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Good and bad news from the treatment room at The Abbey: Tony Richards, forced out of the last two games by an Achilles injury, may also miss Saturday's trip to Hull. However, David Preece took a major step on the comeback trail when he completed 45 minutes today for the reserves against a strong Gillingham side. He came off at half-time when the U's were leading 3-0, but by full-time the score was 7-5 - sounds like quite a match! He is now in contention for Saturday's trip to Hull, where he could face on-loan United striker Robbie Turner.
Cambridge United ended a run of three games without a win by scrambling the winner in a dull game at Edgar Street. United looked promising in the first half and Paul Wanless had a goal ruled out, but the second half saw our attack frustrated by Hereford's offside trap and the defence let off by Hereford's ineffective forwards.
Micah Hyde has been disappointing by his own high standards in the last couple of games but it was he who broke the deadlock by bundling home the only goal in the 77th minute. The goal came against the run of play and Hereford responded by sending on another forward, but despite five minutes of extra time Cambridge hung on to the three points to move back into second place in the table. Fulham won again to stay seven points clear at the top.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Wanless, Craddock, Raynor, Hayes, Hyde, McGleish, Barnwell, Beall.
Subs not used: Hay, Kyd, Palmer.
Booked: Barnwell 18 (dissent), Hyde 90 (dissent)
In the wake of Saturday's disappointing home defeat, United manager Tommy Taylor feels our FA Cup draw against Welling offers "a great chance to make progress."
"These teams can be very dangerous in the Cup," he said, "but obviously it's a lot better than last year when we had to play Swindon away. We are at home and if we produce our best form we'll get through."
Looking ahead to tomorrow's league match at Hereford there is a slim chance that David Preece may make his comeback, but a more realistic target for the veteran midfielder is Saturday's game at Hull.
In this afternoon's F.A. Cup draw we were drawn at home to non-league Welling United. The match will be played on Saturday 16th November.
Tony Richards missed last night's defeat with Achilles tendon trouble and was due to see a specialist yesterday. He has enjoyed a flying start to the season and his goals have been a major factor in our successful start to the campaign.
The effect at the top of the table of our defeat on Friday was limited by other results today. Leaders Fulham (34 points) could only manage a goal-less draw at bottom club Brighton and second-placed Wigan (29) lost their first home game of the season to Hull so stay only one point ahead of us. Of the chasing clubs, Carlisle (27) moved to within a point of United with a 0-0 draw at Barnet while Scarborough and Torquay (both 26) recorded home wins to move a point behind the Cumbrian side.
In front of the biggest crowd at The Abbey this season, and under a full moon United turned in a sloppy and lack-lustre performance and slipped to only the second home defeat. Rovers were an organised but unremarkable side, but they counter-attacked well and defended solidly to record their first away win for 15 matches, while the United players conspired to produce a variety of individual errors.
In a game marred by United's slack marking, misplaced passes and missed chances, the only goal was produced in the 67th minute when the unmarked Simon Ireland crossed from the right for the similarly unmarked John Schofield to powerfully head home. After that neither goalkeeper was called upon until the 92nd minute when a good free-kick from Danny Granville was stopped by 'keeper O'Connor's foot.
Afterwards a disappointed Granville admitted, "It didn't seem to go for us tonight. They didn't really threaten, they just hit us on the break. Hopefully we can pick ourselves up."
Looking ahead to Tuesday's trip to Hereford he said, "They beat us in the cup so we know what we've got to do. We'll go there fired up."
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Vowden (Hay 68), Craddock, Raynor (Kyd 84), Hayes, Hyde, McGleish, Barnwell, Beall.
Sub not used: Wanless.
Booked: Barnwell 53 (foul)
David Preece has confirmed he could be back in action within a fortnight. The experienced ex-Derby and Luton midfielder was due to restart training yesterday after breaking his leg on his debut seven weeks ago.
"The fracture has healed," he said. "Physio Ken Steggles has helped me rebuild the muscles and I'm ready to get going again. I'll be disappointed if I'm not fit enough for League football in 10 days, but I won't grumble if the side are doing so well that I'll have to struggle to get in."
