THE ONE who has got away so often from Cambridge United off the field, did it again on the slopping pitch as the Barnet bogey struck again.

Scott McGleish, the subject of more transfer bids over the last three years than all other targets put together, proved United's judgment is sound even if their wallet is too thin.

Easily the better side on overall play, there seemed a fair chance of United salvaging a point as they pinned the Londoners in their own territory, despite playing uphill during the second half. With the game more than an hour old Barnet had still managed only one goal attempt on target, if you could call it that, the flukey ninth minute score from the deflection of a shot sliced yards wide.

Finishing was all that was letting Roy McFarland's men down, but hopes among the 1,200 travelling fans were raised when Trevor Benjamin's turn and volley forced a brilliant diving save from goalkeeper Lee Harrison in the 66th minute.

The most significant event of the afternoon had taken place 60 seconds earlier however, the substitution which sent McGleish into the action instead of rookie striker Marlon King, who was virtually bound and gagged by centre- backs Andy Duncan and Scott Eustace.

Despite making his first appearance for five weeks due to injury, the quicksilver striker was soon posing a much greater threat to United's defence. The amber army hardly helped. They should know by now it usually ends in tears when they shout the usual obscenity at him.

They ought to have tried to lull him into a more serene mood with chants of "There's only one Scott McGleish," or "We love you Scottie, oh yes we do," because when McGleish gets mad he has a nasty knack of getting even. After he raced through an out-of-position defence to make defeat a certainty in the 78th minute, he stood there in front of the bank of United fans, arms raised in triumph as though asking: "What was that you were shouting lads, 'Scott McGleish, you're a wonder?'"

United's 44-goal attack could not match his pace, penetration and shooting power. A leg-weary John Taylor was replaced in the 55th minute by Richard Walker, who made little impression, and Benjamin was kept very quiet by full-back Sam Stockley.

Only Martin Butler had the skill and power to make openings. He headed inches over in the sixth minute, but finished tamely after breaking through in the 23rd, then chose to pass instead of shooting from a good position late in the game.

Suspensions and injuries meant yet another midfield line, and although newcomer Sam McMahon showed classy signs of a higher division upbringing at times, there was not enough precision passing or movement to unsettle a sound defence.

Qualities supplied by all three sidelined players were badly missed, the power and aerial threat of shock trooper Paul Wanless, Alex Russell's ability to hit the killer pass and clever corner kick, Marc Joseph's long throw into the six-yard box. Combine that with the double bogey of playing in the London area, and at Underhill, and it was odds-on being a dodgy day.

United have lost on all three trips to Barnet during McFarland's reign, while this season's visits to the capital have produced 1-0, 2-0 and 3-0 defeats.

There was, however, a magnificent sunset to appreciate on the way back up the A1M. Hatfield has never looked so lovely, something I am sure helped the fans put a miserable afternoon into some perspective.

It would perhaps be as unjust to describe this performance as inept as it would have been to describe those against Southend, Exeter and Hull as spectacular. At times we looked like we were trying to play football, but overall if you asked a neutral which team were top of the division they would have had difficulty pointing them out, and perhaps even more so believing that one was actually on display. This was by no means the worst performance of the season, but it was the most disappointing result and can't be put down to bad luck alone. True, the ball never really fell kindly in or around the box, but the whole team were waiting for, rather than making things, happen.

United crashed to their heaviest league defeat of the season, as Barnet capitalised on their few scoring opportunities to ensure a hat-trick of victories at Underhill against Roy McFarland's team. Ironically we probably played better in spells that at any time during the last three league victories, only today the result was quite the reverse. Never stretched into anything other than a canter, the Barnet players dispatched the team who occupy top spot in the division with a performance lacking in cohesion and skill but brimming with hard work and neat finishing.

Perhaps they have highlighted exactly what being at the top means to teams, and what may indeed be the biggest obstacle preventing United escaping this division. The way the Barnet fans ecstatically celebrated this victory, which is unlikely to mean anything other than three points in a season to forget, is indeed flattering and highlights the progress we have made over the last year. What it shows more worryingly though is that the remaining fixtures for Cambridge United are not just simple league matches, they are going to be many sides 'cup finals'. A chance for players to test themselves against the 'best', to judge their progress and chances of promotion next season. It is this attitude which makes being at the top such a handicap. Teams will always put that extra percentage of effort and energy into their performances against you, and if your game drops to the level that ours did today then this added incentive is likely more often than not to produce the result.

The game itself was hardly a great spectacle, and indeed United might look back and wonder how they lost it by three goals. They started and finished brightly, and it is indeed quite ironic that it was during these two spells Barnet broke away and scored the winning goals. Their first meaningful attack of the match ended in a goal, as did the second and third. The fact their were nearly 80 minutes of 'football' separating the opening two strikes highlights how utterly average United had to play in order not to get anything out of the match. We were at times a dire, clueless unorganised mess lacking motivation, creation, ambition or passion. At others we were a neat, penetrative attacking unit yet performances littered with ill-discipline in possession and indecisiveness in attack culminated in a performance for the scrapbook entitled "why we might not go up this season."

