Hot off the press: Andrew Bennetts entertaining view of yesterdays proceedings... Good Morning Us fans! :-) Needham Market 0, Us 1 - Take the weather with you We live in litigious times, when increasing numbers of shadowy companies line up to squeeze compensation from anyone who has caused us any sort of inconvenience, for a cut of the cash of course. After today’s windswept drenching at Needham Market, I propose a new organisation called “Wrong Weather Wonga” to punish weather forecasters who get it wrong at the cost of discomfort for those who trust that they know what they are talking about. It could advertise on television using a cartoon character called “Wet Dog” voiced by Joe Pasquale who battles a bullying weather man played by Brian Blessed. All the indications today were that it would be a pleasant day in Suffolk with cloud and occasional sunny periods. Then the heavens opened and, fanned by a blustery wind, the best part of 1,200 United supporters was drenched with nowhere to shelter at the exposed Bloomfields ground. Apart from that it was a pretty enjoyable day as United began their FA Cup campaign in the Fourth Qualifying Round a short drive down the A14 in Suffolk. United had never met Needham Market in first team combat before, although the clubs’ Under-18 teams met in the FA Youth Cup this season and CRC competed with them for several seasons in the Eastern Counties League, as well as losing to them in the FA Vase, before the Marketeers gained promotion to the Isthmian League in 2010, where they have flourished ever since. We have visited some fairly shambolic clubs in our non-League adventures since 2005, but everything about Needham Market and their Bloomfields home oozed professionalism. Today’s attendance of 1,784 was the largest in the club’s history, but one gained the immediate impression that they had prepared thoroughly and efficiently, and everything about the day went smoothly, aided by the hosts’ unfailingly pleasant and cheerful volunteer staff. The ground is located on the outskirts of the small, picturesque town and is approached via a leafy driveway. Those cars which had not availed themselves of street parking or the free car parks a few minutes’ walk away were directed to the full-size practice pitch which adjoined the main stadium. Many supporters gathered in their spacious bar, and there was an outdoor area set aside as well, while hot food could be obtained from an outlet next door or a van halfway up one side of the pitch, whose generously proportioned burgers were classified with the titles “Heart Attack,” “Triple Bypass” and “Quadzilla.” Bloomfields possesses one modest seated stand on one side with two covered areas along the other, while the rest of the fans gathered on unterraced hard standing all around the pitch. An excellent full-colour programme was available for £2 which revealed that the club numbers several ex-pros among its backroom staff, including such familiar names as Steve Foley, Danny Bloomfield and Kevin Horlock. There were also some familiar faces in their team, including two ex-U’s in Jamie Guy and Darryl Coakley plus Ian Westlake (ex-Ipswich) and captain Kem Izzet, who spent 12 years with Colchester United. They lined up in red shirts with white sleeves, a la Arsenal, and white shorts, while United sported their change strip of light and dark blue. United line-up: Maxwell; Hughes, Bonner, Coulson, Taylor; Donaldson, Berry, Champion, Dunk; Appiah, Sam-Yorke On the bench: Norris, McAuley, Miller, Spillane, Austin, Arnold, Cunnington Richard Money made six changes from the side which defeated Salisbury a week ago, but such is the strength of the squad that the team did not seem particularly weakened, and Tom Bonner and Ryan Donaldson were welcomed back from injury after gaps of fifteen and six games respectively; the FA Cup rules which allow seven substitutes to be named made for a very strong bench indeed. Bonner wore the captain’s armband. A blustery wind was blowing and the pitch was bumpy and uneven, but the main factor in a mediocre start by United was the home team, which chased and harried tirelessly to defy the three-level gulf between the clubs. There was not a gap to be found around the pitch and a few people were advised via the tannoy to get off the roof of the container behind one end of the pitch, which they did eventually. If there had been any accommodating trees overlooking the ground, no doubt those would have been full of precarious daredevils as well. Needham played a pleasing passing game while United seemed intent on playing it more direct, knocking the ball