RANDALL BUTT reports from the Abbey Stadium

THERE were 3,128 heroes at the windswept, rain-lashed Abbey Stadium and, fortunately for Cambridge United, one of them was playing in goal. The others who braved an awful afternoon, huddled, shivered and wondered yet again what witch's spell the home changing room casts over Roy McFarland's mystifying men.

Classy winners at Cardiff and brave as lions in a six-goal thriller at Halifax, they were so inept in this excuse for a performance they failed to manage a single shot on target in 90 miserable minutes.

McFarland admitted: "Our keeper Shaun Marshall getting the sponsors' Man of the Match award says it all."

Shrewsbury boss Jake King observed: "Our keeper had his quietest afternoon of the season, collecting a couple of crosses, and some kick-outs and that was about it. He was in danger of catching cold."

Marshall had no trouble keeping warm, though. The 20-year-old, third-choice rookie followed his two highly-praised previous performances so impressively he will take some dislodging by Arjan Van Heusden if he can maintain this standard.

Long passes down the middle again troubled the United defence, and the keeper had to time his runs perfectly to hack away from Steve Kerrigan in the 16th minute and smother the ball at the feet of Gareth Hanmer in the 41st.

Then he displayed the benefits of the new agility training he is receiving, by getting a leg in the way of Lee Steele's point-blank shot just before the break, and flinging himself full-length to palm away a 30-yard piledriver from Paul Evans 12 minutes into the second half.

The scoring chances added up to 5-0 in Shrewsbury's favour when you include the 34th minute corner which gave Kerrigan an opportunity for a header he sent flashing across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

United had more possession in the first half because they had the gale-force wind at their backs, but it produced nothing more than a couple of Paul Wanless headers which flew high, then wide in the 16th and 45th minutes.

It was a day for big strikers, and United did have one valid excuse that Trevor Benjamin was suspended and John Taylor out injured. McFarland chose to replace the veteran striker by bringing in Ian Ashbee and switching to 4-4-2. It has worked for him, but this time it was a mess, Ashbee hanging back in front of the centre-backs, Alex Russell hovering in the early stages behind the front two, neither having any influence on the game.

There was no width to counter Shrewsbury's attacking full-backs, and the usually industrious Neil Mustoe disappeared into his shell, leaving Wanless alone to try to provide some scraps for Martin Butler and Tom Youngs.

Maybe United would be better playing the other way, with the wind holding the ball up, might have been a thought for the more optimistic Abbey supporters. But the only improvement after the break was a tighter defensive display, despite the 48th minute injury to centre-back Marc Joseph.

That brought on a player who made Youngs and Marshall seem vastly experienced -- 18- year-old youth team defender Martin McNeil. And the Scottish-born King's Lynn youngster lived up to the rave reports of his youth and reserve team displays.

Said youth team manager David Batch: "A defender doesn't really want to make his League debut facing a howling wind at home when the game isn't going that well."

But McNeil fitted in alongside Andy Duncan so smoothly no-one wandering into the match midway through the second half would have suspected the strong and quick defender was not a regular member of the side.

The only wandering, however, was in the other direction -- through the gates -- as a never very enthralling match slithered into stalemate, the persitent rain slowing the surface. With the Shrewsbury attack bottled up, there was not going to be any goalmouth action in the final 20 minutes.

United's off day was summed up by the only couple of attacking moves they managed in that period, Ashbee failing to find Youngs with a poor pass, and Mustoe lofting an intended far-post centre, against the wind, high over the crossbar. Depression hung over the ground like the mountainous grey clouds at the final whistle. Even King was grumbling.

"My lads have their heads down in the changing room," he said. "We knew this was one we should have won. We had all the chances, but couldn't take one of them, although I don't know how their keeper kept out Lee's shot just before half time."

Other results and postponements meant United actually climbed two places in the table to fifth. But for a club who need every penny they can get through the turnstiles, home match entertainment is as important as away-day glory.

Cambridge United failed to score for the first time in fourteen matches, and only the second time in the season as the swirling winds and torrential rain blew away any chance of an attractive football match.

Shrewsbury are one of the form teams in the division, and will consider themselves unlucky not to have taken all the points in a dire encounter, with United only managing to muster one shot on goal.

