Roy McFarland was forced into making three changes today as Ben Chenery replaced hamstring victim Jason Kavanagh at right-back, Martin McNeil was recalled after a one match absence in place of the similarly affected Marc Joseph, and Ian Ashbee was recalled to midfield in place of Tom Youngs who suffered a dead leg and was restricted to the bench. The match will kick off on sunny but slightly breezy conditions.

Brentford started strongly and after just 28 seconds Lloyd Owusu was through, but Ben Chenery shepherded the ball out for a corner. Then Trevor Benjamin silenced the home crowd's chants of "Champions, champions" after just 2 minutes 28 seconds. A long free kick from Scott Eustace came to Benjamin and the big striker turned his man on the edge of the area and beat another before slotting the ball past Woodman.

However Brentford continued to look dangerous with a swirling wind behind them, and after six minutes a free kick thundered into a painful area of Paul Wanless' anatomy and he required some treatment before the corner could be taken and headed over United's bar. Ten minutes later Paul Evans' 30 yard free kick flashed across the face of goal with no one able to get a touch to the ball, then in the 18th minute Ijah Anderson was booked for clattering into the back of Neil Mustoe. The busy midfielder went down hard before getting up and trotting off unscathed and was singled out for boos from the home crowd from then on.

In the 22nd minute Mustoe scampered away down the right, his cross was met by John Taylor and a defender almost simultaneously and the ball sailed over for a goal kick. Then three minutes later Owusu got away again and tried to pick out Partridge but Tom Cowan slid in to put the ball past his own post. United countered from Brentford's corner which broke down and John Hansen shrugged off a defender, cut inside and fired a shot over from the edge of the box.

The game went through an edgy spell as neither side could really get on top, but in the 41st minute Mustoe and Benjamin worked a good one-two on the right before Benjamin's cross was cut out by Bees' keeper Woodman. Then in the 45th minute Benjamin took a free kick from the edge of the box and his powerful shot was deflected through the wall and trickled into Woodman's hands.

It was a Jekyll and Hyde opening half from the home side as they put together some good moves but let themselves down with some woeful passing, while United concentrated on frustrating them and looking to break away. The game was a little niggly both on and off the pitch as Roy McFarland emerged from the dugout to remonstrate with the referee a couple of times, and as the dugouts are probably closer to the touchline than they are at the Abbey he encroached onto the pitch while doing so. (Half-time 0-1)

United kicked off towards the away fans in the second half and after three minutes John Taylor played a great reverse ball for Benjamin to chase, but Woodman was out bravely to kick the ball clear before colliding with the big striker and collapsing in a heap. In the 51st minute Tom Cowan was booked for a foul and Brentford made a double change as Carl Hutchings and Andy Scott replaced Gunnar Einarsson and Steve Jones.

United then produced a period of good pressure as after 53 minutes John Hansen got away down the left and his cross hit the arm of Hutchings and flew behind, but referee Mr Knight ignored the penalty appeals to award a corner. A couple of minutes later Tom Cowan's long throw created havoc as it flicked goalwards off Hutchings and from almost on the goalline Owusu had to clear it behind for another corner. The deep flag kick got as far as Hansen who aimed it towards Taylor, but the veteran striker miscued the ball as he appeared to be nudged by a Brentford player and another throw-in was awarded. Paul Wanless and Brentford's Quinn needed attention for a clash of heads and then it was Ian Ashbee's turn to launch the ball into the danger area for a move that Brentford cleared under pressure.

The home side were not out of the game by any stretch of the imagination and in the 57th minute Owusu brought a cross down on his chest and set up Partridge for a shot from the edge of the box which was always rising and flew out of the ground. Tom Youngs replaced the tiring Hansen in the 67th minute and two minutes later a Hutchings cross found Scott steaming in at the far post before firing just wide. Shortly afterwards Ian Ashbee intercepted a pass just inside our half and broke forward to the edge of the box before setting up Taylor for a shot which he scuffed along the ground to the keeper.

