Cambridge United (4-4-2): Van Heusden, Chenery, Duncan, Joseph, Wilson; Russell, Wanless, Ashbee, Cassidy (Taylor 72'); Butler, Benjamin.
Subs not used: Mustoe, Kyd, Marshall, Eustace.
Booked: Benjamin (foul 57')

Wigan Athletic (4-3-3): Carroll, Green, Sheridan, Balmer, McGibbon, Kilford (Lee 83'), O'Neill (Martinez 71'), Porter, Howarth, Liddell, Barlow.
Subs not used: Mitchell, Jones, Stillie.

Referee: David Laws (Whitley Bay)

Cambridge United became the first team to take a point away from the impressive new JJB Stadium, thanks to a change of tactics, solid defending and a goal from ever-green sub John Taylor.

Cambridge United: Van Heusden, Chenery, Duncan, Eustace, Wilson; Ashbee, Wanless, Russell; Taylor (Kyd 87'), Butler, Benjamin.
Subs not used: Joseph, Mustoe, Marshall, Cassidy.

Notts County: Ward, Holmes (Beadle 66'), Blackmore (Pearce 90'), Warren, Redmile, Richardson, Hughes, Owers, Stallard, Darby (Rapley 78'), Ramage.
Subs not used: Dyer, Lindley.

Referee: Mick Fletcher (Smethwick)

Despite a much improved performance against leaders Notts County this afternoon, Cambridge United were denied by the woodwork and desperate defending and had two points snatched with a breakaway goal just four minutes from time.

First match reports on-line here.

Cambridge United Supporters Association (CUSA) wants to know if you call yourself a Cambridge United fan? If so, they say, how would you like to take a more active and direct role in supporting East Anglia's most upwardly mobile football club? Here's your chance - the CUSA currently has a couple of vacancies and needs to recruit two new committee members.

CUSA Secretary Nigel Pearce said: "This is a great opportunity for a couple of supporters to really get involved in helping both their fellow Us fans and the football club itself. The CUSA is vital to ensure Us fans get a good deal and to the general well-being of a football club on its way back where it belongs - the first Division and beyond."

Cambridge United Director Richard Summerfield said: "The Club welcomed the formation of the CUSA three years ago and we continue to support it in any way we can. The two CUSA vacancies are the chance for a couple of United fans to get really close to the heart of the Club and its supporters, and to help Cambridge United move forward."

You are eligible to apply to join the CUSA Committee simply if you support CUFC, you are enthusiastic and have some time to spare, and you feel you could contribute to their work. In you would like to learn more about the CUSA, please see their section on this web site.

Applications (giving a few details about yourself and what you can offer the CUSA) should be made to the CUSA by 31 August 1999, either:

• in writing c/o Colin Davies at Cambridge United Football Club, The Abbey Stadium, Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8LN;
• by email to: thecusa@btinternet.com; or
• by phoning Brian Attmore (01223 245168) or Nigel Pearce (01279 725012)

A demonstration coaching session has been lined up for Saturday 28th August at Littleport Leisure Centre from 10am to 3pm. Cambridge United's Youth Development Officer, Ricky Martin, has arranged the day in response to the request of Colts League managers who are keen to get an insight into how a professional club develops ideas on the training ground.

From 10.30am to 1pm there will be demonstration coaching sessions on various topics at different age levels from Under 12 until Under 18. Several of the club's coaches will be attending and Mike Cook, Centre of Excellence Director, will oversee the day. Following the practical sessions there will be a question and answer forum.

Around 150 Colts League managers and coaches have indicated that they will be attending this second coaches' day, reinforcing the strong co-operation which exists between Cambridge United and the local Cambridgeshire Colts League.

"Our goal near the end was much too late, but even then we didn't show any real urgency," he continued. "The last five minutes can be very nervy for a team who have their lead cut to a single goal, but we didn't take advantage of that by putting Bristol under any pressure. Last season at Nottingham Forest we came back from three down, but sadly that attitude wasn't there this time.

