United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Benjamin, Taylor, Kyd, Beall.
Subs Not Used: Butler, Marc Joseph, Rees.
Booked: Beall 61' (foul).
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).

The long wait for a League win is over after this important 2-0 home victory, and instead of counting the sequence of games without a win we can now boast five games without defeat, and two successive wins!

Roy McFarland unsurprisingly retained the line-up that performed so well in the second half against Plymouth, playing three up front and giving Trevor Benjamin only his third League start. The revitalised 'Billy' Beall was back to his busy, buzzing best in midfield and big Trevor - who "arrived as a footballer" on Tuesday, according to John Taylor - was a hard-working menace in attack.

If you were late on to the terraces today, either after kick-off or following the interval, there is a good chance you missed the goals which arrived with perfect symmetry two minutes into each half. When Trevor Benjamin's shot was blocked one minute and fifty seconds into the game, Michael Kyd pounced for his first goal since his comeback from a knee operation, the fastest goal of the day. Hartlepool were shaken and always chasing the game from then.

United were buoyant after Tuesday's superb Cup fight-back and on a better day could have scored four or five, but Jamie Campbell - who has been an inspired free transfer signing from Barnet - made the points safe just two minutes into the second half. He swept a 20 yard shot home through a packed penalty area following a corner.

Referee Mr Taylor did well to keep control of a simmering second half and he only booked three players, two for Pools and 'Billy' Beall for a 61st minute foul. The visiting goalkeeper, Norwegian under-21 international Martin Hollund, produced some good saves to deny Kyd, John Taylor and Paul Wanless while Scott Barrett's first save came three minutes from time when he tipped a Richard Lucas header around the post.

United move up two places to 17th and this is just the result needed as a confidence booster before Tuesday's derby match at leaders Peterborough (7.45pm). If you are going to the match to support the team it is 'pay on the day' for United fans.

Roy McFarland wants the team to carry on from where they left off against Plymouth on Tuesday. He wants to see the same kind of passion on the pitch - and among the fans - for tomorrow's League clash with Hartlepool.

He told the CEN, "It's important we maintain that mood. It was a very upbeat performance against Plymouth after the first half, which brought a tremendous response from the supporters."

Hartlepool are currently 6th in the division and they have notched 2-0 victories in their last two games, both at home. The Pools danger man is midfielder Jon Cullen who has scored ten goals so far this season and attracted interested from higher division clubs.

In common with the hopes of many United supporters, Roy McFarland believes the great FA Cup fightback against Plymouth could be the spur to relaunch the team's League campaign. He told the Cambridge Evening News: "The win gives us a great chance of getting a big third round draw, but it could also have rescued our League season. We've been close to being a good team throughout our long run without a win, and a victory like this is just what we needed."

From being first half flops the players came out after half-time with renewed purpose and effort and thoroughly deserved the win on Tuesday night. Now the manager will demand that his charges show the same will and determination on Saturday against Hartlepool, and then next Tuesday in the local derby at Peterborough.

Veteran striker John Taylor, a hero of two FA Cup campaigns that saw the U's reach consecutive quarter-finals in 1990 and 1991, admitted that the situation looked far from hopeful: "I don't know if we really thought at the break we could get back. We just went out and played for our pride."

The second round tie against Stevenage Borough at the Abbey on Saturday 6th December will be 'all-ticket' for visiting supporters only.

United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Preece (Benjamin 45'), Taylor, Kyd (Butler 105'), Beall.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Joseph, Rees.
Booked: Preece, Wanless, Benjamin, Campbell.
Ref: R J Harris (Oxford).

United moved a step closer to a potential money-spinning third round tie with a superb fightback against their second division visitors. Two-nil down at half time, and recent form making the second round home tie against Stevenage Borough look an impossibility, the U's fought back to end a sequence of 14 games without a win, the club's worst run for twelve years.

Roy McFarland continues to shuffle his attacking pack in the search for goals, with Michael Kyd recalled at the expense of Martin Butler. The rest of the side was unchanged but United produced possibly their worst 45 minutes of the season so far - and there have been a few! We were completely over-run by Plymouth, whose wingers gave our full-backs a torrid time and set up both of their goals. Argyle went ahead through a Ronnie Mauge header from a right wing cross, United had the ball in the net after a goalmouth scramble but it was disallowed for offside, and then the visitors doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time when Earl Jean volleyed home a super shot from another right wing cross.

Roy McFarland changed things at half-time, sending on 6' 2" centre forward Trevor Benjamin for midfielder David Preece and from the restart there was clearly something different about the side. There was a lot more purpose about the play and big Trev was booked almost immediately for his over-enthusiasm, but the closest United came to scoring was when John Taylor was unable to react quickly enough when the ball fell to him three yards out. At the other end Scott Barrett produced a superb double save to maintain the soreline and then two teenage products of the club's youth system scored the vital goals late in the second half.