In comparison the visitors should have had the game sown up by half time as they played with the confidence and belief that their recent good run has installed. Lee Steele broke free of the United defence on 24 minutes and only a superb save from keeper Shaun Marshall kept the scores level. He then dived at the feet of Hanmer on 39 minutes as after neat play found himself with a clear sight of the United goal. Just before the interval it looked as though Steele had given the viestors the lead they deserved on the balance of play but Marshall was there once again to deny him.

It was down the left-hand side that Shrewsbury were finding the space and time needed for their quick front line to exploit and create opportunities. They gave a fine lesson for the full 90 minutes to the benefits of finding accurate passes out of defence as their neat energetic passing game threatened to overpower flat footed United.

In comparison, our attempts to play the ball out of defence could not have been more dissimilar. Struggling to find the same wavelength, the entire team were guilty of giving possession away cheaply on numerous occasions. Thus is a trait you simply can afford to employ in this division if you want to win games.

The second half offered little relief for the United fans as Shrewsbury once again managed to exploit the holes in the United defence. After Marc Joseph was stretched off and replaced by rookie Martin McNeil most feared the worst. He showed the nerves associated with making your home debut, but despite a few misplaced passes gave a solid display to make sure United kept their tenth clean sheet of the season.

The same however could not have been said for his fellow teammates Chenery and Campbell whose crossing when going forward was United's main undoing. The famous allotments behind the south stand will be sprouting football trees by the dozen.

Marc McCammon replaced the out of sorts Chenery on 76 minutes and despite a few neat touches never looked like he would add the sparkle to United's attacking cocktail desperately missing the dominant frame of either the injured Taylor or the suspended Benjamin.

Marshall continued his heroics in the second half as he made a brilliant diving save to deny a Shrewsbury play on the hour mark. He stuck out a huge hand to protect his right hand post and Campbell completed the clearance. Overall it was another very impressive display from the young keeper. Despite struggling with some of his kicks in the strong winds he gave a commanding performance to demonstrate to the home fans that he has improved his game considerably since they last saw him in first team action.

Andy Duncan made some vital last minute challenges to once again assert and strengthen his growing reputation as one of the best centre backs in the lower leagues. Ian Ashbee dropped back after the substitution of Chenery, and looked like he is lacking the cutting edge after his layoff as he put in a very average performance.

United looked like they could have played until Christmas, and still not scored. Front men Tom Youngs and Martin Butler looked weak and ineffective and without Russell, Mustoe or even Wanless putting in their usually superb performances it meant the whole front line lacked cohesion, motivation and energy culminating to ultimately produce a blank score sheet for the first time in fourteen matches.

There was a worrying lack of fluid passing which despite the bad weather should have enabled United to overpower and tear apart the team who despite languishing in the bottom three, have a better defensive record away from home than those currently occupying the automatic promotion places. Indeed it is the Shrews lack of goals, just three in their seven matches they have played away, which have given them the worst travelling record in division three. If they continue to play with the sprit they displayed today then this should not last for long however, as at times they were a handful going forward and only the excellent Marshall denied them all the points.

Near the end, the United fans brief retort of the theme tune from 'The Great Escape' could not have been more fitting. There would only be one team leaving the Abbey happy with the afternoons events and with the feeling that they could have, should have and probably deserved to win the match.

The winter coat came out for the first time as dictated by the wind and rain. The pitch however looked in good condition, and stayed firm, none of the waterlogging problems that affected games elsewhere. The Abbey swirl meant that of the two corner flags I could see at the Allotments end, one was being blown to a 45 degree angle while the other was totally calm. At various times these changed over.

Taylor was still recovering from the head wound last Tuesday, so Ashbee started, Youngs in place of suspended Benjamin.

I presume we won the toss and chose to attack the Abbey first half, to get any wind advantage. This was used to make sure the ball went out of play even quicker than normal! With blustery conditions I would have thought keeping the ball on the ground would have been the best option, something we didn't do very often. When we did we made good progress. Playing 4-4-2, Butler and Youngs were willing runners, but too far apart, and anything in the air was defended easily. Butler had a few runs, but lost out to the second or third defender.

Marshall made his first real save after 14 minutes, their #9 setting up a fellow forward with a run through. A minute later Wanless headed a Joseph long throw past the post. Our best period of pressure came after 20 minutes when Russell had a good run down our right to the bye-line, his low hard cross was saved by their 'keeper. 2 minutes later we got our first corner, then soon after a cross from Joseph to the back post was tipped over by the 'keeper.

On 26 minutes the ball knocked the flag from the linesman's hand and into the crowd. It's the first time I've seen that happen.