"At our place in the first leg Bristol bounced back twice very quickly after falling behind, but we couldn't do that. It was very disappointing. I thought Trevor Benjamin was a bit of a handful for them in the first half, but we didn't back him or the other strikers up by winning any second balls.

"We played too much football in our own half, taking the soft options. We don't do that in training and we shouldn't have slipped into it in this game. We didn't put into practice what we do well, and Bristol fully deserved to go through. Arjan Van Heusden played well in goal to keep us in with a chance we couldn't take."

McFarland was critical of a subdued display by Neil Mustoe, starting the game in place of the injured Alex Russell (right), and substituted the little midfielder in the 64th minute to send on veteran striker John Taylor. Russell's invention was badly missed last night and his absence underlined the need to add a creative midfielder like long-time target Neil Mackenzie to the squad.

"Alex twisted an ankle preparing for the match," explained McFarland in the CEN. "Hopefully, he'll be back for Saturday's home game against Notts County, but we can only wait and see."

Cambridge United: Van Heusden, Chenery, Duncan, Eustace, Wilson; Ashbee, Wanless (Cassidy 80'), Mustoe (Taylor 64'); Kyd (Youngs 77'), Butler, Benjamin.
Subs not used: Joseph, Marshall.

Bristol City: Phillips, Brennan, Sebok, Taylor, Carey, Goodridge, Tinnion, Hutchings, Torpey (Pinamonte 76'), Thorpe, Murray.
Subs not used: Bell, Doherty, Jordan, Scope.

Referee: Clive Wilkes (Corfe)

In today's Sport First McFarland described the after match incident: "He was standing in the corridor and I thought that could have created conflict with the players so I told him to go back into the dressing room. He said to me that he would report me to the FA and I replied that I would be very happy to go to the FA.

"We have to be careful what we say about refs but I thought the first penalty decision was unbelievable. I couldn't let it go without saying what I felt about it."

Cambridge United: Van Heusden, Chenery (Cassidy 60'), Duncan, Eustace, Wilson; Ashbee, Wanless, Russell (Youngs 90'); Kyd (Mustoe 79'), Butler, Benjamin.
Booked: Ashbee 18', Wilson 55', Cassidy 75' (all dissent).
Subs not used: Marshall, Joseph.

Chesterfield: Leaning (Gayle 46'), Hewitt, Woods, Curtis, Holland, Breckin, Simpkins (Beaumont 55'), Bettney (Carss 74'), Willis, Reeves, Ebdon.
Booked: Simpkins 52' (foul), Hewitt (foul 70', 80'), Woods (foul 84').
Sent off: Hewitt 80'
Subs not used: Blatherwick, Dudley.

Referee: K. Lynch (North Hammerton)

The referee and some dodgy defending combined to hand Chesterfield their first points of the season and disappoint the band of travelling Us who had hoped to see United continue their promising start to the campaign. United took an early lead through Trevor Benjamin but a second half strike from Paul Wanless only closed the gap temporarily as Alan Reeves hit four, two from the penalty spot. Roy McFarland was told by the referee he will be reported to the FA for comments made after the match.

Gary Harwood, who attended the meeting along with fellow director Richard Summerfield and United's PR Co-ordinator Graham Eales, posted this report on the U's Net message board:

I attended a 'development forum' at Cambridge City Council this morning which involved representatives of the planning committee, representatives of the Council generally and representatives of the allotment society who had submitted a formal petition opposing our application.

The objective of the meeting was to hear the petitioners' case against the application, to hear our case for it, to debate all the issues and to reach a compromise (if possible). I was supported by Richard Summerfield and Graham Eales.

The objection to our application basically consisted of :

1. The allotments are one of the few places where local people regularly meet.
2. CUFC does need need 10,000 capacity when attendances are only just over 4,000 in a successful season.
3. The current site (including the 19 allotments) is far too small for larger crowds.
4. The loss of valuable plots - there are only 17 vacant at the moment on the whole site.
5. Changes in the law relating to release of allotment land is imminent (this was disproved during the meeting).
6. The City Council does not promote allotments and if it did all vacant ones would be taken up.
7. Allotments are being increasingly used by ladies and small children.
8. The lost land is irreplaceable.