The first round of the revamped Auto Windscreens Shield took place this morning and Cambridge United were drawn at home to East Anglian neighbours Colchester. The match will take place on December 10 and is just ten days before the clubs meet in the third division at Layer Road. Local rivals Peterboring were one of eight clubs in the southern section given a first round bye in the competition which now has a new knockout format instead of the unpopular home-and-away opening group matches.
Two players have left The Abbey: Xabier San Miguel has returned to Spain and Jon Rattle, who had a spell in Australia with Michael Kyd, has not had his contract renewed and has joined Baldock Town.
Goalkeeper Scott Barrett has made a quicker than expected return from injury and looks set to play against Doncaster Rovers on Friday evening. It was originally feared that a twisted ankle would keep the Cambridge United goalkeeper out for a least one more match. United boss Tommy Taylor had to blood 18-year-old youth team rookie Shaun Marshall in the 2-2 draw with Rochdale.
Manager Tommy Taylor has steered up-for-sale United into the promotion race and is keen to settle his own future at the club, with his current contract expiring at the end of December. However chairman Reg Smart seemed to be saying that an agreement was close when he said, "We just about came to an agreement with Tommy after Saturday's match. His contract will be extended to the end of the season, with bonuses, such as promotion added. But the way I see it he is on an indefinite contract."
Mr Smart denied that there had been any approach from managerless Cardiff City, despite the United manager's name appearing in the South Wales press as one of the possible targets.
"No-one has been in contact with me. I believe Tommy is very happy at United and is even thinking about buying a house in this area."
Taylor's comment was, "It's not right to say an agreement has been reached on a new contract. Nothing has been offered yet which I see as acceptable. There have been some talks, but it's getting to the point where something needs to be sorted out."
There have been persistent rumours that midfielder David Preece is poised to take over in a player-manager role, rumours which have been denied several times by the chairman. The rumours are fuelled by the fact Taylor and his assistant Paul Clark have contracts which run out at Christmas, whereas Preece, who answered to the title player/coach on Anglia TV's Kick Off programme on Sunday, is on a new three year contract.
Preece, injured on his U's debut early last month, is hoping to return to training later this week and hinted on TV that he may be available for next Tuesday's match at Hereford or the weekend game at Hull.
Meanwhile, goal king Scott McGleish, who powered home the late equaliser on Saturday, may officially be a United player by the end of the week. Talks are ongoing between United and the P*sh and a deal is hopefully close to completion. McGleish has scored five times in seven games so far and is already a great crowd favourite.
Instead of Peter Shilton between the posts, United fielded 18-year-old rookie Shaun Marshall and twice fought back from behind to snatch a point, although neither goal can be attributed to the young goalkeeper. United had a choice between Marshall and 20 year-old Mark Statham from Wigan, and after a morning work-out opted to give their YTS trainee his first-team debut.
As pointed out by Mark Johnson on the Abbey Update there was a strange symmetry in the way the goals arrived. Our defence looked strangely unsettled, possibly because of the debutant 'keeper, and Rochdale took the lead in the 27th minute when Mark Stuart took a free-kick on the edge of the area, bending the ball over the wall and beyond Marshall's reach. Micah Hyde replied two minutes from half-time when he scrambled in the equaliser at the far post following a good run by Tony Richards.
United played some attractive football but their good approach work often ran into the massed Rochdale defence and the Lancashire side went ahead again in the 27th minute of the second half. Some slack marking in the United defence allowed Robbie Painter to run onto the ball, beating the offside trap, and slot home.
Tommy Taylor threw on attackers Michael Kyd and Darren Hay as the half wore on and the equaliser came again with just two minutes to go. Scott McGleish connected with another Tony Richards cross to grab the point that keeps us in third place. Fulham kept up their winning streak to open a six point gap between us, with Wigan four points behind the London side.
Meanwhile, the PFA have agreed to delay announcing the result of the players' strike ballot in the wake of an new offer from the Football League. The vote is believed to show a huge majority in support of action if the League do not maintain the current payment to the union of 10 per cent of TV monies.
United line-up: Marshall, Matt Joseph, Granville, Thompson (Hay 74), Craddock, Raynor, Richards, Hyde, McGleish, Wanless (Kyd 61), Beall.
Sub not used: Palmer.
Booked: Craddock 57 (dissent) Hyde 86 (foul)
How things can change in a few hours! At lunchtime I was writing that former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton had signed for Cambridge United on non-contract terms as cover for Scott Barrett.