Joseph had to be quick to stop a quick break on the half hour by touching the ball back to Marshall. Marshall had to make a couple more good saves before the end of the half, their #9 again causing problems. Although there had been no injuries, the referee played 2 minutes extra, in which Butler was taken out by a nasty challenge which resulted in a booking. Wanless headed over from the free kick.

In the first minute of the second half we got a free kick just inside our half which Joseph took and then collapsed, and had to be stretchered off. Perhaps he twisted his knee, or strained his groin, I couldn't tell from where I stand. This meant McNeil making his first team debut, coming on as a direct replacement. He did well, playing the ball the way he was facing, getting stuck in when required, putting his body in the way on one occasion when a player threatened to run past him!

Marshall continued to keep us in the game, the best save of them all from a 25 yard swerving shot through a group of players which he pushed away. We seemed intent on giving the game away, and certainly didn't want to win it, our other good move had the ball played across their penalty area with no-one wanting to have a shot. Russell got booked for a tackle from behind, and McCammon came on for the last 15 minutes in place of Chenery. By then we'd given up trying the long ball, and were not able to make use of his height. The change had little effect except to give Ashbee some full back practice.

All in all a poor game, not totally the fault of the weather though. Shrewsbury are quite a reasonable team, and kept harrying our midfield whenever possible, their #9 caused a lot of problems when running at the defence with the ball. Marshall is MoM for a number of good saves, although he did his best to mess up with some poor kicking from back passes. Russell did OK, as did Wanless and McNeil when he came on. The rest of the team were pretty anonymous. Hopefully this poor game will just be a one off, and will act as a shake up before the game on Tuesday.

Ratings:
Marshall 8, Chenery 6 (McCammon 5), Mustoe 5, Duncan 5, Joseph 5 (McNeil 6), Campbell 6, Wanless 7, Ashbee 5, Butler 7, Youngs 5, Russell 7

United lined up as they finished at Halifax on Tuesday night, with the enforced change being Ian Ashbee replacing injured birthday boy John Taylor as Roy McFarland opted for a 4-4-2 formation. Despite early torrential rain that saw several games postponed today, the problem for the teams this afternoon was the howling wind that battered the Abbey Stadium.

In a dire first half United disappointingly failed to take advantage of having the wind behind them and instead launched a succession of long balls that flew over the heads of the two less-than statuesque forwards and into touch. The sum total of our attempts on goal consisted of a 38th minute snap shot from Martin Butler which was well wide, and headers from Paul Wanless in the 16th and 48th minutes that also flew wide.

Visitors Shrewsbury looked quick and dangerous on the break but were largely frustrated, either by the offside flag or by finding Shaun Marshall in good form. Steve Kerrigan hit the bar in the first minute but luckily for United the flag was up, then in the 41st minute Hanmer showed neat skill to get into the box and beat Chenery, but he dwelt too long on the ball and Marshall was quickly off his line to smother the shot. Four minutes later Lee Steele struck a shot on the turn from eight yards out and seemed to have sent Marshall the wrong way, but the young 'keeper stuck out a foot to kick the ball clear. (Half-time 0-0)

United were forced into a change soon after the break when Marc Joseph was stretchered off in the 48th minute. There was no immediate indication of the nature of his injury, but the defender went down in a heap after stretching to clear the ball and he was carried off to be replaced by debutant Martin McNeil (right).

That was probably the most noteworthy event of the half, apart from another confident performance in goal from 'Man of the Match' Shaun Marshall. United could not muster a shot on target and managed to over-hit passes into the wind, while the attack was toothless. Shrewsbury were not a lot better, although Paul Evans struck from 30 yards to force a full-length, one-handed save from Marshall after 57 minutes. Six minutes after that, Seabury and Steele combined to force their way into the box until Andy Duncan stepped in to deny them an opening.

After 76 minutes Mark McCammon replaced Ben Chenery and the team reverted to their more familiar 4-3-3 formation, with Ian Ashbee moving to right-back, but the game fizzled out disappointingly.

Two things to take from the sorry performance were the solid and unflustered performance of second year trainee Martin McNeil at centre-half, and another clean sheet, but United will need to raise their game considerably to bother Premiership rivals Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night. Our Worthington Cup rivals were soundly beaten 5-1 at Anfield this afternoon.

Mainly because of the games that were called off due to the weather this afternoon, United moved up to fifth in the table.