I'll keep you posted on developments. We will need a lot more organised support from you from now on (and from supporters of other clubs) and I will ask the CUSA to coordinate.

John Taylor's reserve team kicked off their season this afternoon with a 4-0 defeat to a strong Swindon Town Reserve side at the Abbey. Watford's former youth team captain Colin Pluck (20) played in defence and both player-coaches started for United, while the Robins included some seasoned campaigners in Alan Reeves (ex-Wimbledon) and Mark Walters (ex-Rangers, Liverpool, Southampton), while first team striker Chris Hay played up front. Swindon boss Jimmy Quinn was named among their substitutes.

179 spectators braved the rain to watch.

Cambridge United Reserves: Shaun Marshall, Rob Miller, Colin Pluck, Neil Mustoe (Dean Armstrong), Marc Joseph, Martin McNeil (Jamie Scales), Mark Graham, David Preece, Andy Ingham (Adam Wilde), John Taylor, Jamie Cassidy.
Subs not used: Nathan Lamey, James Mercer.

Swindon Town Reserves: Jimmy Glass, Robin Hulbert, Sol Davis, Adam Willis, Gareth Davies, Alan Reeves, Anthony Wright, Mark Walters, Chris Hay, Charlie Griffin, Fraser McHugh.
Subs: Sam Campagna. Steve Mildenhall, Ricky Culbertson, Jamie Mills, Jimmy Quinn.

Following yesterday's announcement about purchasing tickets for the Wigan game in advance, Cambridge United have today been informed by Wigan Athletic of a change of ticketing policy at their new JJB Stadium. This new policy now allows cash to be taken at the turnstiles.

As Cambridge United have already received an allocation of tickets for this match, they will continue to sell them from the Ticket Office, allowing supporters the option whether to buy a ticket in advance or pay on the day at Wigan.

The summer passed without a big money exit from the Abbey but, with the financial facts of life meaning that the club still loses upwards of £8,000 every week, if a big enough offer is received for one of the players then there will be little alternative but to accept. Strikers are the players who grab the headlines and attract the highest fees and so it is no surprise that McFarland thinks that one of his frontmen will catch the eye of a richer club.

Last season's top scorer Martin Butler has already scored twice, Trevor Benjamin looks back to his best form of last season and terrorised Reading's defence on Saturday, and if Michael Kyd can show that he has finally shaken off the knee problems that have dogged him then he will issue reminders about why he was so highly-rated a couple of years ago.

"We've shown already we can get good results in the second division," McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News. "I believe we can carry that on, and if that's the case, it means the forwards will be playing well. That's bound to mean interest in them from bigger clubs will increase, so we have to be in a position to replace one or maybe two of them in the side.

"That could only be a matter of time, though. You look at the list of scouts who come to every match and you see a regular pattern. If they keep on coming and our forwards contine to play at this level as they have started off, the conclusion is obvious."

As a case in point, Ray Clemence was at Saturday's game, a recognisable face among the scouts who attend matches at the Abbey every week.

McFarland refuted the weekend's story that Ipswich were poised to bid £1 million for last season's top scorer Martin Butler, saying, "There has been no bid of that nature. We have had inquiries from several clubs, but no firm offer which comes up to our valuation of our players. As for Ipswich, we played them in a behind-closed-doors friendly in the summer. I talked to George Burley, and I'm not surprised they are keeping tabs on some of our players."

Cambridge United advise supporters wishing to attend the match at Wigan Athletic's new JJB Stadium on Monday 30th August to buy tickets in advance, as there are no cash turnstiles at the stadium.

Tickets, which are priced at £10 for adults and £6 for concessions (under 16s and over 65s) will be on sale from the Abbey Stadium ticket office from 9am tomorrow. The ticket office is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday and will also be open from 9.30am to 3pm on Saturday 28th August when the Us play Notts County, and again after the game.