First, in the 74th minute, the hard working 'Billy' Beall won the ball in midfield and fed it to Benjamin who flicked it over the defence for Beall to run onto. The diminutive midfielder - 20 next Thursday - found himself one on one with Jon Sheffield but kept his composure and finished with a near post shot to revive the Abbey faithful. Shortly afterwards Michael Kyd hit the post from just outside the area and then three minutes after he had set up Beall, Trevor Benjamin equalised when he chased down an Argyle back pass and Sheffield's kick hit him and rebounded into the net. It was the big 18-year-old's second ever goal for United and what an important time to get it.

The crowd were ecstatic and roaring the team on, and the players chased everything to earn a couple of late half-chances while Scott Barrett made some important saves. United kept the pressure on in extra-time and Paul Wilson crowned the memorable recovery when he scored from the penalty spot in the fifth minute of extra time after Jamie Campbell had been fouled.

Player-coach David Preece is rated doubtful for tomorrow's FA Cup replay against second division Plymouth Argyle. He was injured at Darlington on Saturday and had to leave the field after just six minutes of the second half, and if he is missing tomorrow it will be a major blow after his superb performance in the match at Home Park.

Club physio Ken Steggles told the C.E.N., "David is desperate to play but I'd be surprised if he can recover in time."

Roy McFarland has acknowledged the performance of his defence on Saturday. Darlington's speedy strikers looked able to cut through at will but Ian Ashbee turned in another determined performance and Colin Foster was at his majestic best to prevent them adding to their early strike. "It looked like being a cricket score in the early stages," McFarland acknowledged.

If United can win tomorrow night their opponents in the second round of the FA Cup will be Stevenage Borough. The Vauxhall Conference side beat Carshalton Athletic in their first round replay tonight.

United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Preece (Rees 51'), Taylor (Benjamin 78'), Butler, Beall.
Subs Not Used: Joseph.
Booked: Campbell 89 mins (foul).
Ref: E K Wolstenholme (Blackburn).

Roy McFarland made one change from the team held by Brighton on Tuesday evening, with John Taylor replacing Michael Kyd in attack. In the early stages it appeared that United would be overwhelmed by Darlo's lively front line and they snatched a sixth minute lead through Carl Shutt. Darren Roberts cut the ball back from the goal line for Shutt to fire in low to Scott Barrett's left from eight yards.

However Shaggy's recall reaped immediate benefits and United were level a minute later. Ben Chenery's right wing cross was headed by Darlington defender Andy Crosby onto the head of John Taylor who beat the 'keeper from seven yards with a precise header into the top corner.

After that it was the turn of United's defence to shine and they battled for the rest of the game to keep the Darlington front line at bay and the score at 1-1. David Preece went off injured early in the second half, to be replaced by Jason Rees, and Trevor Benjamin was rewarded for his recent form in the reserves when he replaced Taylor twelve minutes from time.

Manager Roy McFarland has revealed that the club's current situation is one he has not faced before in his long career. The 1-1 home draw against Brighton on Tuesday night extended United's current run of games without a win to thirteen and the former England defender admitted, "I haven't been involved in a run like this as a manager or as a player. Thirteen games is a long, long time without a win, although in most matches we haven't played like a side going through this kind of spell. What we haven't done in the League though is sustain a performance as well as we did at Plymouth in the Cup."

The replay against Plymouth is next Tuesday night at the Abbey Stadium but before then United face the trek to face Darlington tomorrow. There are no fresh injury worries and United's current strike pairing have received a vote of confidence from the man they are keeping on the bench.

John Taylor

John Taylor has been restricted to appearances as a substitute in recent games while Martin Butler and Michael Kyd have continued as the first choice strikers. The 33-year-old produced plenty of worrying moments for the Macclesfield and Brighton defences and came close to scoring vital goals. But in tomorrow's matchday programme he generously states: "If I put my hand on my heart I would say Kyddie and Martin are the best strikeforce for the year - and rightly so, the two boys upfront are doing well.

"They are both good players, quick and strong, and I think it probably works better for the club for me to come off the bench when needed. Sometimes it can be difficult for me to last the full 90 minutes now as I'm getting older."

Meanwhile Ian Ashbee is a player who is extremely glad to be back in action after several anxious months on the sidelines. The former Derby County defender, who became Roy McFarland's first signing last December, admitted, "It was worrying not to be getting into the squad this season. I had some injury problems, which didn't help."

But Ian grabbed his chance when called to replace the suspended Marc Joseph at Plymouth and his cool and assured display earned some rave reviews from the supporters who criticised him last season. He gelled well with Colin Foster and Jamie Campbell and the back three produced the first clean sheet since the 4th of October at Lincoln.