In view of Scottie's recent excellent form this came as a surprise until it emerged that he has an ankle injury. Shilton, who has recently been on the books at Premiership clubs Coventry City and West Ham, is 47 and needs just four more games to reach a landmark 1000 senior appearances. He was expected to record at least two more in United's colours, starting at home against Rochdale tomorrow and possibly at the Abbey again on Friday when we face Doncaster Rovers.
But everything changed when West Ham reserve 'keeper Steve Mautone injured himself in training and Shilton is now required on the bench for the Hammers' clash with Leicester.
Disappointed club secretary Steve Greenall said, "West Ham scrapped it eight minutes before the deadline."
It remains to be seen whether 18 year old Shaun Marshall will get his chance or midfielder Paul Wanless will be called upon to repeat his heroics of last season's final game. Wanless, who was a goalie in his youth, stepped in for the injured Barrett to play 80 odd minutes and kept a clean sheet.
Other team news: Striker Darran Hay will be available again after serving a one-match suspension on Tuesday and our other on-loan striker Scott McGleish may feature. This is good news as Tony Richards appeared to have lost his eye for goal at Fulham while youngster Michael Kyd is clearly short of match fitness at present.
Following last night's 3-0 defeat at Fulham, Tommy Taylor predicts that we will still finish above the Londoners. He does not accept the superiority of Fulham, who were 3-0 up at half-time in last night's match.
"We gave them two goals in the first half an hour," he said. "Dave Thompson had a great season up to this game, but unfortunately he was at fault for them both.
Striker Robbie Turner has joined Third Division rivals Hull City on loan and scored both goals in their 3-2 defeat at Scarborough.
United's prospects of going top of the table were dashed as early as the third minute when Dave Thompson left Mike Conroy unmarked to put The Cottagers ahead. Strong and pacy Fulham extended their lead on 33 minutes when Thompson lost the ball just inside his own half and Conroy pounced to extend the lead. The match was over as a contest eleven minutes later when Thompson, already booked on 26 for a foul, was harshly adjudged to have pushed Fulham's Blake in the area and received his marching orders. Blake scored from the subsequent spot-kick to leave the U's with an impossible task.
Michael Kyd made way for Jamie Barnwell at half-time and United battled bravely but in vain to get something from the match. Mr Taylor evened things up by dismissing Fulham's Terry Angus on 69 - for an apparently innocuous challenge on Tony Richards - but any dreams of the top spot were long dead. Fulham made attack after attack and the U's defence did well to keep the scoreline unchanged, while Scott Barrett had another good game.
Elsewhere: Wigan have moved above us into second place after their one goal victory at Mansfield, but Carlisle went down by the odd goal in three in an upset at Exeter and remain a point behind us in fourth. Our last opponents, Brighton, lost 1-0 and saw their fans leave the ground with 15 minutes to go to set off fireworks and protest against the board.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Thompson, Craddock, Raynor, Richards, Hyde, Kyd (Barnwell 46), Wanless, Beall.
Subs not used: Hayes, Palmer.
Booked: Thompson 26, 44 (both fouls); Richards 48 (foul); Raynor 60 (dissent).
While Kyd is in the reckoning for a place in tomorrow's table-topping clash at Fulham, new loan signing Darran Hay will not feature. The former United striker played as a second half substitute in Saturday's 2-1 victory at Brighton, but he is suspended from the next match because of a sending-off two weeks ago.
This was a game which demonstrated the contrast in fortunes at opposite ends of the table: troubled Brighton probably deserved more from their battling performance and only a top-class display from Scott Barrett denied them. There was no trouble from the Brighton fans and the match went ahead without interruption, although there was an hour long demonstration after the match had finished.
In the absence of the injured Scott McGleish there was a surprise inclusion in the team. Michael Kyd, freshly returned from a loan spell in Australia, started up front and he marked his return with the opening goal after 21 minutes. It began with Tony Richards who hit a pass down the middle, Paul Raynor stepped over the ball, allowing it to run into the box and Kyd held off a defender in a powerful run to blast a shot past Nicky Rust from 12 yards. It was another breakaway move after a Brighton corner which saw Richards extend the lead after 43 minutes. Kyd whipped a long pass downfield where Raynor held it up until Richards, who had galloped from the edge of his own box, ran on to his perfect pass, bore down on Rust and slammed a shot past his groping left hand. But that was where United's dominance ended.