In the 77th minute Martin McNeil's free kick found Taylor in the area and his tight turn made room for a shot which was blocked by Powell and flew over the bar. Four minutes later at the other end Owusu's cross seemed destined to reach Scott until McNeil's perfectly-timed challenge saved the day, but in the 86th minute the whole complexion of the game was changed. Substitute Lorenzo Pintamonte's shot hit the hand of McNeil and, despite the incident looking no different to the one United players appealed over in the first half, Mr Knight pointed to the spot.

There was a considerably delay due to some argy-bargy on the edge of the box as the United players protested furiously, but eventually Paul Evans stepped up to give Shaun Marshall no chance and fire the ball home.

The fired-up U's were immediately on the offensive and Paul Wanless saw his header from Mustoe's free-kick blocked on the line, but Brentford looked more likely to go on and win the game having been gifted the late equaliser and it could have been much worse for United in the 94th minute. Mahon's 25 yard drive was heading for the top corner until he was denied by Marshall's brilliant flying save. That was virtually the last kick of the game and it ended another encounter with Brentford that will provide talking points for some while to come, while the Cambridge players surrounded Mr Knight at the final whistle to continue their protests at the penalty decision.

Reporter Mark Johnson's man of the match was Neil Mustoe: "A terrier-like performance and he controlled midfield. One of the instigating factors in forcing so many errors from Brentford, and anyone who winds up the Brentford fans can't bad!

"The whole United midfield get honourable mentions; Paul Wanless had a superb game, Ian Ashbee was very good, Tom Youngs had to do a lot of defending after coming on. Ben Chenery looked good, Trevor Benjamin faded a bit towards the end."

Speaking to Mark afterwards for United's Clubcall line, player-coach David Preece agreed that we were robbed of the points this afternoon while referee Barry Knight apparently indicated that although the ball was travelling at about 100 miles an hour he still felt McNeil had time to pull his arm out of the way. A furious Roy McFarland left the ground saying that he is "very frustrated" with some of the refereeing decisions we have had this season, and ironically, after accusing us of playing like Wimbledon earlier this season, Brentford resorted to John Beck tactics this afternoon by not heating the away dressing room.

You can call the Clubcall Abbey Update line to hear the full post-match reactions on 09068 555885.

DIVISION TWO RESULTS ON 04/03/00

        Blackpool   2-1   Notts County           4,277
        Brentford   1-1   Cambridge United       4,987
   Bristol Rovers   1-1   Wigan Athletic        11,109
          Burnley   0-3   Preston North End     22,310
             Bury   2-2   Oldham Athletic        5,306
       Gillingham   1-0   Oxford United          6,966
         Millwall   4-1   Bristol City          10,141
          Reading   2-0   AFC Bournemouth       10,551
Scunthorpe United   0-0   Colchester United      4,253
       Stoke City   5-1   Chesterfield          11,968
          Wrexham   1-0   Luton Town             2,703

BOTTOM OF DIVISION TWO

17  Wrexham               33  9 10 14  35  49  -14  37
18  Reading               33  8 12 13  41  52  -11  36
19  Scunthorpe United     33  7 11 15  31  50  -19  32
20  Blackpool             34  7 10 17  36  55  -19  31
------------------------------------------------------
21  Oxford United         33  8  7 18  28  52  -24  31
22  Cardiff City          33  5 14 14  31  45  -14  29
23  Cambridge United      33  6 10 17  39  50  -11  28
24  Chesterfield          33  5 10 18  21  42  -21  25
		

Struggling Cambridge were denied their third away win on the bounce as Paul Evans crashed home a late penalty to rescue a point for Brentford.

Trevor Benjamin had put Cambridge in front with a typical strike as his fruitful season continued at Griffin Park. But just as it looked as though his side would hang on to take all three points, Evans broke their hearts with time running out.

The goal is a big blow to Cambridge's hopes of staying in the Second Division next season.