Trevor - hat-trick

Trevor Benjamin staked his claim for first team action with a hat-trick for the reserves in yesterday's 3-1 Capital League win at Wycombe Wanderers. The giant 18-year-old was just too powerful for the second division team's reserves and Roy McFarland declared himself impressed.

"It was an impressive display by big 'Fash'. He's put himself in the running for Saturday's match at Darlington," said the manager. "It was a very lively performance, and one or two other players also showed how much they want to get into the first team."

There was a new face in the United line-up as Bolton Wanderers defender Stuart Whitehead played on trial for United, and the 21-year-old played well according to McFarland: "He can play two reserves games on trial, and we'll be having another look at him when we play Cambridge University on Monday. He's a promising player I signed at Bolton from non-League football."

United had to borrow Wycombe's second strip to play last night's game, after the fire in the kitroom severely damaged United's own kit, and the price exacted by Wanderers was 48 cans of Carlsberg!

McFarland had planned to watch a potential transfer target last night, but the weather washed out the match he was due to see.

Joseph - transfer-listed

Out of contract defender Matt Joseph has been put on the transfer list after a final breakdown in contract talks. The sticking point is unchanged: the club wants Joseph to sign a two year deal but the player will only sign until the end of this season, when he will be able to leave on a free transfer thanks to the new "over 24" ruling. United will now circulate the name of last season's Player of the Year to all clubs in the hope of securing at least a tribunal fee before the end of the season.

Disappointed manager Roy McFarland explained, "It's the only option for the club now. Matt seems set on not signing a longer-term contract and we have to do all we can to protest our interests. He can walk out at the end of the season and we wouldn't get a penny for him."

Former Arsenal trainee and England youth international Joseph refused to renew his contract when it expired in the summer, hoping to attract a move to a bigger club like former team-mates Danny Granville (Chelsea), Jody Craddock (Sunderland) and Micah Hyde (Watford). But there were no bids for him and so far the only enquiry has come from fellow third division strugglers Cardiff City. However next summer Matty would be able to seek a move to any club within Europe and United will not receive a penny for the player they plucked from non-league obscurity.

Looking back to last night's disappointing home draw with Brighton, McFarland insisted that he was still searching for new players: "We have to get some new people in, and the sooner the better. We played quite well again for much of the game, but again couldn't hold the lead. We should have had that penalty, and another a bit earlier when John Taylor was pushed, but we paid the price for 20 minutes in the second half when we didn't play. We let Brighton off the hook."

He referred to what looked like an obvious penalty in the 82nd minute, when Martin Butler burst into the box, rounded the goalkeeper Nicky Rust and was scythed down by a defender in front of an empty net. Butler himself was in no doubt: "He just took my legs away. I couldn't believe it when the referee didn't give the penalty. I bet we would got it if we hadn't had one in the first half."

Even Brighton assistant manager Jeff Wood had to admit, "It looked like a penalty to me. If I'd been in the other dugout I wouldn't have been too happy about it."

United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Preece, Kyd (Taylor 69'), Butler, Beall.
Subs Not Used: Marc Joseph, Rees.
Ref: W C Burns (Scarborough).

United started brightly enough, created plenty of chances and Brighton only summoned one attack, when Scott Barrett saved with his legs from Stuart Storer. The U's took a deserved lead through a Paul Wilson 23rd minute penalty. Martin Butler chased Billy Beall's long through ball into the area only to be clattered by Brighton's goalkeeper Nicky Rust and a defender, and Wilson stepped up to coolly send Rust the wrong way.

The lead should have settled United's apparent nerves but despite plenty of possession we created very little. As the second half wore on the players inexplicably abandoned the neat passing game and started hoofing the ball around the pitch, and the inevitable happened in the 73rd minute. Brighton's Emblen tapped home a Stuart Storer cross despite the move looking suspiciously offside, and then we were into the now-familiar story of United chasing the game.

To their credit the U's were sparked back to life and settled to passing the ball again, and if we had a natural goal poacher on the pitch we would have eased to a comfortable win. United were even denied two late penalty claims which if anything looked more likely than the one given in the first half. In the 82nd minute Martin Butler ran strongly into the Brighton box, past the outrushing Rust, but as he tried to turn the ball into the empty net he was scythed down by defender Ross Johnson Shortly before that John Taylor seemed to be pushed in the box but the players' appeals fell on deaf ears. 'Shaggy' pressed his claim for a recall to the starting eleven with two on-target headers in the last five minutes, but the first was cleared off the goal-line and the second was well held at point blank range by the impressive Cambridge-based Rust.

However, the game ended in a 1-1 draw and the sequence of games without a win begins to look ominous as it stretched to 13 tonight.