The report quotes Roy McFarland reponding to the story by saying, "There are many scouts having a look at Martin. There have been one or two enquiries, but nothing concrete. We have had no bids or anything like that."

Apparently last week there was strong speculation that Burley was watching Brighton striker Gary Hart.

McFarland revealed today that his interest in Stoke City's Neil Mackenzie may have to be switched elsewhere. The 23-year-old midfielder had an impressive loan spell with United late last season but his stay was cut short by an ankle injury, and then the clubs failed to agree on a fee earlier this summer.

Since then Stoke have changed managers and Mackenzie has made a couple of substitute appearances as new boss Gary Megson assesses his squad. Talks aimed at revitalising the transfer took place last week but seem to have got nowhere and in today's Cambridge Evening News, Roy McFarland says, "At one stage it looked as though something might happen, but it's dragging now, and we are pursuing one or two other ideas."

However McFarland was very satisfield with his current squad on Saturday. "We were well worth the win," he said. "Our front three proved a real handful for Reading, and it was a very good all-round performance. Alex Russell is getting into the form he was showing last season. His set-pieces were excellent, and Ian Ashbee and Paul Wanless were strong in midfield.

"Reading were quite well held by our defence, and when they did get through Ise (Arjan Van Heusden) made a couple of important saves. After the other two results recently, it shows we are on the pace as far as the new division is concerned. The lads can't wait for the next match."

There are no direct quotes to back up the story but there is little doubt that an offer of that size would get a better reception from United than the recently rejected bids from Brentford, rumoured to be worth £300,000. Butler of course scored 21 goals last season as the Us finished runners-up in Division Three. For Roy McFarland's comments on the likelihood and repercussions of Martin Butler being sold, see the first instalment of the U's Net Q&A.

Reading boss Tommy Burns was disappointed with his side after yesterday's 3-1 defeat at the Abbey. In today's Sport First he says, "I thought we had more of the game in the first half and were playing better football, but then we got bullied out of it at the set-pieces and that was really disappointing.

"A lot of good play was cancelled out by a lack of courage at set-pieces, but we can pick ourselves up from this if we continue to play the football we managed for much of the game."

Roy McFarland was naturally the happier and more confident man afterwards, saying, "I thought we always looked winners after we got the breakthrough. We had more pace and power up front and now after playing three of the division's expected front-runners we can't wait for the next game."

Cambridge United: Van Heusden, Chenery, Duncan, Eustace, Wilson; Ashbee, Wanless, Russell; Kyd (Taylor 86'), Butler, Benjamin.
Booked: Butler 53', Chenery 67', Eustace 78' (all fouls).
Subs not used: Marshall, Joseph, Mustoe, Cassidy.

Reading: Howie, Gurney, Hunter, Polston (Casper 61'), Gray, Bernal (Hodges 72'), Brebner, Crawford, McIntyre, Scott, Williams (Brayson 54').
Booked: Gurney 45', Olston 59 (both fouls).
Subs not used: Van Der Kwaak, Caskey.

Referee: Steve Baines (Chesterfield)

Roy McFarland wrote prophetically in his programme notes today, "We've had a loss, we've now had a draw; now we're ready for a win". We were ready, and against a much-fancied Reading side our bargain basement team showed passion and skill in equal measure to mark the first home League game of the season with a convincing win that will make the rest of the division sit up and take notice.

The first reports are on-line here.

On Saturday Bournemouth boss Mel Machin declared himself "impressed" by the Us, and yesterday Pulis added, "They are always going to score goals, and you've always got a chance with a team like that. I don't think they'll have too many problems at this level. Roy McFarland has done an excellent job.

"They seemed to freeze a little bit in the first half, but we knew we were in a game in the second. The late goal probably makes us favourites to go through, but I'll need to make changes for the next match if that is to happen."

Roy McFarland was frustrated by the way his side were overpowered in the first-half display but he told today's Cambridge Evening News that he takes heart from the overall performance:

"If we keep on playing like we did after the break the results will come," he said. "Every match is going to be a tough one in Division Two, but I don't think we need to fear anybody, especially at home.

