AN injury-time winner for Hartlepool prevented Cambridge United snatching a scarcely deserved point and plunged them into an early-season crisis of confidence.

That might sound over-dramatic just three weeks into the campaign, but the stark fact is that Roy McFarland's men have yet to muster a convincing performance in any of their four third division games. And this time they lurched from bad at Rotherham to much worse in a mess of a match against run-of-the-mill opponents at the Abbey Stadium.

Skipper Paul Wanless was not mincing words after walking out of the silent changing room afterwards. "It was a disgusting display," he said. "I have to watch what I say because I'm not in a very good mood, but it was completely unacceptable. That was the same team who beat Watford and who people were saying was going to win the League a couple of games ago. As a team we didn't play. We all need a good kick up the backside.

"It was an awful game and I'm glad I wasn't watching it. It was just as bad playing."

Hardly anything interesting happened in the seemingly endless first hour. Then, after a series of glaring misses at both ends, the game produced a dramatic finale which was thrilling only from the viewpoint of the 200 Hartlepool fans. Steve Howard was gifted a goal by United's dithering defence at an 81st minute corner, Jamie Campbell headed what looked like being a face-saving equaliser in the 88th, but another collection of blunders handed Hartlepool the winner in the third minute of stoppage time.

Wanless was right when he condemned the entire team for a way below-par performance. And some of the blame also has to extend to the management. McFarland and his coaches gambled by starting with strikers Martin Butler and Michael Kyd, who had missed training in the week due to injury and illness. It was like trying to win a game of poker, bluffing with a pair of dodgy deuces and it failed miserably.

Neither player had any influence on the game -- Kyd, his knee problem flaring again, departed at half time, Butler, woefully weak after food poisoning, was mercifully brought off in the 55th minute.

"It didn't work," admitted the United boss. "But what was more disturbing for me was our defensive play. Our goalkeeper has held his hand up to mistakes. But as a team we were not sharp and tight enough, and we gave away a senseless free-kick which produced Hartlepool's winner."

The only scraps of comfort for him might be that individual errors were just as responsible for the result as the general play, and hopefully they are not the kind of things to happen every week.

Arjan van Heusden was a startling sight in the brightest red shorts and jersey, and he finished a nightmare afternoon with a face to match. After a series of superb saves in previous games, the big Dutchman was so out of touch the supporters must have wondered where he managed to buy a pair of gloves which had two fingers and three thumbs on each hand.

He got away with kicking a clearance straight at striker Steve Howard, then dropping the ball at the same player's feet within minutes early in the second half, because Howard made a hash of both chances. But a mistake at a corner handed him yet another opportunity, which he accepted. Then the keeper was beaten easily at his near post when the winner went in.

Trevor Benjamin was possibly the only player to emerge with any credit. He caused problems down the left flank from time to time, and took up some good positions in the box. Martin Holland had to make two excellent saves from him in the second half, but the teenager wasted his best chance when he headed across the face of goal from six yards in the 60th minute.

That was nothing though compared with John Taylor's miss 11 minutes later, when a goal might have made a dramatic difference to the direction of the game. The veteran striker, running on to an Ian Ashbee pass, was completely clear, the keeper at his mercy. But as he went to shoot he toppled backwards, just managing to stub the ball forward with an outstretched leg. Holland, rushing out, also went sliding to the ground at the same time, stopping the ball while on his back with his feet in the air.

Laurel and Hardy could not have improved on a moment which summed up much of what went on during this particular afternoon of third division football.

After the game Roy McFarland admitted, "We took a gamble on the two strikers, but I'm afraid it didn't come off. We still had two very good chances to score before Hartlepool did though, and that could have produced a very different result.

The two injury cases, Kyd (knee?) and Butler (food poisoning) had recovered enough to start the game, so the team was as expected.

To cut a long story short, we were crap! (For those who weren't there and really want to know what went on the report continues after the ratings)

Ratings: Van Heusden 3, Chenery 6, Ashbee 4 (Preece 5), Joseph 4, Campbell 5, Wanless 4, Benjamin 6, Butler 4 (Mustoe 5), Kyd 4 (Taylor 5), Russell 7

We started with little interest in doing anything, it quite quickly became apparent that Butler and Kyd were not up to scratch, however Kyd did manage a header past from a dropping deflected cross after 9 minutes. On 15 minutes Hartlepool put a free kick from just outside our penalty area just over the bar, a few minutes later they shot past the post. We gained our first corner after 23 minutes, which Wanless headed over. On 30 minutes a long kick from Van Heusden was headed on to Kyd, he tried to lob the 'keeper but put the ball a long way over the bar. 'Pool managed to cause some panic in our defence, from one of these the #10 had a good shot saved by Van Heusden and the rebound cleared. Our other chances in the first half were two long range shots from Ashbee that went just over.

We thought the second half couldn't be as bad, we were wrong!