United say tonight's game against Brighton will definitely go ahead despite reports of a fire at the ground. The kitroom was left with smoke damage after an electrical fault caused a tumble dryer to overheat and catch fire during the night, but luckily the ground was recently rewired so the rest of the circuit tripped out, preventing further damage.

Club secretary Steve Greenall said: "We've been getting a lot of enquiries, but there's no doubt the game's on."

If Michael Kyd recovers from a kick on the ankle the side is likely to be unchanged after Saturday's FA Cup draw at Plymouth, and United hope that 13 will be a lucky number for them as they aim to break a sequence of 12 matches without a win. Cambridge have slipped dramatically down to sixth from bottom in the third division after a bright start while Brighton are even worse off, having only won twice all season to languish second from bottom.

Manager Roy McFarland said: "Hopefully we can play as well as we did on Saturday, to get the win that we need."

Roy McFarland sees the FA Cup second round draw as a golden opportunity for a money-spinning third round tie, should his team beat Plymouth in next Tuesday's replay at the Abbey Stadium. United out-played Arygle for long periods of Saturday's 0-0 draw and if they can match that level of performance and finish off the second division side, they then entertain non-league opposition at the Abbey. Potential opponents Carshalton v Stevenage also drew 0-0 at the weekend and that replay is next Monday.

"It's an excellent draw. It has to be a big opportunity and incentive for us," commented McFarland, "All you ask for in the Cup is a home draw. We did the hard work well at Plymouth on Saturday, and now we have the prospect of a couple of home games for a place with the Premiership teams in the third round. We believe we can go on and beat Plymouth, and if Stevenage get through their tie as seems likely we know a bit about them after drawing at their place in a pre-season match a few months ago.

"Looking at Saturday's game I felt we deserved a win rather than a draw. They had just one good chance which Corazzin missed, but they were lucky to stay level in the second half. We hit the post, had another shot cleared off the goal line and were never in any real danger at the back. They aren't going to relish coming to the Abbey next week."

But McFarland knows the immediate priority is tomorrow night's Division Three game against fellow strugglers Brighton at the Abbey: "There's no danger of the Cup getting in the way of that. The Brighton game was the main topic on the long trip back from Plymouth. The Cup can help us in fact because Saturday's display was a great boost for our confidence."

Plymouth Argyle captain and former United skipper Mick Heathote admitted "We were lucky" after Saturday's match. The experienced defender was forced by injury to watch from the sidelines and added, "I thought we might have shaded the first half, without creating very much up front, but we were second best after the break, no doubt about it. We were happy to get away with the replay."

Ian Ashbee

United's defence looked extremely solid and capable with Ian Ashbee tucked inside on the right of three centre-backs, and the former Derby man - in for the suspended Marc Joseph - formed a good unit with the towering Colin Foster and Jamie Campbell. Ashbee has been criticised by fans when employed as a right wing-back but on Saturday he showed composure and good distribution skills, suggesting that Joseph will not just walk back into the team.

The veteran Foster was pleased with a defensive performace that restricted Plymouth to two chances, in the 5th and 91st minutes: "It was good to keep a clean sheet like that away against a higher division team. I believe we were the better side and that it can give us the boost we need in the League."

On Saturday morning the high-flying youth team were brought down to earth by Spurs, who inflicted a 1-0 home defeat, but youth team manager David Batch took some positive points from the performance: "Overall I am pleased with the way we played, in terms of our passing and possession, but in terms of actually winning the game they created better chances than us. I was reasonably pleased with our play -- technically we were very good -- but in the final third of the pitch we didn't create enough."

The draw for the second round of the F.A. Cup was made this afternoon and if Cambridge United can beat Plymouth Argyle in the first round replay on Tuesday 25th (7.45pm) they have been drawn at home against either Carshalton Athletic or Stevenage Borough.

United's youth team suffered a 1-0 home defeat in the South East Counties League yesterday. The visitors were Premiership side Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile striker Jamie Barnwell-Edinboro - currently on a month's loan at Conference side Rushden and Diamonds - scored a hattrick in their 4-1 win over Kidderminster Harriers yesterday.

United line-up: Barrett, Ashbee, Wilson, Chenery, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Preece, Kyd (Taylor 56), Butler, Beall.
Subs Not Used: Marshall, Matt Joseph, Rees, Benjamin.
Booked: Foster, Campbell, Beall, Preece.
Ref: R J Harris (Oxford).

Both sides are currently struggling for form in their respective divisions and contrived to produce a dreadful first half, not helped by some strange offside decisions. There was little to cheer for either set of supporters as the best scoring chances went begging. Martin Butler saw a header go inches wide and then wasted another opportunity when he received the ball just inside the box but delayed his shot too long, while Plymouth's best chance fell to another ex-United star Carlo Corazzin. The striker, fresh from World Cup duty with Canada, showed wonderful skill to beat two United defenders before slicing his shot wide.

