NOT so much a flying start to the season for Cambridge United as a precarious skimmer.

Like a stone sent bouncing across a pond they looked close to going under a couple of times before the successful outcome. It took a good, then a great save from new goalkeeper Arjan Van Heusden to keep them on level terms as they struggled to find any cohesion during the first half.

There was a steady, if slow, improvement after the break, a huge scare as the Gulls missed a 79th minute sitter, followed almost immediately by the penalty decider as the home side lost their heads, two players, and the points.

After three consecutive victories at Plainmoor, United are certainly Torquay's bogey team, but the shots of "lucky Cambridge" from home fans outraged by rookie referee Bill Jordan were hardly justified.

Torquay had shots saved from two of their three chances, their keeper had to make a couple of excellent second half stops, the penalty was clear-cut, and the two men sent off in the last 20 minutes -- Andy Gurney and Kevin Hill -- ought to have behaved more professionally after the warning of earlier yellow cards.

No-one in the United camp however was denying it was a disjointed display. "Dogged" was the the highest praise player-coach David Preece could find. The creator of two goals in the final friendly against Watford, his experience and ingenuity was missed as he remained on the substitutes' bench.

And new midfielders Neil Mustoe and Alex Watson rarely managed to link effectively with an attack in which Martin Butler and Trevor Benjamin were isolated until United began to gel in the last half an hour.

Mustoe admitted: "I haven't had enough games because of my injury, but I thought I'd be all right once we got going as a team. But that was slow to happen and it was about half an hour until I got my first touch."

That was not the case for Van Heusden who dived full length to push Brian McGorry's flashing drive around a post in the 12th minute. But that was a mere loosener compared with his magic moment just before the half hour.

Andy McFarlane's cross found Tony Bedeau unmarked no more than eight yards out. The striker hammered the ball on the volley, but Van Heusden, rushing too far to his right it seemed, somehow flung out a hand to punch the ball away.

It happened so quickly one local radio man blinked and missed it. "I can't think why Bedeau missed from that range," he told his listeners. We pointed out gently it might have had something to do with the huge Dutchman standing in the way.

"It was startling," said United centre-back Andy Duncan. "It looked a goal all the way. That save gave us a lot of confidence."

That was obvious as United had more of the play after the break, answering a Bedeau near miss by forcing Gregg to save twice from Benjamin. Their greater possession and maybe the stifling seaside heat, which must have topped 100 degrees on the pitch, unhinged the home team.

There were three men in the book and one sent off before the latest foul felled Benjamin to give away the 80th minute penalty. Centre-back Alex Watson, who should have got a red card, stepped back a foot and pleaded to be let off for the lunging tackle which stopped a player en route for goal.

It was the sort of cynical play which ought to be penalised by a spot kick wherever it happens and fortunately referee Bill Jordan, who had a fair League debut, despite the hysterical reaction of the home fans, was not impressed.

Learning nothing from Gurney's second-booking dismissal for a rash challenge, Hill clattered into Jamie Campbell, reducing his team to nine men for the last six minutes and their chances to nil.

Yes, ref, you got it wrong!

YES, television replays clearly confirm that Alex Watson's 80th minute tackle on Trevor Benjamin was OUTSIDE the penalty-area. And yes, that mistake by referee Bill Jordan did cost nine-man Torquay United a galling opening-day defeat - their fourth on the trot against Cambridge United at Plainmoor.

Mr.Jordan, a Hertfordshire policeman, probably won't look back on his League debut with any great pleasure. He also enraged everybody in the Gulls' camp by sending off right wing-back Andy Gurney in the 70th minute and midfielder Kevin Hill in the 84th, both for two bookable offences.

But no, Mr. Jordan didn't have the absolute stinker that most people thought he did. And if United had taken even one or two of several clear chances they created before the ref's fateful decision, we probably wouldn't still be talking mainly about red and yellow cards and dodgy penalties.