(c) Copyright Press Association Ltd 2000

Brentford grabbed a late equaliser after being rocked by Cambridge United's early strike at Griffin Park.

Both teams were looking for points for very different reasons. The home side are still hopeful of making the play-offs while at the other end of the table United are trying to avoid the drop.

The game began in lively fashion when after only 28 seconds Brentford top-scorer Lloyd Owusu received the ball inside the penalty area but his first touch deserted him at the critical moment.

In the second minute the home crowd were stunned when one-time Bees transfer target Trevor Benjamin fired the visitors ahead. He collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area, turned his marker and fired low past Bees keeper Andy Woodman.

This great start for the visitors seemed to stun the home side, who could produce little of the free-flowing passing game seen at Luton last week. Cambridge seemed content to sit behind the ball and frustrate the Bees, who could muster few chances other than long-range crosses.

Twenty-four minutes into the half the visitors could have been two goals to the good after what seemed a push on Ijah Anderson by United forward John Hansen. He raced towards goal but fortunately for the Bees his 20-yard effort sailed over the bar.

Five minutes into the second half the home side made a double substitution bringing on Andy Scott for Jones and Carl Hutchings for Gunnar Einarsson. In the 57th minute Bees striker Scott Partridge volleyed over the bar from 20 yards after some good work by fellow-striker Owusu. After 68 minutes Brentford had a great chance when substitute Scott fired wide of keeper and post from 10 yards.

Seventy-four minutes into the game the Bees made their third and final substitution when on came Italian Lorenzo Pinamonte. Bees had their second player of the game booked when Robert Quinn was adjudged to have fouled Neil Mustoe, Anderson having received his yellow card previously for a foul on the same player.

Scott seemed poised to grab an equaliser but desperate defending by the visitors cleared the ball from danger. With four minutes remaining the Bees finally levelled when a speculative long-range shot by Pinamonte was harshly judged to have been handled by United defender Tom Cowan. Brentford skipper Paul Evans calmly converted the spot-kick.

Brentford went looking for the winner, and midfielder Gavin Mahon struck a 25-yard thunderbolt with virtually the last kick of the game but his effort was brilliantly touched away by visiting keeper Shaun Marshall.

THREE away wins in a row turned into two wins, a draw and an almighty row three minutes from time as Brentford were handed an equaliser, not by luckless Martin McNeil, but referee Barry Knight.

McNeil was no more than seven yards away when Brentford's Lorenzo Pinamonte, racing in at full speed exploded an angled power-drive at the Cambridge United goal. The ball slammed into the young defender hitting him on the lower body and arm, which was not raised.

And it was not a case of McNeil maybe stopping a certain goal on or near the line. He was about four yards outside the six-yard box, with goalkeeper Shaun Marshall well-positioned behind him. He had no need to block the ball illegally and is adamant he did not do so.

"The ball just hit me," he said. "I hardly saw it, it was going that fast. I didn't have time to react in any way, let alone raise an arm to stop the ball. And anyway it's not a thing you'd do in the penalty area in that position.

"I couldn't believe it when the referee gave the penalty. How could he give it for deliberate handall when the ball hit my arm which was against my body?"

United captain Paul Wanless, not a man to make ill-considered comments even in the heat of such a moment, called the decision: "disgraceful," and added: "If Martin can react that quickly to stop a shot with his hands, what we ought to do is drop Shaun Marshall and put him in goal."

Paul Evans stepped up to get the spot kick equaliser which baled out a Brentford side outplayed from the third minute when Trevor Benjamin put United in front with a goal likely to help him become the club's second £1m sale in the not-too-distant future.

That was after the United players besieged Knight in protest, and not only because of that one startling decision. Early in the second half there was a similar incident at the other end. John Hansen hit a left-wing centre, which struck Brentford's Carl Hutchings and ricochetted away for a corner. The Danish midfielder instantly appealed for a penalty, indicating Hutchings had blocked the cross with his elbow.