After the break Argyle were just as bad but United raised their game to dominate for half an hour. Our best chances came during this spell with four scoring opportunities in a 12 minute spell - first Paul Wilson's 25-yard free-kick flashed through the defensive wall in the 56th minute, beating Sheffield but thudding against a post. Four minutes later a Colin Foster flick-on gave substitute John Taylor a great chance from close range, but the veteran striker mis-kicked the ball. However he made amends almost immediately by setting up Martin Butler for a header which produced a desperate save from Sheffield. By this stage the 100 or so long distance United supporters were out-singing nearly 5,000 anxious Argyle fans in huge, echoing Home Park, and United's best chance came when Jamie Campbell got to Paul Wilson's outswinging corner and powered in a header that was heart-breakingly scrambled off the goal-line.

The team showed a great willingness to battle for the ball and defended in numbers when required, and Jon Sheffield was definitely the busier of the two 'keepers. At the other end Scott Barrett had very little to do and Ian Ashbee looked very cultured on the right of the three central defenders. Argyle had one late chance to snatch the win in the first of the six minutes added on for stoppages, when Argyle were awarded a free kick directly in front of the goal, but Barlow's shot hit the wall and was thumped clear of the danger zone. United will be hoping for more of the same from Plymouth when they visit the Abbey Stadium for the replay on Tuesday 25th (7.45pm).

Michael Kyd picked up an injury and was replaced by John Taylor early in the second half - more details when they are available.   Match reports

Paul Wanless

For the second week in succession influential midfielder Paul Wanless faces a late fitness test before tomorrow's match. He will be joined by David Williamson who also has to prove his fitness before the FA Cup tie at Plymouth Argyle. Wanless was unable to train yesterday because of 'flu symptoms, while fellow midfielder Williamson is receiving intensive treatment for a bruised foot.

Roy McFarland was keen to shake up his under-achieving side and the midfield area has been causing him particular concern. He hinted earlier this week that player-coach David Preece will play, possibly in place of out-of-form skipper Jason Rees, and the manager will be keen to see Wanless and Williamson recover to give him options for the team selection. Wanless is especially valuable to the side with his powerful running and eye for vital goals.

McFarland told the CEN: "We are hoping they both show enough improvement to be able to travel to the West Country with us today. Then we can give them right up to the last minute before putting them through fitness tests. Paul has been ill for a couple of days, but it doesn't look like developing into proper flu. David got a stud in the top of a foot when he kicked somebody's boot in training."

However Argyle also have injury problems and will be without two recent recruits to their injury-hit squad: young West Ham loanee Kevin Hodges will not be allowed to play and striker Danny O'Hagan, an emergency call-up from non-League football, is Cup-tied. Five substitutes are allowed tomorrow and our hosts are expected to name two first-year professionals among their substitutes and may name assistant manager Kevin Blackwell as cover goalkeeper.

Plymouth Argyle (from): Sheffield, Billy, Littlejohn, Collins, Watton, Williams, Saunders, Barlow, Mauge, Corazzin, Jean, Ashton, Beswetherwick, Blackwell.

Cambridge United (from): Barrett, Ashbee, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wilson, Preece, Wanless, Hayes, Kyd, Butler, Taylor, Rees, Marshall, Matt Joseph, Beall, Youngs.

This will be the third time United have faced Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup and we lost the first two encounters at Home Park. In 1977 under Ron Atkinson - appointed today as manager of Sheffield Wednesday - United were knocked out in the second round, but won promotion that season. In 1988 Chris Turner's side lost 2-0 in the third round, so a win over a depleted Argyle side tomorrow would break United's FA Cup duck at Home Park and could potentially kick-start the season.

United will be greeted by three familiar faces in the Plymouth ranks: goalkeeper Jon Sheffield who joined the second division side this summer from Peterborough after being linked with a return to the Abbey, defender Mick Heathcote, and striker Carlo Corazzin who returns from World Cup qualifying after his Canadian side were knocked out by the USA last weekend.

Heathcote misses the game through injury but spoke fondly of his time at the Abbey Stadium, where he was a huge favourite with the fans. The 32-year-old joined United from Shrewsbury in 1991 for a then club-record fee of £150,000 and told the CEN that he was not keen to make the move to the South West four years later: "I thought I might end my playing career in Cambridge, I was settled there. But I'd worked hard to build my salary up to a certain level, and at 30 I couldn't sign a contract which, in effect, would make me worse off. But United had their financial problems. They couldn't pay what they didn't have, so I took the decision to move, even though it couldn't have been further from my home in the north-east."

