The reserves lost 3-2 at Barnet this afternoon with a side featuring three trialists. Craig Dean is an unattached defender who was at the National School at Lilleshall and was on Manchester United's books for four years, Daniel Grieves is a former Watford midfielder currently unattached to any club and playing his third game for our reserves, and John Kennedy is an Ipswich right-back playing his second trial game. On the bench was Demba Traore, a teenage Swedish striker who bears a striking resemblance to Trevor Benjamin and even plays a lot like the big man. He played for the youth team earlier this month.

United's goals were scored by Daniel Chillingworth and Jamie Cassidy. Full report below.

Barnet reserves: Bossu, Gledhill, Sawyers, Pluck, Chapman, Wilson (c), Canoville, Bell, Ansell, Strevens, Omoyinmi

Cambridge United reserves: James Mercer, Ben Chenery, Craig Dean (Darren Howe), John Kennedy, Adam Tann, Daniel Grieves, David Bridges (Leighton Hill), Jamie Cassidy, Daniel Chillingworth, Zema Abbey, John Hansen (Alex Revell).
Subs not used: Demba Traore, Duncan Lockhart.

I'm grateful to Mark Slater for writing this report for Moosenet and permitting it to be reproduced on U's Net:

Att: about 50, (away 1)

United lined up with a 4-4-2 formation with Chenery at centre-half and Tann at right back and started the match kicking down the "famous" Underhill slope. The only Barnet players I had heard of were Paul Wilson and Emmanuel Omoyinmi, the guy who caused the West Ham v Aston Villa game to be replayed. After only 8 minutes Chillingworth shrugged off his marker on the edge of the box and rifled a low shot into the bottom corner. Direct from the re-start Barnet attacked down the left, Dean fell over allowing an easy cross into the area where the forward turned and scored very easily.

After 24 minutes a high hopeful ball into the box resulted in Abbey and the keeper challenging for the high ball, the keeper couldn't hold it and it fell nicely for Cassidy to ram home. Many referees (including Mr Pearson from last night) would have given a foul on the keeper. A few minutes later Abbey burst into the area, tried to round the keeper and went down in a heap to cries for a penalty. I couldn't resist shouting to Shaggy that Abbey was nearly as good as diving as he!

After 33 minutes another defensive error, I think it was Chenery who fell over this time, allowed a cross into the box where the chance was easily converted. Just before half-time another Barnet forward got goal-side of the defence and a good finish from the edge of the box put them 3-2 up.

Surprisingly there was no scoring in the second half where the poor Dean was replaced by Darren Howe, with Tann moved to left back. We switched to 4-3-3 with the withdrawal of Hanson midway through the half but that had little effect (as usual?). Our best chances fell to Hanson who volleyed wide when he had an open goal, Cassidy's drive from the edge of the box which was tipped over by their keeper and several half-chances from Chillingworth and Revell.

Despite these Barnet probably just about deserved a single goal victory as they had several good chances themselves.

I was impressed once again by Adam Tann, although left-back isn't his ideal position he defended well and when pushed up for corners did well, with one header cleared off the line in the first half. Greaves looked fairly composed on the ball and has similarities with Craig Middleton, although that may be more to do with his looks than his ability but he faded in the second half. The substitutes Leighton Hill and Alex Revell looked useful as did David Bridges prior to his substitution and Zema Abbey showed some good touches although his ball control was woeful at times.

The biggest disappointments had to be John Hanson who had a very quiet game, Ben Chenery who should really be bossing things with his experience at this level and the two full backs John Kennedy and Craig Dean. No sign of Roy McFarland at the match as I guess he is frantically trying to sign new players but Ian Ashbee was there and also a certain Mr Still in the stands. It was also interesting to see the different management styles, their manager spent the whole game encouraging & ordering their players whilst Shaggy was pretty quiet apart from shouting at the referee (several times!).