I suppose the eternal optimist would suggest being top of the league and playing your worst football of the season in a good sign. They would suggest the promising performance from new signing Sam McMahan, and the continued improvement of Scott Estate along with the fact the club is in the middle of a suspension and injury crisis point to the fact this season is 'destined' to be ours. A nice thought, but a realist would dismiss this as nonsense. You are only as good as your last performance, and United have to go back some way before they can claim to have played like a team pushing for promotion.

Martin Butler and Trevor Benjamin were combining well during the opening exchanges, and the top scorer watched a flashing header fly inches over after he had connected to a pin-point Sam McMahan cross on 4 minutes. Ben Chenery was finding space down the right flank, and Eustace continued to grow in confidence at the back. McMahan was showing neat skill and control on the right side of midfield, yet all this early pressure was blown away in the blink of an eye. Martin King stunned the masses of travelling supporters as he stabbed a shot past the wrong-footed Van Heusden to give the Bees the lead on 10 minutes.

To describe the rest of the half as entertaining would be as accurate as hailing Barry Fry the most successful manager in the game. Taylor and Butler had jinxing runs, which ended with weak shots on 22 and 33 minutes respectively. The best chance for United to level the scored came moments before the half time whistle. Sam McMahan met a Chenery cross on the half-volley only to see his teammate Trevor Benjamin get in the way to direct the ball high over the crossbar. It might have been going wide, or it might have been going in. Whether it was one or the other though there is no way the Barnet goalkeeper would have got to the ball.

The second half followed the pattern of the first, with United flattering to deceive with neat approach play but ineffectiveness in the final third of the pitch. The tired John Taylor was replaced by Richard Walker midway through the half, and this seemed to coincide with a downturn in fortune and form. He combined well with Mustoe and Benjamin shortly after his introduction but the final shot from Benjamin was high and wide. He then watched Harrison produce a wondrous save to tip his thunderous 20-yard drive over for a corner on 68 minutes.

Then a certain Scott McGleigh entered the fray for Barnet and this was undoubtedly the beginning of the end. The lively and skilful centre forward, who I would love to see back at United, killed the game off on 78 minutes. He latched onto a Ken Chalery through ball and caught Andy Duncan out of position. With just Van Huesden to beat he slid a powerful shot low into the bottom right hand corner of the net to seal the points for Barnet. His choice of celebration led to two Cambridge United supporters being ejected from the stadium by the police.

'One of those days' was rounded off a minute before the end as Onwere lashed in a shot to complete the Barnet scoring, and spark a mass exodus from the away end. A day to forget? More like a day to remember and study as teams hoping to win promotion must realise that performances and results such as this are as unwelcome and damaging as they are unacceptable.

Man of the match: Man of the match: Sam McMahon showed a touch and creativity above and beyond the match. Surrounded by teammates who were having mediocre displays, his performance was undoubtedly the most pleasing thing to emerge from this latest London loss.

The pub closest to the ground was filled with U's fans, players Russell, Wanless and Joseph came in too.

After a few poor performances surely this game would be different. Indeed it was! Suspensions and injuries meant Eustace at #5, Mustoe at #7 and McMahon at #11.

We started the first half playing down the hill (and for those who haven't been before I think it has a 7feet drop from goal to goal), and in the first minute Butler got a shot on target saved, but was offside. Soon after Butler headed over from the near post from a Chenery cross.

We conceded a goal on 8 minutes, the ball played across our penalty area for a long shot which was going well wide until it took a deflection off a defender and went into the net just inside the post giving Van Heusden no chance. One chance, one goal to Barnet.

We continued to play the ball about and make chances, Benjamin headed the ball down for Mustoe who shot wide from about 18 yards, then Taylor controlled a dropping ball in their area, turned, and had his shot saved, a cross by Butler was just missed by Taylor and Benjamin, Butler had a good run which finished with a weak shot, a long throw was headed on by Eustace only to be cleared off the line, Ashbee had a shot well wide, Mustoe had a good run and cross which came to nothing, Benjamin had a low cross cleared and in the last minute of the half McMahon had a good shot (which may have been going into the net) deflected over by Benjamin.

The second half continued with us playing the ball around whenever possible, and dealing with their "ball over the top" tactics fairly well. Mustoe had a shot over early on. Taylor came off after 11 minutes for Walker, 10 minutes later our former friend McGleish came on too.

Benjamin had a superb shot on the turn which bought out an equally good save from their 'keeper. From the resulting corner Eustace headed over. On 30 minutes Barnet needed some last ditch defending to keep the ball out, I think it was headed off the line, and from the clearance the ball was looped over Duncan into the path of McGleish who scored, again Van Heusden had no chance to save. 2 chances, 2 goals!