"We've played a couple of the fancied teams already, and come out pretty well. We deserved a point at Bournemouth, and one slip by the keeper in an otherwise very good game by him prevented us taking a lead to Bristol in the second leg. We know what we have to do now, go there and attack to try to win, so it's clear cut, and we'll be looking forward to it.

"We didn't get into the game in the first half, but we had them going in the second. Michael Kyd gave them all sorts of problems, when Ben Chenery started linking with him, and I thought Trevor Benjamin was tremendous."

Ian Ashbee had an excellent game in midfield last night but could be under pressure to retain his place if skipper Paul Wanless is passed fit to return on Saturday. The combative midfielder missed last night's game because of a poisoned blister on his big toe, but he is expected to be fit for the visit of big-spending Reading.

Cambridge United: Van Heusden, Chenery, Duncan, Eustace, Wilson; Ashbee, Mustoe (Graham 90'), Russell; Kyd (Taylor 85'), Butler, Benjamin.
Subs not used: Marshall, Joseph, Preece.

Bristol City: Phillips, Brennan, Taylor, Sebok, Carey, Mortimer, Hutchings (Pinamonte 68'), Tinnion, Murray (Goodridge 82'), Akinbiyi, Torpey (Doherty 68').
Subs not used: Bell, Scope.

Referee: Paul Taylor (Waltham Cross)

In a typical game of two halves United were lucky not to be swept away by Bristol City in the first half, but played some stunning football after the break to score twice. Unfortunately sloppy defending soon after each goal allowed the Robins to level the score.

The first match reports are on-line here.

Early reports indicate that Roy McFarland hopes to name an unchanged team for the Worthington Cup First Round home leg against Bristol City. Ian Ashbee picked up a dead leg during Saturday's defeat at Bournemouth but is expected to play. However, Paul Wanless is reportedly struggling with a sore blister and Neil Mustoe is on standby to take his place in the squad.

McFarland said, "I was pleased with the way we played at Bournemouth but it was disappointing that we didn't pick up any points from the game. City lost on Saturday and they also played reasonably well. This game is not about the result but it can set us up for the next leg and boost our confidence."

In tonight's Cambridge Evening News he says he will remind the players about last season's Worthington Cup exploits: "We had some great nights against Watford, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest, and the experience also fueled our promotion bid.

"I'm sure everybody wants some more of that, so our job tonight is to put ourselves in a good position for the second leg at Bristol. If we can carry on playing like we did at Bournemouth on Saturday we have every chance of doing well against a City side who are in transition after relegation and bringing in a new manager.

"I know Tony Pulis though, and the first thing he'll be trying to do there is make them hard to beat, so we have to expect a tough game. We'll also be up against the player rated the best centre-forward in the second division, Ade Akinbiyi, so that will be another test for us."

Bristol City were relegated from Division One last season after gaining promotion the season before, and they will be without full-back Gerard Lavin who is dropped after deliberately kicking a ball into the crowd on Saturday, hurting a supporter.

Last week he told U's Net that strikers Martin Butler, Trevor Benjamin and Michael Kyd were all in tremendous form and he might at some stage use all three up front, but added that the strikers themselves prefer 4-4-2.

"Jamie has a strain just above his Achilles," McFarland says in today's Cambridge Evening News. "He won't be involved tomorrow, but we are fairly sure Clive Wilson, Paul Wanless and Ben Chenery will make it.

"Looking at the squad at the moment, I've decided to go with what we know and use three forwards. Even against teams like Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest last season, it occupied their back four, something which didn't happen against Orient last Saturday."

Tomorrow's hosts were in the chase for a play-off place until the final day of last season and lost only twice at Dean Court during the whole campaign, so despite some injury problems they should present the newly-promoted Us with a tough test. Experienced striker Mark Stein is expected to lead their attack tomorrow, so the likely return of Clive Wilson and Ben Chenery to last weekend's shaky defence could be timely.

McFarland commented, "We'll know from the start what we have to do in the division. I think there might have been a bit of apprehension about it when the players first reported back, but now they can't wait to get started. There's no question of us feeling our way into the new division, we've got to be aggressive and just go for it.