As Hutchings employed the old trick of holding his face, claiming that was really where the ball struck him, the referee waved away United's appeal and awarded a corner kick. To me, both incidents looked like a case of a driven ball striking a player's arm, and they should have been dealt with identically by the referee. Either a harsh penalty apiece, or none at all.

Brentford owner-manager Ron Noades' reaction was significant when asked what he thought about his team's penalty. "I was delighted," he said. "I don't think overall we deserved to lose, although we didn't play well, but I couldn't see us getting out of it."

You would have needed red and white striped spectacles, though, to make out any kind of case for the far-from-buzzing Bees deserving anything from the game. Pinamonte's fateful shot in the 86th minute was their first on target of the match.

United hardly peppered the home goal after their early lead, and there were several spells of stalemate in which to contemplate the surreal thought provoked by a hoarding declaring "Bees against Racism."

But, unlike their performance against Millwall the previous week, United played with discipline and control, the strength of Wanless and Ian Ashbee dominating midfield, while McNeil and Ben Chenery made more than adequate replacements for injured defenders Marc Joseph and Jason Kavanagh.

Beaten only by a well-struck penalty, Marshall did not have to make a real save until injury time when he somehow managed to tip Gavin Mahon's 20-yard blaster over the crossbar, crucially saving his side from a defeat which would have been so unjust it might well have had a debilitating effect on them in this week's important clashes with Bristol City and Scunthorpe.

United had such a grip on the Griffin Park game they forced the frustrated home side into a series of schoolboy errors such as hitting passes directly into touch, sending shouts of "rubbish" rippling around the ground from the home fans.

What Roy McFarland's men were unable to do was carve out more shooting chances in good positions for Benjamin or veteran John Taylor, gamely making his third consecutive appearance. Hansen and Neil Mustoe had some promising spells, but generally the attack lacked width and penetration.

A Hansen shot skimmed the crossbar in the 25th minute, and Benjamin's free kick just before the break got through the defensive wall, only to be fielded easily by Andy Woodman.

There were timely tackles from McNeil, Eustace and Tom Cowan to snuff out any second-half threat from Brentford. And in the 70th minute an Ashbee interception, run and backheel set up an edge-of-the-box shot Taylor hit straight at the keeper.

"Cambridge were after nothing but a 1-0 once they got the early goal," claimed the grim-faced Noades. It was not the intention, but it ought to have been the result.

Report © Cambridge Newspapers Ltd

I left Melbourn just after 1pm, went via the North Circular, got parked at The Butts, and was in the ground about 2:45. not bad going at all.

Brentford caused us some problems in the opening minute, forcing a corner that caused some panic before finally being cleared, then they were caught offside. From the free kick by Marshall, Taylor headed on to Benjamin around the edge of their penalty area, he controlled the ball, turned and shot in to give us the lead after 2 minutes.

A few minutes later Ashbee had a good header cleared off the line from open play. Mustoe was subject to a late tackle that rightly earned their player a booking after 17 minutes. Brentford looked dangerous at times, if only because of our poor defending. On 23 minutes Chenery let a cross go over him to their forward who, luckily for us, decided not to shoot but play the ball back for a shot which went wide. Almost immediately Brentford beat our offside trap, but defenders got back to smother a shot for a corner, from which we gained possession and broke quickly with Hansen, but his final shot was high.

Benjamin had a low cross saved, and in first half injury time the usual free kick routine a few yards outside their penalty area gave Benjamin a shooting chance but his shot was blocked enough to roll harmlessly to their 'keeper. 1-0 to us at half time.

We started the second half attacking, and a typical Taylor shimmy made space for a low cross that Benjamin was a whisker away from, then Benjamin chased a through ball and collided with their 'keeper who required treatment, but there was no foul. 5 minutes into the half Brentford replaced 2 players, but it didn't stem the tide of United attacks. A quick break gave Hansen the chance to cross well but the ball was headed away for a corner, which was cleared for a throw in which was cleared for yet another corner, which came to nothing.