Kyd came on for McMahon for the last 6 minutes (+4 minutes injury time), and had a shot saved. A minute from the end of normal time another ball over the top was well defended by Duncan, unfortunately the follow up clearance by Eustace (I think) was miss-kicked to their unmarked player on the edge of our area and he duly scored, 3 chances, 3 goals!

I thought we played reasonably well, certainly we were the team trying to play football, but couldn't get the ball in the net.

Van Heusden had nothing to do bar a few back passes, and apart from one time where the ball bobbled just as he kicked it, his kicking was OK. He did have a good moan at his defenders when he was put under unnecessary pressure with the back passes. Chenery had quite a lot of time and space on his wing which he made use of when possible, Campbell did OK, as did Duncan and Eustace, except for the final goal.

In the middle McMahon looked very good, and is my MoM. is first touch is good, he can turn on the ball, and played some good passes. I guess he was tiring so was taken off. Ashbee was OK but could have done better, Mustoe had a poor first half, but did better in the second. At the front Butler was doing his normal unselfish running, Benjamin I don't think managed to get past the full back but did put himself about a bit and got himself booked for barging their 'keeper (I think it was our only booking), Taylor didn't seem up for the game, and Walker didn't really get into it either.

The only good was that Cardiff drew, and 'boring lost!

Ratings:
McMahon 8
Duncan, Butler 7+
Van Heusden, Chenery, Ashbee, Campbell, Mustoe, Benjamin, Kyd 7
Eustace, Taylor, Walker 7-

Lets hope we can get back to playing crap but winning!

Cambridge United were on the end of an amazing defeat by Barnet this afternoon, in a game where Barnet seemed to score every time they broke out of their half, while United were thwarted by good goalkeeping and wayward finishing. A poor first half gave way to a better showing after the break, but too many players were below par and only results elsewhere mean that United are still top with a similar cushion over the play-off places as before the game.

The good news in today's team line-up was that midfield dynamo Neil Mustoe passed a late fitness test and was fit to replace the suspended Paul Wanless. He was joined in midfield by Ian Ashbee and Sam McMahon, who was making his full United debut in the sunshine at Underhill, and Andy Duncan wore the captain's armband.

Cambridge United kicked off down the notorious slope and enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges, but fell behind to an early strike from Marlon King who diverted a miscued shot into the net from about 10 yards. The U's kept the pressure on and John Taylor, with a shot on the turn, and Trevor Benjamin both went close within minutes.

In the 22nd minute Martin Butler went on a jinking run into the box but didn't make proper contact with the ball and it tricked through to the goalkeeper, and three minutes later Neil Mustoe fired well side after Eustace flicked on Ashbee's long throw and the ball was cleared off the line by Currie.

Mustoe looked below par, possibly as an effect of the strain that ruled him out of Tuesday's game, as did John Taylor, but Sam McMahon was having a decent game and caught the eye. Trevor Benjamin went on his first rampaging run in the 42nd minute as he muscled his way down the left, but his cross was hacked away. Then in the 45th minute McMahon met Ben Chenery's cross with a first time shot from the edge of the box, and it was on target until it deflected off Benjamin six yards out. (Half-time 1-0)

United started the second half much better, and mounted a series of patient build-ups. After another of those Jamie Campbell's cross was placed just too close to keeper Lee Harrison, but it signalled the start of a series of chances for United. In the 56th minute McMahon's great ball found Taylor wide on the right but his cross reached Benjamin and the keeper at the same time, and although Harrison spilled the ball it was hacked away.

Seconds afterwards Taylor was replaced by Richard Walker and in the 58th minute the young Aston Villa striker passed to Mustoe who found Butler, and the in-demand striker flicked the ball on to Benjamin whose acrobatic shot was just wide. A minute later Benjamin returned the compliment by feeding the ball to Butler but the ball was pinched off his toe by Harrison.

Former Cambridge loanee Scott McGleish replaced scorer Marlon King in the 65th minute, making his comeback after a layoff with a broken leg. United's next chance came in the next minute when Benjamin produced a great shot on the turn that had to be saved at full stretch by Harrison. From the resulting corner Ashbee's cross was put over by Eustace but he and Benjamin seemed to collide and Eustace required some attention afterwards.

Roy McFarland has not been shy about speaking of his admiration for McGleish, a player he tried to sign for Cambridge earlier this season, and it was ironic but not entirely unforeseen when the Scot got on the end of a Barnet breakaway and lashed the ball past Van Heusden to hand Barnet a two goal lead. United had produced chance after chance but the prolific three man attack had uncharacteristically failed to take advantage.

Insult was added to injury in the 89th minute when substitute Udo Unwere scored when, despite some good work by Andy Duncan, the ball broke to him on the edge of the box.

United, who have played worse than today and won, stay top of the table tonight as Cardiff were held to a draw at home by Torquay.

Reporter Mark Johnson's Man of the Match: "Sam McMahon - he showed some encouraging touches and was the only player things were happening for in the first half. An encouraging debut."