Kyd was substituted at half-time - presumably feeling the after-effects of flying halfway round the world this week - but his replacement was an even bigger surprise. Striker Darren Hay, who was allowed to leave the Abbey for a 'nominal' fee to join Woking, trotted out to replace the youngster. Hay, whose record for the Conference side is prolific, is apparently on loan and it will be interesting to see if he can continue his scoring feats in the Third Division.
Despite his introduction, it was all Brighton in the second half and the United goalmouth resembled a battlefield as we came under heavy attack by Brighton. Only an excellent display from Barrett and the improving Jody Craddock prevented them from adding to Stuart Storer's goal five minutes after the re-start, and we can count ourselves very lucky to have come away with three points.
Looking ahead to Tuesday's "six-pointer" Scott Barrett said, "We're feeling confident after six in a row."
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Thompson, Craddock, Raynor, Richards, Hyde (Wanless 76), Kyd (Hay 46), Barnwell (Palmer 54), Beall.
Booked: Hyde, 4 mins (foul)
Tomorrow we play at troubled Brighton and Tommy Taylor has issued instructions to the team in the event of any trouble.
"Get off as quickly as possible if there's a pitch invasion. Don't react to anything from the crowd and try to ignore any distraction while the game is going on."
United are expecting trouble at the Goldstone Ground after receiving a warning about demonstrations from Brighton supporters' club. The fans have been waging an increasingly bitter campaign for six months against their club's directors and there has been trouble at recent matches. The Sussex side will be homeless next season after the sale of their ground.
It is rumoured that a deal has been reached between Tommy Taylor and Peterboring's Barry Fry over striker Scott McGleish, although he will not be fit to play tomorrow.
Further to yesterday's report, Cambridge City chairman Denis Rolph has not ruled out ground-sharing with Cambridge United, but he stressed it was very unlikely because he was not convinced it was in his club's interests. The scheme gets a firm thumbs down from City fans who want no part of a such a deal, despite backing for Smart from his own fans.
City Supporters Club chairman Terry Dunn said, "It seems strange that Reg Smart has come up with the ground-sharing idea shortly after he put United up for sale. I agree with Denis Rolph. City would be swallowed up and lose their identity. Besides, back in the early Eighties, when City were almost bankrupt and United were riding high, nobody mentioned ground sharing to get City out of the mess."
Tommy Taylor is working miracles as Cambridge boss - but he could soon be out of a job.
The former West Ham defender has yet to be offered a new contract, and his current 18 month deal runs out in December. The Cambridge board wants to promote former Luton favourite David Preece - who arrived at the Abbey Stadium as a player in the summer - into the managers seat.
Yet boss Taylor has propelled an inexperienced team, put together on a shoestring budget, into the promotion hunt.
HELPS
And his duties do not stop there. Taylor's home doubles as digs for some of the young players - and he even helps wife Pat to cook their meals! But while Paul Raynor's strike on 37 minutes stretched fourth-placed Cambridge's winning run to five games, the news got no better for Taylor afterwards. He admitted:
"I still haven't heard a thing from the board." The club, losing £1,000 a day and £750,000 in debt, are up for sale. Company secretary Steve Greenall said:
"Cambridge United need a Father Christmas. We have hung up our stocking and there are mince pies and sherry at the foot of the chimney. But Santa hasn't yet dropped through the soot."
Hartlepool boss Keith Houchen was fuming with the officials. He stormed:
"They must have met up before the game and said 'Hartlepool are in the top 10 and we can't have that'. I felt we should have had two penalties."
Chairman Reg Smart described the report as "Absolute rubbish" and added, "I did speak to a reporter from The Sun, but David Preece's name never came up."
Also today, Mr Smart appealed to his City counterpart Denis Rolph not to rule out the option of ground-sharing in a new stadium.
"I was very surprised to read Mr Rolph's very negative comments in the News," he said. "I hope he reconsiders, because if we can relocate, it would be a tremendous opportunity for Cambridge City as well as United."