Taylor came on for Kyd at the start of the half, 10 minutes later Mustoe for Butler and we reverted to 4-4-2. We almost gifted them a goal when Van Heusden tried a short return to a back pass from Campbell, but only there was another goalkeeper error by Van Heusden when he tried to stop a high cross going out which would have been a goal kick, but only managed to palm it to a forward who again managed to shoot past. Again we thought it couldn't get any worse!

Russell was tackled late from behind, but the referee only booked the player. From the free kick Benjamin got a glancing header at the near post which went past the far post. Soon after from a waist high Chenery cross a Benjamin header was touched over by their 'keeper. Hartlepool continued to cause occasional problems, Van Heusden did easily save one of the few shots on target. Our best bit of football play involved a quick break from Ashbee, who passed to the unmarked Taylor. Shaggy managed to stub with only the 'keeper to beat. Russell had a shot high and wide after being set up by Shaggy.

At the other end Van Heusden missed the ball from a corner and stood watching as the ball was kicked into the net from a couple of yards. We tried to increase the tempo, and made their 'keeper make some good reflex saves, firstly from a Benjamin cross to the far post where Shaggy headed the ball back but the keeper just got to it first, then Benjamin had a good header saved and the rebound shot from Shaggy was deflected for a corner. Preece came on for Ashbee after 40 minutes. We equalised on 43 minutes with a Campbell header from a corner, the defender handled on the line but the referee signalled a goal. If it hadn't been allowed the defender would have been red carded and we would have had a penalty.

Soon after Mustoe had a curling shot go just past. On 48 minutes they got a free kick near the touchline, the long kick being headed in by their #10, Van Heusden seemingly slow to dive. A couple of minutes later they should have scored again, a defensive cock-up allowed the forward to run past Van Heusden, the shot towards the open goal just cleared off the line.

52 minutes were played in the second half, despite being northerners they seemed very prone to getting injured, an accidental kick to the head by Wanless was the exception. The referee also had a poor game, I think he was on some bonus for blowing his whistle so often. on one occasion a long crossfield ball by the 'Pool defender went straight out, but they got the throw in. This rule was repeated soon after too!

We only played decent football for about a total of 10 minutes in the whole game. The forward three were too far apart (and two were not fit), and why does Benjamin play on the wing? I think he's better down the middle. In midfield Russell was the pick, at least he looked as if he'd played with the rest of the team before and was trying. Wanless looked out of sorts, along with Ashbee. At the back Campbell gave the ball away too often especially annoying when he was not under pressure. Joseph never got to grips with the #10, who wasn't that big but managed to win most balls in the air. Joseph also managed the worst cross of the day when he over hit the ball when we were pushing forward, the ball going out for a throw. Duncan looked alright defending, but his distribution was also poor. Chenery was beaten a couple of times, but recovered with good tackles. I'll say no more about Van Heusden!

Of the substitutes, if Shaggy had scored when clean through it may have been a different result. Mustoe probably needs more match practice. Preece was only on for 10 minutes, if only he was younger and would start a match. When he came on Campbell was pushed up as third forward, on this day he was a better attacker than defender!

With two defeats in a row, Cambridge United now find themselves looking straight down the barrel of the division three gun, with the bullets loaded marked: "third division also ran" as once again we failed to produce the goods for a second successive Saturday.

This time however, the lack of interest and general collapse that was present in abundance at Rotherham appeared to have gone, but was replaced with the worrying and blatantly obvious fact that the skeleton squad we have just will not be able to sustain a serious promotion challenge.

Martin Butler was visibly weary after his attack of food poising, and Michael Kyd once again showed that he is far from fully fit, and in fact carrying a very bad injury. Despite this his and Butler's contribution in the first half could hardly be faulted. With Kyd and Butler being replaced by Taylor and Mustoe, at half time and half way through the second half respectively, United's front line lacked cohesion and was unable to develop the organisation and understanding necessary to seriously bother a well-organised Hartlepool defence.

Trevor Benjamin's enthusiastic and bustling style of play was, for the second game running, looking decidedly ineffective. Instead of looking his usual deadly handful of dynamite, he was unable to create any sort of understanding with the rest of the team, and was guilty of squandering some decent second half opportunities to put United into the lead.

Hartlepool looked a neat and organised unit, but nevertheless should have been destroyed by United mid way through the second half. Taylor and Benjamin worked a good move on 72mins, possibly their only one of the game, which left Taylor one on one with the keeper. Had he scored I am convinced that United would have gone onto win the game, but instead he dwelled on the ball, was challenged and only managed a tame shot into the keepers hands.

That spelled the beginning of the end for United, as despite further pressure and the fans attempts to suck the ball into the goal, Hartlepool broke with the speed and accuracy which United failed to muster for most of the game. They effectively managed to turn defence into attack on numerous occasions and 10mins before the end their persistent threat, and United persistent inability to deal with it, culminated to produce the first Hartlepool goal. A flapping Van Heusden had failed to command his area and after a scramble the ball was fired home.

