to defend. It meant that any of the defenders could go forward, indeed Craddock even got forward in open play occasionally.

Our goal came just before half time, a good build-up on our left, a deep cross to the far post was headed back for Raynor to tap in.

Although we were on top pretty well all the time, Hull had a couple of chances, one was a header just past the post in the first half, in the second half they hit a post.

It was quite obvious that their number 9 (Darby) would not finish the match. In the first half he squared up to Craddock, Raynor and Joseph grabbed him which stopped him hitting out at Craddock. He had fouled Craddock as well, so I don't know what he was thinking of, but got a yellow card. He seemed to be moaning to the referee all the time. After half an hour of the second half he did a late tackle on Granville which gave him his second yellow so off he went. Even then he was gesturing to the crowd, there may be more trouble in store for him.

For me Man of the Match was Billy Beall. His last few games have been dodgy, he seemed to not want to do anything except the simple pass the way he was facing. On Saturday he seemed to want the ball more, and make something happen by running with the ball as well as lots of running off the ball. Perhaps it is the return of David Preece in the holding role in the middle that helps. All the players did fairly well, although Hull helped by not really pressurising or marking tightly. Even Ashbee had a fairly reasonable game, he still doesn't look match fit to me yet, but he is improving. Barrett had little to do which was lucky as his kicking was not too good, luckily Hull could not take advantage of a couple of mis-kicks. Richards came on for Barnwell for the last 10 minutes or so, but did little. The other subs were not used.

On the radio Roy McFarland reckoned we played better at Swansea when we lost 3-1. In that case we should have beaten Hull by loads if we are to have promotion. Hopefully the result will help as a confidence booster, and we can go to Orient on a high and get 3 more points, then steam into Carlisle for the Sky match and move up a place or two in the table.

Ratings:

Barrett   5
Joseph    7
Granville 7
Preece    7
Craddock  7
Raynor    7
Ashbee    6
Barnwell  7
Taylor    7
Kyd       6
Beall8

Terry Wilby.

Gareth Challis' match report:
A goal by Paul Raynor on 44 minutes after a great move from Jamie Barnwell and Michael Kyd was the (only) highlight of the first half, and certainly gave us hope of a better second.

The first 45 was just like Hereford all over again, with the U's fans very quiet - any attempt a starting a sing-song died out very quickly. Hull outsang us. Very little to talk about other than the goal - Barnwell's cross, Kyd's header back and there was Raynor to squeeze it home.

The second half was more up-tempo, with the U's pressurizing well, forcing several mistakes in the Hull defence, much to the annoyance of the 'keeper (is this the first time we've had a 'keeper visit us who wasn't a fat b*stard ?!). Craddock came close with a looping header which didn't prove to be too much trouble for the 'keeper, but the best effort of the second half was David Preece's curly-wurly free-kick just going a whisker past the post - The goalie would have had no hope if it was on target.

The game died a little, but then picked up again with 10 minutes left. First, Hull's striker Darby was sent off for a second bookable offence. A very late challenge on Granville giving him his marching orders. Darby would have been off in the first half, if not for Raynor's intervention.

Very much end-to-end stuff in the last 5 mins, with Hull coming the closest with a free-kick skimming the bar in injury time - their only real shot on target.

Not a bad day all-round - Fulham, Carlisle and Northampton all losing, Pizzaboring getting hammered, Brighton scoring 5 ... we're only 6 points from the top despite the dismal run. Must have something to do with Fulham's recent form.

Ratings:
Barrett       7 - Solid(ish) - not a great deal to do, although had one
              dodgy moment in the penalty area when he dropped the
              ball from a cross.
Joseph        6 -
Granville     7 -
Preece *MoM*  8 - Controlled midfield well, unlucky not to have scored.
Craddock      6 -
Raynor        7 - Just pipped to MoM
Ashbee        6 -
Barnwell      6 -
Taylor        6 -
Kyd           6 -
Beall         7 - Very full of running - excellent match

Subs :
Richards	- On for Barnwell on 82 - Not being given enough time to
		  show his value.
Thompson
Benjamin	- nice to see him back on the bench.

Finally a report from Ben Mynott's Dad:
1-0 to the not so super U's. Hull played hardly any football but they were a niggling sort of team. Very physical and we think they got away with quite a lot of pushing, backing into etc. They looked pretty tough, with only 2 of the 10 outfield players not having tree trunk legs. Duane Darby got himself sent off for a second bookable offence. He was lucky to stay on after the first offence. Paulie Raynor, of all people, stepped in and grabbed Duane, restraining his arms. Without that we're sure Darby would have gone totally out of control.

You can tell from this that the actual football did not provide many highlights. The only football played was by the U's. We looked dangerous the 5 or 6 times we managed to get the ball down the flanks and near the goal line; we just did not do it often enough. Roy played a 4-3-3 formation for the second match running. His intention was to get more crosses in for Taylor to work with. It probably is the right tactic to use with Taylor at centre forward. Trouble is at the moment Kyd and Barnwell are not performing to the necessary standard.

Having said that, Barnwell and Kyd earn "assists" for Raynor's goal, which came just before half time. Ashbee and Barnwell combined well down the left. Barnwell managed to get to the goal line and put a cross to the far post. Kydie nodded down and Paulie put the ball in by the post with his left foot. He did well to curl his foot back as the ball nearly eluded him as he ran in in anticipation of the nod down. A well worked goal but one of very few worthwhile moves.

In the second half Preece had a free kick from quite a way out which just went wide of the left hand post. Ashbee had his best 45 minutes in the second half, moving forward a bit more. Up til now I felt he had been rather lazy. Ironically he came forward more playing in a back 4 than he seemed to when wingback in the 3-5-2 formation we have employed up til now.

Good to get 3 points and let's hope it improves confidence; we certainly need it. The only team at the top struggling as much as us is Fulham. Colchester are now unbeaten for 17 games and are breathing down our necks. Swansea are in good form and so were Northampton until their defeat at the hands of Swansea yesterday.

Hard to pick man of the match. I thought 4 players were better than the rest - Billy and Paulie in midfield and Mattie and Danny in defence. The official mom was Jody!

Ratings: Barrett 5, Joseph 7, Craddock 5, Granville 7, Ashbee 5, Raynor 7, Preece 4 (he can't pass more than 3 yards and still gives the ball away then - the free kick was totally out of character), Beall 7, Kyd 4, Taylor 5, Barnwell 4. Richards on for 8 minutes - reasonable, the only 6.

Many thanks to Gareth Challis, Terry Wilby and Ben's Dad for the reports.

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