Cambridge set the bar
Last updated 14:15, Monday, 18 August 2008
ALL good things must come to an end and the Bluebirds surrendered a 22-match unbeaten run – and top spot – to the U’s at the weekend.
But if a strong Cambridge side prove a true yardstick, then the promoted club look like measuring up to the challenge ahead.
The hosts – Conference runners-up last season – deserved to preserve their 100 per cent record but Barrow refused to buckle in the face of some concerted pressure and robust challenges.
Although the visitors could even point to a Tim Deasy howler as the reason for the narrow defeat, this would disguise the fact that Cambridge possessed more invention and pace.
Indeed Deasy, who inexplicably let a free-kick slip through his fingers in the 40th minute, kept his team in the game after the break with three superb saves.
With no goals coming in this second period, it turned out the match was won and lost in 10 first half minutes.
Barrow had good and bad news before the game with striker Nick Rogan fit to start on the bench but in-form marksman Jason Walker ruled out with tonsilitis.
The home side opened the game the brighter and Lee McEvilly – a John Hartson clone – showed why AFC manager Dave Bayliss rated him of ‘Championship class’.
The former Rochdale and Accrington forward hit a left foot shot narrowly over from outside the box and then headed a Dan Gleeson cross over. Robbie Willmott next attacked at pace, skinning Ryan Elderton only to shoot straight at Deasy.
As at Altrincham midweek, it was some 20 minutes before Barrow – despite travelling down overnight – found their feet, with Carlos Logan getting in a dangerous cross which Wayne Hatswell headed behind for a corner.
There was another let-off for a visitors as Steve McNulty made a rare slip and Mark Beesley fed Felino Jardim, but the lively Dutchman fired into Deasy’s arms.
Then Beesley was given too much space outside the area to line up a shot, Paul Jones making the last-ditch block.
It was no surprise when Cambridge took the lead on 28 minutes, their skipper Paul Carden spraying a delightful ball out to Jardim on the left flank.
He cut inside and unleashed a low drive which Deasy could only parry into the path of McEvilly for a tap-in.
Barrow responded well to the set-back and striker Lee Hunt was unlucky not to get his first league goal for the club as he challenged for a Mark Boyd cross and in the scramble saw Hatswell clear his low shot off the line.
The home crowd were stunned on 35 minutes as the experienced Paul Tait rose highest to a Boyd free-kick to loop a header past keeper Danny Potter.
Barrow had their tails up and Hunt headed a Boyd corner over before disaster struck on 39 minutes.
Mike Pearson, who had done well to block a dangerous McEvilly run along the bye-line seconds earlier, was booked for a foul on Jardim.
Hatswell stepped forward to launch a speculative 35-yard head-high free-kick which Deasy let squirm through his fingers in front of the massed ranks of United fans.
It was the kind of moment where players wish the ground would open up and swallow them and the hapless keeper could only continue after prolonged treatment on his hand.
Barrow still wouldn’t lie down and when the largely subdued Matt Henney played the ball forward, Hunt out-muscled a defender to poke the ball past a surprised Potter, Gleeson coming to the rescue with a clearance.
Andy Bond showed his all-round ability at the start of the second half with a good track back to stop Jardim and then a neat ball to Henney.
Pearson also did well to break up a couple of attacks before a major talking point on the hour mark.
Home defender Philip Bolland went in high and late on Logan in a manner reminiscent of the tackle that got an Oxford defender sent off at Holker Street the previous weekend.
Referee Amy Rayner instead showed a yellow card while Logan, who was probably close to being subbed, was carried off.
Nick Rogan was soon on for his first taste of competitive action following injury and his clever flick sent Henney clear of the back line. But, wheras the midfielder was finishing for fun last season, he sliced the ball wide.
On 70 minutes McNulty headed a Boyd free-kick back across goal which just evaded Paul Jones, the skipper also heading another Boyd free-kick wide at the far post.
Ten minutes from time Deasy made a tremendous double save from Chris Jones’ shot and McEvilly’s point-blank header.
Anthony Tonkin played a clever cross behind the Bluebirds defence and Deasy this time thwarted Beesley at close range.
Rogan was again uncompromisingly brought down by Hatswell but when Pearson halted Jardim in his tracks, it was a second yellow and marching orders.
There was still time for a tasty tussle on the touchline between the Big Macs (McNulty and McEvilly), the two players showing their respect with an embrace as the final whistle blew.
It has been a long time since the team’s last away defeat – Burscough on January 5 – and the big test will be how they respond to the setback.
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