Hansen was having a good game, from a high ball he managed to control, turn and make space for a shot which was high. He is not yet up to full match fitness, and was substituted after 21 minutes for Youngs. On 24 minutes Ashbee won the ball in the middle, went on a run down the middle, and with Mustoe on one side and Benjamin on the other he backheeled the ball into the path of the following Taylor which set him up perfectly for a shot which he scuffed and the ball was saved easily.

We continued to push forward, Youngs having a good cross cleared. Brentford made another substitution on 29 minutes. Mustoe was again the subject of another late tackle, which resulted in another booking. From the free kick another shot was blocked for a corner. Chenery put in a good cross, Benjamin got to the ball but could not get enough power on his header to trouble the 'keeper.

On 39 minutes from one of Brentfords few attacks a long range shot was apparently handled in the penalty area, and after a lot of discussion they equalised from the spot. We kept plugging away but couldn't force the winner, then in the third minute of injury time Brentford got a corner which was cleared to the edge of the penalty area, their player shot and the ball seemed to be going just under the bar until Marshall dived to push the ball away.

At the final whistle all the United players surrounded the referee to voice their annoyance at the penalty. The referee stayed at the far end of the pitch for quite a while until all the players had gone off, then had to pass close to the U's fans who also voiced their annoyance at his decision!

At the start of the game I would have been happy with a point, but by the end it was 2 points lost. The first half was fairly even, but we controlled the second. I dare say Mr. Noades will see it some what differently, although if I was him I'd be annoyed that his expensively assembled team didn't do more. They are a typical Brentford team, big at the back and big at the front, so they play the ball long a lot. We were our worst enemies at times, giving the ball away in poor places, or being beaten easily without getting a tackle in.

The referee seemed to have quite a good game at times, then spoil it by making some poor decisions. He'd allow play to go on after a foul if there looked like being an advantage, but if possession was lost them the free kick would be given. Then he'd give a goal kick when it should have been a corner to us. The penalty was too far away for me to see clearly, so I can't really comment, however I have never seen the whole of the team confront a referee at the end of a game like they did today.

Marshall had little to do, and had no chance with the penalty. The defence dealt reasonably well with the height of their forwards. Chenery struggled at times when the winger ran at him, he was not close enough to close him down, but not far enough away to be able to cover a run. The midfield did really well, Mustoe was the MoM for me. At the front Benjamin was back to his best, looking very strong on the ball, and laying off good passes.

The thing is, can we follow up this good result with a home win against Bristol City on Tuesday? Let's hope so.

Terry Wilby
Proud supporter of Cambridge United Football Club.

Brentford grabbed an undeserved late equaliser in a game, which did very little to excite both sets of fans. Only a late disputed penalty, which proved to be Brentfords first shot on target after 84 minutes, saved the Bees. This set up a grand finale, only a fantastic save by the U's keeper denied the Bees from taking, what would have been an fortunate 3 points. Brentford were dire, but Cambridge weren’t much better. They grabbed the early goal, and from that point on, produced time wasting tactics, which the referee did not punish. Due a bruised foot, Bees player of the month, Martin Rowlands sat this game out. Scott P, was introduced to the starting 11, after an inspirational 45 minutes at Kenilworth Road, the previous week. The Bees started in a 4-3-3 formation. Gunnar Einnarson started his first game for the club at right back, after Danny Boxall, was ruled out for the season after his misfortune at Luton. The Bees lined up like this:

Woodman
Einnarson Quinn Powell Anderson
Evans Ingimarsson Mahon
Pinamonte Owusu Jones

The first real action, saw Cambridge United score. Ironically, it was Bees target Trevor Benjamin that scored. It was a good goal, that showed why Ron had persisted in so long to get his man. He received the ball outside the edge of the area, turned Darren Powell on his left, and shot into the bottom corner of the net past Andy Woodman. It was a class early goal. From this point on, Cambridge and in particular Neil Mustoe seemed more content on running down time. This was after just two minutes of play! Brentford 0-1 Cambridge

Brentford went close in the 15th minute when Paul Evans went close with a free kick. Evans who wasn’t playing too potential along with the other 11 players, free kick zipped across the face of the goal with everybody missing it.