Torquay were much the better side for most of the first half - committed, confident and full of concentration. Young Wayne Thomas and new signing Robbie Herrera quickly settled into impressive performances as the replacements for Jon Gittens in central defence and Paul Gibbs at left-back.

Neil Mustoe and Robbie Herrera - picture from Torquay Herald Express

Herrera (pictured) was United's best player - his close control took the eye and he hardly gave the ball away all afternoon. Up front Tony Bedeau was full of eager running, and he deserved a goal. And 'keeper Matthew Gregg gave a positive display which will force the suspended Ken Veysey to fight to win his place back.

As early as the second minute Jamie Robinson should have hit the target with a header from a Gary Clayton corner. Then Andy McFarlane flicked on a Gregg clearance to put United's other debutant Brian McGorry in on the right, but Cambridge's strapping Dutch goalie Arjan Van Heusden pushed his 12-yard near-post shot round. That stop was a good one, but in the 28th minute Van Heusden produced a really exceptional save.

McGorry's pass to McFarlane beat the offside-trap, McFarlane went clear on the right, picked out Bedeau with an inviting cross and he finished with a first-time sidefoot volley which had ''Goal'' written all over it. Bedeau did nothing wrong, but Van Heusden, who had started to narrow the angle on McFarlane, somehow managed to get back across his goal and scooped the ball clear before it crossed his line.

Cambridge had been forced to play second-fiddle until then, but in the last 15 minutes of the half, they started to pull themselves together. Gregg had to save well from Martin Butler on a quickly-taken free-kick by Alex Russell and then he tipped Jamie Campbell's header over from Russell's corner. When Rodney Jack, whose transfer to Crewe still hasn't been cleared, was brought out to make the half-time draw, you couldn't help wondering if he'd have made the difference already.

But incidentally, Mr. Jordan had made a pretty good start to his League career - up with play and sensibly calming down a couple of fracas with a firm word. His three bookings, for Cambridge's Chenery and United's Gurney and Hill had all seemed fairly routine. There was a real scare early in the second half, when Cambridge skipper Paul Wanless flicked on a long throw by Marc Joseph and Gregg had to come up with a smart reaction parry from Butler, with Robinson alertly heading the loose ball behind.

Cambridge had clearly moved up a gear and the balance of play had tarted to shift, but they still looked unlikely to score, with Butler and Benjamin well held by Thomas, Watson and Robinson. United should have scored in the 58th minute, when Herrera took a pass from Clayton on the left, beat a man and delivered a diagonal cross. It was too good for Campbell, Bedeau chested the ball down and shot just wide across the face of goal.

It all started to go seriously wrong in the 70th minute when Gurney went in late on Russell by the touchline. Mr. Jordan had little option but to show a second yellow card and then the red. New manager Wes Saunders immediately reorganised, taking off the unlucky Bedeau and sending on a new right-back in Steve Tully. Minutes later his opposite number Roy McFarland decided that it was time to go for broke, sending on an third striker in John Taylor for midfielder Russell.

Even down to ten men United then made and missed the best chance of all. A McGorry pass set up Tully on the right, his low cross was aimed at the far-post, but Hill, who has specialised in that sort of ammunition, miskicked with the goal at his mercy. The game has a habit of punishing misses like that and, sure enough, its cruel ruler immediately came smacking down on United's hand.

In Cambridge's next counter-attack, Benjamin ran at Watson. United's captain, who checked his geography, retreated only so far, delivered his challenge, down went Benjamin, lunging into the box as any striker would. It was a foul, but it was made a good yard outside the area and Benjamin's impetus had carried him in.

Paul Wanless (left) watches as Martin Butler (right) scores from the penalty spot - picture from Torquay Herald Express

Well our first game of the season, and another win down at sunny (and very hot) Torquay. The game was quite poor really, mainly down to the extreme heat. We had a joke with Ardje when he was warming up saying that he would be a puddle by full time, which he found amusing.

It was good to meet up with a few fellow Moosenetters. Now i know who Peter (Robbie), Terry Wilby, Martin (and family) and Phil are. I must apologize to Martin as i didn't realise you were going to sit in the Main Stand, otherwise we would have spoken to you longer.