Steve Finney completed his one month loan with Saturday's game at Macclesfield and he has returned to Swindon Town with a message for boss Steve McMahon. According to TEAMtalk Finney believes he is now the man to fill the void left by the departure of Wayne Allison to Huddersfield Town. McMahon has been unsuccessful in signing a replacement for Allison this week but Finney claims that he feels a lot sharper after his spell at United and is more than capable of replacing Allison alongside Chris Hay.

Finney scored twice for United in four full games and three substitute appearances, but the goals came in his first two games and after that his enthusiasm for the task at hand seemed to wane.

David Preece

Roy McFarland has hinted that he may recall player-coach David Preece for Saturday's FA Cup tie at second division Plymouth Argyle. The 34-year-old has not started the last six games while supporters have argued for a recall for the experienced former England 'B' midfielder.

A recent match programme featured Preece and the long hours of work involved as he assists McFarland with coaching and scouting, and he said at the start of the season that he felt his legs were no longer up to two games a week. However, with the team in a run of eleven games without a win and skipper Jason Rees the most unpopular man in the team among the supporters, a recall for Preece looks on the cards. It may also mean a place on the bench for the out-of-form Rees as one diminutive midfielder makes way for another.

Roy McFarland told the C.E.N. today: "It looks as though David will have to come into the picture now. Nothing is decided yet, but his experience could be what we need in a game like Plymouth."

The reserves gave away a 2-1 half-time lead to eventually lose 5-2 at home to a strong Northampton team in yesterday's Capital League game. On the bright side, defender Ben Chenery made his comeback from injury after he was knocked unconscious six weeks ago against Cardiff City. United's scorers were Trevor Benjamin and David Williamson.

Events on the other side of the Atlantic mean a former United star will probably be able to line up against his former club in Saturday's cup tie. In World Cup qualifying this week the United States won 3-0 to knock Canada out of the World Cup, thereby releasing Carlo Corazzin back to his club. The striker has been in good form for Argyle recently, scoring three goals in Argyle's three consecutive wins, and is no longer required for the meaningless qualifier against Costa Rica on Saturday.

Plymouth have allocated 1,300 places on the Home Park terraces for the match and entry will be pay-on-the-day, but there will be no seats available unless safety checks later this week allow Plymouth to re-open a section of their grandstand.

Michael Kyd

Striker Michael Kyd has his own solution for the recent run of eleven games without a win that has seen United plummet down the table. He told the Daily Mail: "I think we need to do some team bonding. We need to really work harder in training and and make sure that everyone is confident and knows their job."

United have suffered a two-month nightmare which has seen them plunge from first to 18th and on Saturday United went down 3-1 at League newcomers Macclesfield. Kyd said, "It is starting to set in now and you do wonder when that win will come, but I always think that if you keep at it, it will come right. It's not just a bad patch, it's a very long bad patch. I mean, eleven games without a win, with the personnel and the quality we have here it shouldn't be happening."

Paul Wanless has defended Roy McFarland after the United manager was barracked by fans during the 3-1 defeat at Macclesfield. There were chants of "McFarland out" among other comments from the 200 or so travelling supporters, but midfield dynamo Wanless responded, "Nobody was to blame apart from the 11 players on the pitch. We were awful, especially in the first half. That wasn't down to the manager. It took us too long to get into the game. It was very disappointing after the way we've played in some recent matches. I'd like to apologise to our supporters for the performance, and to the manager."

McFarland himself called the first half, in which United conceded two early goals, one of the worst displays of the season: "It was a very very poor 45 minutes. No football at all played by us, everything was just hit long. We were better in the second half, but still the quality of our passes into the box wasn't good enough. The pressure is on me to get the team out of this run and I accept that. We need one or two new faces to pull things around and we'll be doing all we can in the week ahead to make that happen. We have been searching for midfield players. It's an area where we need strengthening, and until we can get somebody we could carry on struggling I'm afraid."

McFarland believes it will be difficult to make any signings before Saturday's FA Cup tie at Plymouth, but he is aiming to have new players available for the home match against Brighton a week tomorrow. There was one change to the line-up from the Scunthorpe game, with unsettled right-back Matt Joseph singled out for the bad performance and replaced by Ian Ashbee - a decision queried by several supporters. McFarland said, "I thought Ash did all right, but it was disappointing we couldn't follow on from some very good spells in the previous couple of games."

Meanwhile, Saturday's FA Cup opponents are making the headlines through their injury crisis. On Saturday Plymouth Argyle had to field a Premiership loanee and a Sunday pub-team centre forward as they had only nine fit first-teamers, but they still managed to record their third successive win which took them to seventh from bottom in Division Two.