over the top for Delano Sam-Yorke and Kwesi Appiah to chase with little accuracy or effect. The exception was a Liam Hughes ball on the quarter hour which Appiah loped onto and fired a tremendous shot from the right channel which cannoned off the crossbar and away. United’s flow was not helped by starting with Donaldson on the left and Harrison Dunk on the right, both men predictably cutting inside onto their stronger feet rather than creating any danger down the flanks, and thankfully they switched halfway through the first 45, after which they both looked more at ease. Dunk ran through and had a right-footed shot (he can use it) well saved by keeper James Shea, a 22-year-old who was released by Arsenal in the summer after sporting squad number 60 on the bench for one Champions League match, which shows how far down the pecking order he was there. There was a long stoppage when centre-back Lee Townrow came off worse in a collision with Hughes, who is it seems made of concrete, and he needed attention from two gents off the bench before he could resume with his head swaddled in a bandage and a fresh shirt bearing the number 13. Unlucky for some. Donaldson then drew a fine save from Shea when he curled a free-kick over the wall which was heading just under the bar until tipped one-handed over the top. Soon afterwards the rain started and gave many an unprepared supporter a soaking; my clothing will get over it but my hairstyle will need to undergo a period of rehabilitation. The hosts enjoyed a decent amount of possession but could not force anything much in the way of scoring chances, while the misfiring U’s finally began to hit their stride towards the end of the half. They laid siege to the Needham goal in the last few minutes and Shea made a tremendous reaction save to Josh Coulson’s header from a corner, also blocking his follow-up shot. Doubtless the home team would have been happier overall with the opening 45 (or 50) minutes, and the only question for them would be whether they could maintain the same level of pressing and intensity against their professional opponents during the second half. United could only improve. And improve they did, presumably after a few inspiring words from the head coach, and they resumed looking more focused and playing with more intent, this time using the wingers rather than belting long balls down the middle. Referee Whitton denied Appiah a clear goalscoring chance early on when he blew prematurely for a foul on Hughes as the ball ran to the loanee striker in space on the edge of the box. Sam-Yorke had struggled to make an impact in an unsuitable target man role and he was withdrawn on 57 for Adam Cunnington, whose aerial and hold-up ability made an instant difference. Donaldson lasted an hour of a satisfactory comeback until he was replaced by Nathan Arnold, and United began to run at the opposition more, pinning them back for long periods. Shea made a good stop from a ten-yard Dunk shot before the Marketeers lost striker Sam Newson when he slipped on the greasy surface and twisted something, sliding off the pitch then lying, groaning in pain until the man in black eventually took pity on him and stopped play, walking over to him as he lay moaning and asking “are you alright?” One guess, ref. He was unable to continue. United continued to take the game to their hosts with Appiah particularly keen to shoot on sight, having one goalbound shot from a Hughes cross blocked by a last-ditch defender, while on 72 a final substitution saw Mitch Austin replace Dunk on the left flank. The young Aussie made an instant impression with some classic wing play, all trickery and pace, and he soon created the best chance yet with a perfect cross which found Luke Berry charging into the area at full tilt; his header seemed a certain goal, by Shea turned it brilliantly onto the underside of the bar and away. The visitors’ pressure had been continually growing, though, and with ten minutes to go, another Austin cross cut out the whole Market defence and found Cunnington stealing to the far post to bury his header into the net. At last: 1-0. Soon afterwards an Arnold corner found the towering head of Hughes and another cry of “Goal” stuck in United throats as Shea tipped it superbly over the bar, then another mazy Austin run and cross almost found the lurking Appiah but was cut out by that man Shea again. Needham looked on the ropes, but to their great credit they rallied late on and produced a late spell of pressure which forced Chris Maxwell into a couple of fine saves. In the final minutes the ref awarded a soft free-kick