Torquay had a very direct game plan.....whack it as far as you can and chase it. They were a very physical team and bullied their way around the 6 yard box. The referee took a long while before he booked his first player, but the way the Torquay players were flying in they deserved all they got.....in the end nothing!!!!!!

Our penalty was a bit dubious, one of those ones you either get or you don't. Trevor Benjamin was running at goal when the last defender turned his back and stuck out a foot, down went Trevor. In my opinion Trevor was just outside the box, but the linesman flagged for the foul and a penalty was given. I think the defender should have been sent off for a professional foul and a free-kick given.

Ardje (ICE) made an excellent save in the first half, i think he won the fans over from then!!!!! Torquay caught us out and were running at goal, the ball was played out wide on the right and they had a player waiting unmarked in the middle. Ardje got drawn out of goal as the player crossed the ball into the middle....looking like a definite goal. Somehow Ardje managed to position himself to make an excellent one-handed save. (hopefully they will show it on Anglia News.)

The only bad thing about the day was the traffic and our car!!!!!! We left at 7.00am after topping the car up with power steering fluid. The traffic was horrendous on the M5, all the usual problems...roadworks, caravans and accidents. It took us 5 and a half hours altogether and we couldn't wait to get in the pub for a drink. We stayed for a while after the game to avoid the same problem on the return trip. All in all a good day out and our first win of the season...... We even asked all the bitter Torquay fans if we could play our home games here too, in which they were not amused!!!!!!!

See you all on Tuesday when we play Watford in the cup.

What a lovely weekend in Torquay it was. By convincing my girlfriend that a night away by the sea during our traditional 2 day summer would be romantic I got to see our first match of the season. Torquay seem to have got our new home shirts before we did which just shows how bad these shirt companies are. Never having been to Torquay's ground it was nice to see a smaller away end than the Abbey with just as little cover from the sun or rain. Fortunately I had the use of the sun tan lotion before Hannah went to the beach.

Let's be honest the first half was pretty dire. They certainly had the better of it. They did like the long ball but they also seemed to pass with greater pace and accuracy. Our new keeper had a pretty good debut. 2 good saves, one at the near post and another more spectacular one handed save which seemed impossible. Well their striker should have buried it really, he was unmarked and through with the whole goal in front of him, only 6 yards away and with our new keeper in line with the post with his back to him. From where he was he should never have been given any keeper the chance to get to it but he dinked it up in to the exact centre of the goal and a hand shot out to hook it off the line, the boy done good. "Ice" did have a habit of booting it all the way back to their keeper though. I wonder if these count as shots on target?

The second half started with more purpose and the first real pressure from us but this did not last too long. Torquay put together a great passing move and shot just wide. OK it was blisteringly hot and the boys did try but the passing never seemed to get going from us and the chances were few and far between.

Then the referee intervened. Their No 2 had been booked for kicking the ball away in the first half after being caught off side (a half hearted shot) and went with a second yellow for what looked like a meaty challenge deserving a card. Then there was the penalty. Well it wasn't a penalty from the 15 yards away I was. Trevor has obviously been watching his world cup as he went down with no contact to be seen. I'd have booked him. Instead the ref booked another Torquay player for asking the linesman to "tell him" presumably it was to tell him that it was a dive. Butler buried it but the ref still had time to send another Torquay player off for a nasty looking challenge. I didn't see a yellow so it was fairly gutsy move from the enthusiastic Mr Jordan.

The ground resounded to chants of "on the pitch" and "kill the ref" which seemed to concern their stewards only a little, maybe they are used to it. I heard a rumour that it was the ref's first league match so I don't suppose he was used to so many death threats. I suspect he will have to get more used to it if he is going to have more mares like this one. He then added ages of non existent injury time, maybe he wanted an equaliser so that the stewards wouldn't have to run too fast to escort him off the pitch. The steward near me was ever so chatty and friendly and it was interesting to note that there was not a single policeman in the ground. Finally the whistle went the stewards rushed out, the ref was off the pitch and 3 points were in the bag. The players all came over to applaud the healthy away support which, as we have heard before, is great to see, even if it was too hot for most of us to make much noise.