Graham's squad number will be 19 and Miller's will be 27.

The youth team won 4-2 at Colchester yesterday afternoon, remaining unbeaten in their pre-season matches. Scorers were David Bridges and the prolific Daniel Chillingworth with two goals each.

The Football League believe that a series of rule changes to be implemented for the 1999-2000 campaign will make for the best season ever. Many of the Football League changes are to designed to put them in line with the Premiership, with squad numbers to be worn, the number of substitutes to be increased to five, and goal difference to now separate sides - not goals scored.

However, there will also be some ground-breaking changes, most notably the 'dissent law' to be operated in this season's Auto Windscreens Shield. This will mirror Rugby League, where the punishment for dissent is moving a free-kick ten yards further forward.

Football League director of communications, Peter Rowe, said of the new rule: "When the Auto Windscreens Shield starts, we will be the first professional League in the world to trial the 10-yard offence, where players will be penalised in the same way Rugby does. This will be interesting to watch when the Shield kicks off later in the season."

Taylor explained to the Cambridge Evening News, "We'd heard it was a bit rough, which it was, and we couldn't risk injuries so close to the League opener at Bournemouth on Saturday. It was a good work out for the fringe players and the youngsters though. Wroxham never stopped trying against us.

"I don't think we needed any of the first team to play last night. They've already got the Orient game out of their systems in training. They realise they let themselves down as much as anything, and also that performances like that don't do the club any good."

Congratulations to goalkeeper Arjan Van Heusden who became a father last night when wife Karen gave birth to a 7lb 13oz boy, Jake Joseph.

United have appealed for stretcher bearers for home matches. A change in Football League rules prevents the club's YTS players fulfilling the role so the club requires twelve people who are fit and able to carry any injured player from the field. They will be supplied with track suits, and will of course gain free admission to all games. Anyone interested should contact general manager Colin Davies at the Abbey Stadium.

The Daily Mail/Soccernet reports that football clubs are to have their financial records inspected by the Football League as part of a new plan to prevent them getting into the same sort of difficulties as Crystal Palace.

From the start of the season all 72 League clubs will submit their profit and loss accounts, their balance sheets and statements of their sources of funds on a twice-yearly basis. Although a meeting of the League's board decided not to withdraw Palace's membership earlier this week, they are still seeking assurances that the First Division club have a rescue plan which will allow them to start and finish the season.

"He's in a situation where he has to prove to me by his performances that he can earn himself a longer contract, whether that be twelve months or two years, we'll wait and see how he performs."

Wilson's squad number will be 18, and he could be joined on short-term contract arrangements by one or more trialists this week.

Tonight's Cambridge Evening News reports that Wilson is still struggling with the twisted ankle that ruled him out of the game against Leyton Orient on Saturday. "It's giving us some concern," says Roy McFarland. "It's not a long-term problem, but ideally we'd like Clive to be back for Saturday and the ankle is still painful."

But the other news is good, with Paul Wanless, Alex Russell and Ben Chenery all making progress with their various minor injuries.

Brentford's interest in Martin Butler could be at an end according to the Evening Standard. The newspaper previews the season for all London clubs today and in the Brentford report Ron Noades says that after the squad building of last season, he sees no need to shell out huge sums on new players: "All the players that I have brought in will do a job for the club," he insists.

The report goes on: Although he still believes the club need another striker he refused pay over the odds to secure a deal for Cambridge United's Steve (sic) Butler. Noades says: "Getting one new striker is a priority but Cambridge were asking too much for him."

That will be music to the ears of United fans everywhere.

The reserves are in action tonight at Wroxham, and the squad due to travel to Norfolk includes David Preece, John Taylor, Michael Kyd, Tom Youngs as well as some trialists. However McFarland sees no need to include any of Saturday's team.: "I had a good response in training after the below-par performance against Orient," he said. "Everyone was looking sharper, and I don't see any need for them to play at Wroxham.