In fact, the overall performance of Van Heusden was perhaps the most worrying aspect of the whole game. After United had hauled themselves back into the game with a powerful Jamie Campbell header to level the scores on 84mins, his failure to protect his near side post lead to the Hartlepool winner and rumbles of discontent.

After out jumping the entire defence, Graeme Lee took advantage of the gaping hole between the post and Van Heusden to power a header into the net and sent the Hartlepool fans home with only their second victory ever at the Abbey.

A few of the more perfidious sections of support are showing the embryonic signs of discontent which, in my opinion, could shatter our season before it has even got under way. Support through tricky times is far more important that support when a team is doing well, that's easy. The difficult part is to realise that supporting the players when they are struggling to get results can only help them, and abuse will surely only lead to the opposite reaction.

Having said this, the inability which the defenders are showing to turn defence into attack, is, in my opinion, very worrying. Ben Chenery seems incapable of going past any player, and seems content to chip the ball aimlessly into the box for the defenders to head out, time and time again. Jamie Campbell is, as he was last season, convincing me that he has shares in Mitre, as his "passes down the line" invariably end up knocking out a cow grazing peacefully on Sturbridge common! Even Mark Joseph and Andy Duncan were out jumped and outfought for both of the Hartlepool goals. It was another day destined not to be ours, and another example of why, with such a small squad, staying injury and suspension free will indeed by the deciding factor that determines whether or not we will escape this division of hell.

Despite reports of injury worries ahead of this game, Roy McFarland was able to name an unchanged team for the fourth successive game. However there were question marks over the ability of Michael Kyd and Martin Butler to last the 90 minutes as both missed some training this week through injury and illness respectively.

Hartlepool included Craig Midgley, who had a trial spell at The Abbey last October, while Gustavo Di Lella was on their bench. The Argentinian came off the bench in the away fixture last season to score two late goals in a 3-3 draw and deny United the win.

The expectations before this game were that United would put in a different performance to their lack-lustre display at Rotherham last weekend and get back to the performances that saw us undefeated in the first four games. Unfortunately the error-strewn first half was as grey as the sky overhead with a shocking lack of goalmouth action and unimpressive displays all over the pitch. The brightest thing on show was debatably Arjan Van Heusden's new bright red jersey!

Michael Kyd put a stumbling header wide after ten minutes, and Paul Wanless headed just over from a 21st minute corner, while at the other end Van Heusden had to wait 35 minutes to make his first save. Even the referee got in on the act by booking the wrong Hartlepool player for a foul, penalising Tommy Miller when the offence seemed to be committed by Darren Knowles. For Pools Denny Ingram was also booked for dissent. Half-time came as a relief for the spectators and the players trudged off to the expectation of roastings from both managers. (0-0)

John Taylor replaced Michael Kyd at half-time and Martin Butler was withdrawn ten minutes later to be replaced by Neil Mustoe. For Pools Di Lella also came on at half-time, for Denny Ingram. Play improved just slightly after the break with Trevor Benjamin looking the man most likely to change things, and he went close a couple of times. On 61 minutes he saw a header go wide, and two minutes later he met a Chenery cross with an acrobatic looping header but the ball was tipped over by Norwegian keeper Martin Hollund. Ten minutes later, in United's best chance of the game, a ball from Ian Ashbee released John Taylor but the unmarked striker stubbed his toe into the ground as he seemed to attempt a chip and the ball went straight at Hollund.

After 80 minutes of tedium the game exploded into life in the last ten minutes, although unfortunately it was United who eventually conceded a goal. Hartlepool were making fewer mistakes than the U's and on 81 minutes Van Heusden fumbled a corner from Ian Clark and in the confusion Steven Howard bundled the ball over the line. Two minutes later United came agonisingly close to equalising when Benjamin's deep cross was met at the far post by Taylor, but Hollund reached behind himself to pull off an amazing save.

Roy McFarland used his final substitute David Preece in the 85th minute, replacing Ian Ashbee, and with two minutes of normal time remaining it looked as though Jamie Campbell had ensured a point when he headed home an Alex Russell corner, his third League goal for United.

Five minutes of injury time were indicated and as the game came to a surprisingly exciting conclusion Hartlepool scored again in the 93rd minute. From Clark's free-kick Graeme Lee's far post header snatched the points for the visitors, sending their 200 fans into ecstacy and plunging The Abbey faithful into gloom. The injury time stretched to seven minutes, at the end of which Hartlepool used their final two substitutes, Irvine and Pemberton replacing Midgley and Howard.

In reporter Mark Johnson's words, it was an afternoon when you would struggle to pick a man of the match for Cambridge United, with Trevor Benjamin possibly the pick of the bunch for his efforts and for making fewer mistakes than his teammates. But too many in the amber and black shirts had nightmares and it comes too soon after another indifferent display. Roy McFarland may now seriously consider changes for the trip to Chester, who won today at Southend, and there are obviously concerns over Michael Kyd's persistent knee injury. News after the match suggested that his knee has swollen up again and he will require further treatment, making him very doubtful for Tuesday night's game at Chester.