We were lucky. Very, very lucky. Personally I like luck.

So the good news is the three points. The not so good is that when I compare this performance to the last match I saw (Notts County) we were missing something. I hate to even whisper it but the boy Billy Beall could have done a job for us. I hope Russell can start to control the midfield a bit more but he didn't seem to on Saturday.

The Cambridge stag party (28 strong) headed for the bars. On the way back to town I bought "Left foot in the Grave" by Torquay's assistant coach. it seemed appropriate somehow. It is well worth a read and really covers the ins and out's of a lowly third division team, plus it's just out in paperback, by the time I'd read a few chapter's I was almost feeling sorry for them.

By 11 at least one Cambridge shirt was having trouble walking, not me honest, but a fun time seemed to be had by all who stayed the night. All in all a great weekend away. You never know maybe the stag party got lucky as well.

My wife isn't keen on motorway driving, so she offered to navigate there direct as the crow flies route to Torquay, via Luton Aylesbury, Oxford etc. We left at 10:00 on Friday morning, 245 miles later at 5:00pm we got to Torquay having stopped only for a couple of 10 minute breaks. Driver was not happy!

Our hotel was near the harbour, just round the corner from a lot of late night bars. Being very hot the windows had to be left open, so from before midnight until around 3:00 in the morning we were woken regularly by noisy youths and revving cars. Oh to be young! I looked round the harbour before the game and saw a couple of United fans, not as many as I'd hoped, or anyone I knew.

No pint before the game, (alcohol and sunlight make me ill) but I did have the lucky "Moose is loose" hat. Like most of the rest of the country we suffered the full heat of the sun on the visitors terrace behind the goal. United had a strenuous workout before the game, it looked a bit too much in the heat. Perhaps that was why we did nothing in the first 30 minutes.

After 10 minutes Van Heusden had to save low to his left, a relatively easy save however. After 30 minutes he made the save of the day. A knock-on from their big centre forward went to a wide player who looked offside (with Campbell nowhere) and advanced towards our goal, then squared the ball between Van Heusden and Duncan to the other forward who should have scored into an open goal from 6 yards, but somehow van Heusden got across the goal to claw the ball away. A couple of minutes later Butler had a shot saved for a corner, which their 'keeper also saved.

At Torquay you can buy soft drinks by the color, by the time I got to the counter at half time I had a choice of green or blue cola, I chose green, which tasted awful as it was warm, but at least it was wet. Met Julie and Jon for the first time too.

In the second half we did much better, making some better chances and forcing the keeper to make some saves. However again from a flick-on, our left full back was AWOL, but luckily the forward screwed the shot past the far post. The game deteriorated from Torquay's point of view when their full back was red carded for a second bookable offence. The free kick was deflected for a corner. Shaggy came on for Russell after 33 minutes. Soon after Bruno was tripped on the edge of the penalty area and the referee gave a penalty. When I saw the replay later that evening the trip is started just outside the penalty area, so we were lucky to get the penalty. Butler scored it with ease. A few minutes later another player was sent off for two bookable offences.

Martin Butler celebrates with the travelling fans - picture by Terry Wilby

We did enough to deserve all 3 points, making more chances than they did, but a wonder save from Van Heusden kept us in the game which is why he is my MoM. Their centre forward was a big chap who Joseph struggled to control, Campbell got lost too often. The rest of the team did OK, no-one outstanding though. The rating look a little high, but then we did win away!

Ratings:
Van Heusden 9, Chenery 6, Ashbee 7, Duncan 7, Joseph 6, Campbell 5, Wanless 7, Russell 7, Taylor 6, Butler 7, Benjamin 6, Mustoe 7

The journey home using M5, M42, M6 and A14 was 261 miles and around 4 and a half hours, which included a delay near Bristol for a car accident. Guess which route I'm using next time!