against Appiah and when he responded with a few words and a wry smile, he was promptly shown a totally unnecessary yellow card. Mr Whitton had already made himself look foolish but denying United two blatant corners, awarding goal-kicks when a Needham man had clearly played the ball out, and his youthful linesman made no attempt to intervene, prompting Cunnington to remark cheerfully, “Keep going, you’ll get one right in the end!” Thankfully the ref didn’t hear that or he would probably have booked him as well. There was no doubt that the U’s deserved their win after a dominant second half, but there was a distinct sense of relief in the supporters’ cheers at the final whistle. The hosts had done themselves and their club proud, and Cunnington immediately made a beeline for the impressive Shea to offer him a few words of congratulation. Right on cue the rain resumed, almost horizontally, and the fans squelched off to reflect on a cup tie that had been well contested and well staged, despite the weather. Perhaps the clubs could arrange a pre-season friendly next year and we could enjoy their splendid hospitality in warm, dry weather and watch a more relaxed game with a pint in hand. But hey, this is England, and the rain is like a Barry Fry interview on the TV or radio: it can jump out at you just when you least expect it. Now where’s that Lemsip… Statto Corner Today United maintained their record of never losing to a team three levels below them in the pyramid. They have lost to a team that was two levels below them on seven occasions, as follows: 1967-68 (FA Cup) Lowestoft Town (Southern League Premier v Eastern Counties League) 1969-70 (FA Trophy) Bromsgrove Rovers (Southern Premier v West Midlands League) 1978-79 (League Cup) Northampton Town (Div 2 v Div 4) 1981-82 (League Cup) Colchester United (Div 2 v Div 4) 1987-88 (FA Cup) Yeovil Town (Div 4 v Isthmian Premier) 2000-01 (FA Cup) Morecambe (Div 2 v Conference) 2011-12 (FA Trophy) Wealdstone (Conference v Isthmian Premier) United have failed to get past the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup only three times since they lost their Football League status in 2005. They lost 2-1 at Weymouth in 2005-06, 2-0 at Northwich Victoria the following season, and 2-0 at home to Luton Town last term. The U’s made it to the First Round proper of the FA Cup on five occasions before they were elected to the League in 1970: in 1953-54, 1954-55, and in three consecutive seasons from 1962-63. Jamie Guy scored two goals in 12 games for United on loan from Colchester during the 2005-06 season. Both goals were decisive: the only strike in the team’s 1-0 win at Woking on 4th March, and the winner in a 2-1 home defeat of Exeter on 4th April. Guy has also played against the U’s for Oxford United, scoring in their 3-1 home win in September 2008, and in Grays Athletic’s 3-0 defeat at the Abbey in March 2010. Darryl Coakley played in 12 matches in all competitions, plus four as substitute, for United over two seasons, 2009-10 and 2010-11, before his release at the end of the latter term. Player Ratings Maxwell 7. Safe hands. Hughes 7. Did a job defensively and also lent good support to the attack. Bonner 7. Impressively sound return. Coulson 7. Has played better this season but adequate enough. Taylor 7. Committed effort. Donaldson 7. Rusty at first on the wrong wing but settled in satisfactorily. Berry 8. Driving force of the team. Champion 7. Dependable turn. Dunk 7. Decent contribution. Appiah 7. Unlucky in the first half, always nice to see a player who is not afraid to shoot. Sam-Yorke 6. Not Delano’s day, he was not helped by some poor service but is clearly not a target man like Cunnington. Cunnington 8. Brought shape and stickability to the front line and grabbed the vital goal. Arnold 7. Busy display. Austin 8. Excellent, penetrating performance for the last 20 minutes. Match Summary United made heavy weather of the first half in difficult conditions against spirited opponents, but thoroughly dominated the second period and deserved their win despite the heroics of home keeper James Shea. Man of the Match Luke Berry. Never stopped working and inspiring the team and came so close to scoring in the second half. Ref Watch Whitton 5. Twice awarded a goal-kick at blatant United corners, failed to apply the advantage rule early in the second half and handed Appiah a totally unnecessary booking. Apart from that, brilliant. Soundtrack of the Day Cut Copy “We Are Explorers”
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 08:28:41 +0000
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