United line-up: Barrett, Ashbee (Beall 87'), Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees (Taylor 67'), Kyd (Finney 80'), Butler, Hayes.
Booked: Wanless 2' (foul)
Ref: Mr B. Coddington (Sheffield)

United got off to a nightmare start by conceding two early goals to a side who have struggled to find the net in recent games. Gardiner's free kick was curled around the wall and went in off the post, then two minutes later Power was given too much room by the defence and he scored with a shot from 20 yards. Skipper Jason Rees, currently the player most United fans love to hate, did little for his cause with wayward distribution which included two poor crosses sent sailing over the bar.

But whatever Roy McFarland said at half-time seemed to have done the trick as it was a different team that came out after the break, and United mounted attack after attack on the Silkmen goal. The pressure finally paid off with half an hour left when an Adie Hayes cross was met by Jamie Campbell's diving header, and the former Barnet man's first goal for United gave the U's a glimmer of hope that they could get something from the game. However there was no cutting edge to the attack with Michael Kyd still feeling his way back after his injury lay-off, and until Jason Rees was boo-ed off to be replaced by John Taylor there was no-one even to hold the ball up.

They continue to sweep forward and substitute Steve Finney came closest when he met a low cross but his shot spun wide, but unfortunately, and as we have seen before to our cost, gaps were left at the back. Macclesfield exploited the additional room to add a third when an 88th minute long clearance was met by Power and he finished at the second attempt after Barrett blocked his first shot.

United slide down to 17th place on 19 points while Peterboring and Notts County top the table with 33 apiece, both held to 1-1 draws at home this afternoon.

United travel to Macclesfield tomorrow for the second of three successive away games, with striker Michael Kyd and influential midfielder Paul Wanless facing fitness tests. Both have been unable to train since Tuesday's game at Scunthorpe when Kyd was kicked on the ankle in the 3-3 draw and Wanless, who scored the equaliser, suffered a 'deadleg'. Striker Steve Finney, still on loan from Swindon Town, would step up from the bench to replace Kyd while midfielder David Williamson is travelling as midfield cover, but Roy McFarland is hopeful that both will make it, saying,"The odds are on, rather than against them playing."

United are on a poor run of ten matches without a win and face a Macclesfield side who are unbeaten at home since winning promotion from the Vauxhall Conference last season. However McFarland believes that the result will be determined mainly by the way his side performs: "We've proved we can play as well as any team in this division," he said. "We can get goals. We just have to learn how to hold a lead. Macclesfield are the League new boys. We know they are a tough team at home and we'll have to match their enthusiasm."

United squad: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wilson, Rees, Wanless, Hayes, Kyd, Butler, Finney, Taylor, Beall, Williamson.

Roy McFarland

McFarland has spoken to the C.E.N. as he approaches the end of his first year in charge at the Abbey Stadium, and he feels that the job is going better than the League position of 15th suggests. "I believe we've seen in the last few matches we aren't far away from being a very effective team in this division," he commented.

"We matched Notts County, who are up at the top, on their own ground, and outplayed Torquay and Scunthorpe for the first hour in each game. I know we only picked up a couple of points, but I don't think it's a huge step from here for us to be winning games. In a manager's first year at a club there's usually a fair turnaround of players, and that's what happened at United. We had to get more experience into the squad, and because of our financial position it was inevitable some of the best people would have to be sold. We are at the stage now where we need strengthening in a couple of positions -- something which was emphasised at Scunthorpe -- and it's down to me to do that despite the restraints which I was well aware of when I took the job."

Neither is he discouraged by a record of only eleven wins out of 44 games in charge, stating, "I'm still very keen. I believe three years is the period a manager needs if he is going to bring success to a club, and at a third of the way through I can see signs that we are moving in the right direction. Although we have dropped down the table during this recent run we haven't seen anything in the division to scare us. Nobody has given us a beating, and we shouldn't forget how close we were to knocking West Bromwich Albion out of the Coca-Cola Cup. We are creating a lot of chances, we are getting into the lead in games, but we have to work now on staying in control once we get in front."

'Mental toughness' is something McFarland has called for from his players on previous occasions and it looks as if a good dose of that is required to break out of this current run and earn a confidence-boosting win somewhere.

Roy McFarland was exasperated by last night's performance and admits that there should be enough experience in the side to hold on to a two goal lead. After watching his side fight back to snatch a 3-3 draw the manager commented, "We think that every time we have the ball we have to try to go and get a goal. Then we leave ourselves wide open."

Last night's equalising hero was the tireless Paul Wanless and he warned, "We'll hammer six past somebody soon."

Peterboring went back to the top of Division Three after last night's games but they were booed off the pitch following last night's 1-1 draw with lowly Shrewsbury. The visitors goal came from former Cambridge United striker Devon White.