Tom Cowan nearly put through his own goal in the 25th minute. A nice ball over the top, found Lloyd Owusu through on goal. He was at an acute angle, so his aimed lobbed ball to Scott P in the box was more appropriate than running it in on goal. Cowan intercepted the ball, put it past his goalkeeper, Scott Marshall, and fortunately the wrong side of the post, for a Bees perspective.

The Brentford corner broke down, and Cambridge were immediately on the attack. The ball was kicked up the field and it was a race between Ijah Anderson and John Hansen. Hanson shouldered barged Ijah, fairly in the referees view. He picked the ball up, ran at goal, before firing over the bar.

That was that for the half time entertainment. A similar 1st half performance to Luton (A) the week before. The majority of the 4987 fans were hoping for a similar 2nd half performance to that of Luton as well, when the Bees played to the potential that we all know they can. It wasn’t to be though, and the game continued in a similar fashion.

In the 50th minute Ron has seen enough, and decided to make a change for the Bees. The out of sorts Steve Jones was replaced by Andy Scott, and Gunnar Einarsson who did nothing wrong, but picked up a 1st half injury, was replaced by Carl Hutchings, who was his 200th appearance for the club.

Within two minutes Carl Hutchings was involved deep in the action. Cambridge United attacked with John Hansen getting down the left. He cross met the hand of Carl Hutchings. It was a blatant penalty, for which everyone in the ground knew apart from the referee. Hutch, covered it up by pretending he was hit in the head. He should try out Hollywood!

Carl Hutchings was involved in Brentford best move of the match, to this point of the game in the 67th minute. He received the ball from a corner, controlled it before swinging the bull into the box. The Cambridge defence was static and Andy Scott was first to the ball. He stabbed the ball just wide of the near post. It was a big let off for Cambridge, and Scotty really should have converted the chance.

Ron Noades brought another substitute, just a minute later, when Lorenzo Pinamonte replaced Ivar Ingimarsson.

Cambridge United, nearly wrapped the game up in the 77th minute, only to see Darren Powell produce a good block. The ball was floated into the box, and it fell to the feet of veteran striker John Taylor. Taylor, who had his back to the goal, neatly turned in the box, before firing a shot on goal. Powell was there, to deflect the ball over and give the Bees the slightest of hopes for a comeback.

And they got that opportunity of an equaliser in the 86th minute, when they were awarded a hotly contested penalty decision. Lorenzo Pinamonte, received the ball, and then blasted an effort on goal. The ball struck the hands of a Cambridge player, and the Bees were given that vital lifeline. The Cambridge players/supporters were arguing that it was ball to hand, rather than hand to ball. How the referee could award this penalty to Brentford, when he refused to award a penalty to Cambridge after Hutchings handled is anyone guess. One of life’s mysteries! After all the delays, Evans shot was on target and this time found the back of the net, unlike at the Abbey earlier in the season when the keeper produced a good save. Brentford 1-1 Cambridge

This goal lifted all the Brentford parties, and in the end only a superb diving save by the keeper denied Brentford taking the points. In the 94th minute, a Brentford corner was only half cleared to the edge of the box. To Gavin Mahon. He brilliantly lined himself up, and then struck his best effort of his life. The ball was in the top corner of the net………….and then the keeper brilliantly dived and stretched to palm the ball over the bar. A fantastic save. It would have been unjust had that gone in though, because Brentford did not deserve maximum points. Cambridge didn't really either, after their negative tactics throughout the game.

Ron was delighted with the result, because the performance simply wasn’t good. The play offs are unrealistic, and its just a matter of trying out tactics formations, and giving the players the experience, so they can push for Division One next season.

Robert Trand