"Having worked with the squad yesterday, I believe the Orient display was a one-off which we'll be able to put behind us. There was a general tiredness about the team, leaving us a yard short all over the pitch, and we'll be doing the right things this week to make sure we are very different mentally and physically for Saturday."

The reserves won 3-1 at Wroxham tonight, with winger Mark Graham taking a starring role as he scored one goal and set up the others.

Cambridge United reserves: Shaun Marshall, Rob Miller, Jamie Scales, David Preece (Dean Armstrong 80'), Martin McNeil (c), Larry McAvoy, Mark Graham, Andy Blohme, Tom Youngs, John Taylor (Darren Cockrill 82'), Adam Wilde (Andy Ingham 46').
Sub not used: Nathan Lamey.

United got off to a bright start and the first chance came after just eight minutes with Mark Graham's great ball to Tom Youngs to put the young forward through on the keeper, but the Wroxham custodian set the tone for an impressive game when he did well to smother the ball. Wroxham then took the lead after quarter of an hour when Adam Wilde was dispossessed on the halfway line and the defence disintegrated, allowing the home player to run through and score from ten yards.

The U's fought back and after David Preece's 22nd minute free kick John Taylor stole a march on the defence to get a header on target, but it was well held. German trialist Andy Blohme, playing in the centre of midfield, volleyed over after 28 minutes but United equalised two minutes later. Graham crossed for Tom Youngs whose header was brilliantly saved, but Youngs was there to bundle the ball over the line.

United's final chance of the half came from an Adam Wilde cross onto Taylor's head, but the player coach was denied by a full-length dive from the goalkeeper to tip the ball over. (Half-time 1-1)

Wilde was replaced by 17-year-old striker Andy Ingham at half-time. After 52 minutes Martin McNeil's blushes were spared when the referee judged that a Wroxham forward had pulled the young defender back, although the pushing and shoving in the box looked 50-50. On the hour Youngs returned the favour for the impressive Mark Graham, putting the former QPR man through with a flick, and Graham cut inside the fullback and thumped a shot home.

United extended the lead after 72 minutes when, after a couple of bad misses, Andy Ingham produced an emphatic finish to score after getting on the end of Graham's through ball. Then two minutes later Shaun Marshall, who had a couple of iffy moments tonight, made a superb double save from point blank range.

Young pros Dean Armstrong and Darren Cockrill replaced player-coaches Preece and Taylor with ten and eight minutes left respectively, and in the 85th minute Cockrill put a rasping shot just over. Then with one minute left Graham nearly capped his good game with another goal, as he beat three Wroxham players but blazed his shot over.

"The whole thing was a huge disappointment. We were a yard off the pace from the start of the match," he told the Cambridge Evening News.

"It made me think we might have done a bit too much work in training during these hot conditions, so although there are things we have to put right, we have to be careful how we go about it. It was a mental as much as a physical tiredness. It was a lazy performance, in which we showed a lack of sharpness and awareness.

"For the first 15 or 20 minutes when we were getting through on the right flank we seemed all right, but after that we were second best. I can't really look back and take anything from the game, apart from the fact that Orient deserved to win it."

On reflection, reports the CEN, he ought to be able to take from the game some good goalkeeping by Arjan Van Heusden, the increased skill level of Trevor Benjamin, who showed improved close control and some impressive but too rare bursts of power that saw him scythe through the visiting defence, and some glimpses of quality from Jamie Cassidy.

McFarland continued, "We were poor up front. There were chances, but we couldn't take most of them. Using Paul Wanless and Ian Ashbee in central midfield didn't really work, and again we gave away very bad goals. Orient scored their first goal from a free kick just inside our half and we were completely unprepared.

"We let our fans down. Although it was a friendly, it was an important one, but I can assure them we'll be switched on at Bournemouth. We'll be much sharper and tighter all round."

Russell and Wanless both limped out of Saturday's match and Russell will have treatment on a calf injury while skipper Wanless has a groin strain.

Orient manager Tommy Taylor commented, "We've been working hard, and we've hit some good form. It was the kind of hot day when you can struggle to get back into a game if you hit a bad spell."