Finally, our former goalkeeper Jon Sheffield is among 14 players transfer-listed by Peterboring. Barry Fry has put his whole reserve team on the transfer list to prune his massive 28-man squad, and that includes players with first team experience -- Sheffield, Sean Farrell and Carl Griffiths, last season's record signing.
Fry has been openly critical of Sheffield's performances recently.
Meanwhile Tommy Taylor appealed for patience from the fans who "came home" to the Abbey Stadium on Saturday. There were an extra 900 people through the turnstiles over the previous home fixture and they saw the U's make it five wins in a row despite a poor second half.
"Stick with us," said the manager. "We don't always fall asleep in the second half."
News of United's recent performances has spread and an extra 900 bodies came through the turnstiles to see Paul Raynor's powerful 37th minute drive make the difference as Hartlepool did their best to smother us. The afternoon took a turn for the worse ten minutes from time as Scott McGleish was stretchered off for the second time in his loan spell, and Hartlepool threw everything at Scott Barrett's goal. Mark Cooper had his effort ruled offside and they were further denied by the flag and bad finishing. United held on for their fifth win in a row and retain fourth place in the table, just a point off the leaders.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph, Granville, Thompson, Craddock, Raynor (Hayes 68), Richards, Hyde, McGleish (Benjamin 79), Barnwell, Beall.
Sub not used: Wanless.
"If Peterborough don't take that I don't know what they will take," Taylor added. He stressed that the offer exceeds the £25,000 that is due from Peterboring in appearance-linked money for Jon Sheffield, which underlines the efforts United are making to secure McGleish's services.
Regarding Preston North End's attempts to sign Jody Craddock, Taylor revealed that the club have turned down a request for the defender to have a trial period at Deepdale.
"If they don't know what he can do by now then they shouldn't be watching him," he complained. "If he does move to a big club then he's going to cost big money and he's going to be earning big money, which he deserves."
When asked, Taylor confirmed that the United board have yet to begin discussions with him about renewing his contract. The current deal expires in December, but he added that he was not concerned from a personal viewpoint, only for his family. Another win tomorrow, against visiting Hartlepool, can only help Tommy's cause.
"He's been training with us this week. He's a natural goalscorer and has shaped up well," said Tommy Taylor. "He's a non-contract player at Crewe, but I can't say at the moment whether we will be able to take him on."
Jon Sheffield made his 71st appearance for P*sh at the weekend, thereby triggering a further payment to the U's of £25,000. There is speculation that this may be used to pay for Scott McGleish, who is currently on loan at the Abbey and banging in goals at a great rate. All supporters will join me in hoping that this is the case, but presumably our friendly Bank manager would have to give his agreement.
"We are heading for a £350,000 loss on the year," he said. "I feel sorry for the loyal fans, but we might have to sell soon unless we get the response we need from the Cambridge public."
He was referring to the disappointing attendance for Tuesday night's match of just over 2,500, despite the club's excellent current form and comfortable fourth place in the table. Meanwhile some of the club's prospective purchasers were believed to have witnessed our 5-2 victory.
Well, not tonight! In a thoroughly entertaining and well-referee'd match both sides saw plenty of chances. Darlington looked a good side on the attack but failed too often to find the killer touch while United showed no such failing in our highest scoring match this season.
Darlington drew first blood with a Naylor goal in the 28th minute but Micah Hyde levelled the score ten minutes later from the penalty spot after Tony Richards was felled in the area. Richards seized upon a fluffed clearance to put the U's in the lead on the stroke of half-time, always a good time to take the lead. The second half saw the unmarked Scott McGleish (55) add to his goals tally when he headed home a cross from the impressive Richards, and Dave Thompson seemed to have settled matters in the 73rd minute when he met Paul Raynor's corner with a powerful header. A late flurry saw U's fifth arrive when Billy Beall's 82nd minute cross was deflected in by Darlo's Simon Shaw (his first kick of the game!), then two minutes later Darren Roberts beat Scott Barrett with a late consolation goal for the visitors.
United could have had a couple more in the dying minutes but secured fourth place in the division and gave themselves a breathing space over the chasing pack with this handsome victory.
United line-up: Barrett, Matt Joseph (Benjamin 76), Granville, Thompson, Craddock, Raynor, Richards, Hyde, McGleish (Hayes 87), Barnwell, Beall.
Sub not used: Wanless