United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees, Kyd (Finney 75'), Butler, Hayes (Beall 67').
Sub not used: Taylor
Ref: tba

Paul Wilson returned to Glanford Park to open the scoring in the ninth minute with a cracking free-kick from over 40 yards, the ball looking destined to fly over the crossbar until it dipped wickedly to drop over the 'keeper. Then Martin Butler provided a cool finish in the 17th minute to score for the second game in succession. It all changed after the break and the Iron took a 3-2 lead in the second half. McFarland sent on 'Billy' Beall to replace Adie Hayes in midfield, then with fifteen minutes to go Michael Kyd was withdrawn for the fresh legs of Steve Finney. Just seconds later a brave header from the dependable Paul Wanless levelled the scores but even then both sides had late chances to take all the points.

Scott Barrett made up for the error which gifted the home side their third goal by making a vital 84th minute save from John Eyre, and a few minutes after scoring the equaliser Paul Wanless saw his header bounce off the crossbar. Then in the dying minutes both Martin Butler and Steve Finney had excellent chances to snatch back the lead but squandered them.

Another game without a win, but it is another point and the team have not only rediscovered the goal touch, but fought their way back into a game after falling needlessly behind.

Roy McFarland warned the players to keep their nerves and their heads tonight as they attempt to end their long run without a win in a tricky match. Before the game at Scunthorpe he said, "The temptation is to be a bit headstrong to try to get that win we know we all need, but we have a better chance of getting it if we play the kind of football which put us in control against Torquay on Saturday. We created a lot of chances, but didn't put them away. Apart from that, there wasn't much wrong with our game.

"I don't intend to do anything like starting tonight's match with an extra forward, and the players also have to keep calm and keep their discipline. Scunthorpe are a good team with a bit of character. They showed that by coming back from 3-0 down to draw at Colchester on Friday. They do let in goals though, so there should be openings for us."

Roy McFarland has confirmed that Cardiff City have enquired about the availability of defender Matt Joseph, although they have not made an firm offer: "It's a routine thing in the game, and there's been no follow up yet."

While confirming Kenny Hibbitt had spoken to him about the out-of-contract defender, McFarland admitted he had little hope of persuading Joseph to sign a new long-term contract. "Matt knows he can join any other club without a fee being paid at the end of the season under the new over 24's ruling, so he's probably quite happy at the moment to carry on with a week-to-week contract and keep his options open."

The manager is refusing to panic over the recent run of form that has seen United without a win for nine matches, and with three tough away matches coming up. After watching his side lose the lead on Saturday against Torquay he said, "I think we need fine tuning rather than major surgery. We made enough chances against Torquay to have been 4-0 up before they got their penalty. Michael Kyd is still half a yard off the pace after his knee injury, but should soon be back to first team fitness."

United now go on their travels to face Scunthorpe tomorrow and League-newcomers Macclesfield on Saturday, then there is the long trek to second division Plymouth for the F.A. Cup the following weekend. Captain Jason Rees admitted, "We know we are under pressure. If we were on a better run a couple of away draws would be good results, but the fans are looking for us to get a win now, and we are well aware that's what we need."

United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Wilson, Marc Joseph, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Rees, Kyd (Finney 82'), Butler, Hayes.
Subs not used: Taylor, Beall.
Booked: Marc Joseph (38' and 71', fouls), Wilson (92' foul)
Ref: Mr S.G. Bennett (Redhill)

United's run of games without a win was extended to nine this afternoon, but due more to eccentric refereeing than Torquay United's intervention.

Scott Barrett was restored to the number shirt after missing the last two games with an infected elbow, Michael Ktd continued his comeback in attack but Michael Rodosthenous missed outwith 'flu. The U's dominated the first half and fully deserved the half time lead, while Torquay rarely threatened. The goal came from a surging run by Paul Wilson who delivered a deep cross into the area, Paul Wanless rose to head the ball back and Martin Butler stooped to nod home. United created a number of good chances while the defence looked sound and restricted the fit-again Scott Barrett to a couple of saves.

Torquay improved slightly after the break but United looked comfortably in charge until the intervention of referee Mr Bennett. Those missed chances began to look very costly when first, after 71 minutes, he issued Marc Joseph with his second yellow card for another innocuous-looking challenge. His decision looked particularly bizarre given the number of times a Torquay defender clattered into the back of Martin Butler. Then two minutes later he gave a dubious penalty for handball when Scott Barrett was fouled and Paul Wilson appeared to fall on the ball in the area.

The Torquay players could barely believe their luck while United supporters will be wondering how on earth Mr Bennett claimed to see the incident, but Gibbs stepped up to give Barrett no chance from the spot and allow Torquay take an undeserved share of the points.

The point saw United rise one position to 14th in the table. Meanwhile at the top of the table, morning leaders P*sh and third placed Exeter City drew 0-0 to allow Notts County to go top after their 2-1 win at Barnet.