After all those unreal excesses at Rockingham Road on Tuesday night, this was back to staple diets as the U's took on a well organised Chelmsford outfit in this 1st Round FA Trophy tie - a competition which, let's face it - is the only one in which we have a realistic(ish) chance of getting to a prestige final. U's were up against a City side that had already given them a footballing lesson a matter of a few weeks earlier when we'd been lucky to finish with a 1-1 draw.

Would the boys be hung over after Tuesday? Could George and Mike get the team to focus on this game? What was the weather going to do? What kind of gate would we get?

Well - take the questions and answer them in sequence. Yes - they did look a bit hung over but having said that, for every three times our boys gave the ball away, City would do it twice in what was to be a pretty good game on a surface that got progressively worse as fog and rain descended. Focused? Not so sure about that one! The gate, I thought, was a bloody good one given the weather and this being the initial stage of the Trophy. Some of those who were converted to the United cause by the Kettering result decided to come back - and City helped by bringing a couple of noisy coach loads. In fact - looking through the Non League Paper on Sunday morning - it'd appear that only Kings Lynn with 637 for their game with Stamford exceeded the Pilot Field attendance. Who knows how many would've turned up if the weather had been better.

As to the game - City were to be the dominant side in the opening spell as United were slow to get going. Included in City's ranks - a new signing from Kettering of all places, Dale Watkins - and he was to be a handful all afternoon. United included Duncan McArthur in their ranks while Stuart Playford sat it out on the bench after his superb efforts of Tuesday. Macca wasn't to last very long - after 37 minutes of fairly subdued action - he was subbed by Paul Ruddy after picking up an injury - nature unknown. James Body started in Mylie's 7 shirt and I think he's a good prospect who looks comfortable on the ball and usually finds his man - good for a guy who was in the Hailsham side playing Bumpkinship football last season.

While Chelmsford were to have more goal bound efforts than U's, the most significant area action came at the City end when the keeper's Teflon gloves which he was to use to good effect more than once saw him spill a punt into the pass of Landry who - somehow, SOMEHOW - managed to fire over a gaping goal. City's efforts at the other end saw their 11 turn and fire over after 4 minutes, Nick Hegley (I think it was Nick!) was caught dawdling trying to see the ball out and it was nicked off him only for the resulting shot to go into the side netting while the City 9 fired wide just before halftime. Ellis Remy had one of his bumbling days - a spectacular effort at a bicycle kick (but missing the ball) and when breaking wide into the area he shot weakly straight at the keeper when a pass to Landry might've been the better option.

Ellis wasn't the only one to have an off day - Simmo's passing wasn't anywhere near as good as it has been recently while Yatesie gave the ball away on a consistent basis - but in everyones' defence - the ever worsening conditions didn't help and City gave the ball away themselves on plenty of occasions.

United started off far better in the second half with Heggers and Landry threatening down the left. Nick's break into the area resulted in a well struck effort being blocked by a defender and Landry looked dangerous all the time he had the ball. And having cocked up big time in the first half - it just had to be Landry who pulled off something special to make up for it on 68 minutes when having latched onto a sliced clearance attempt, he spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed him for a great goal from 25 yards - pure placement, sheer brilliance.

City pressed hard for the equaliser - King Dave pulled off two good saves - one a tip over and another one to block a rising effort and then fall down onto the ball as a City striker went for the rebound. A deflected shot saw Dave scrambling at the foot of a post but it looked as if it was always wide - but the action wasn't confined to the United area as the Chelmsford keeper nearly spilt a shot at the foot of a post and had to get down sharpish to save another Landry effort.

Ellis was subbed by Graham Webb who looked lively as always. Webby might've doubled the lead late on but volleyed a Landry cross well over and Flanners was to go close with a header. Relief all round when the final whistle went - amazing that such a game only produced one goal. We now wait to see who we get in Round 2 - the draw's on Monday.

Last season we beat Crawley in the Sussex Inferior Cup with 370 people turning up. I suspect even the most avid Crawley supporter will have been every bit as indifferent at beating us in this Bleak Cup tie as we were last season. Good for using up suspension time - otherwise a waste of bloody time. When will the DM League get the idea and scrap it altogether?

SS

United's first ever visit to last season's Western Division runners up saw them battle hard for a point when some supporters might've expected a display full of distractions as next week's big FA Cup game at Stevenage looms. That's not to say the U's played particularly well - neither side was to do that on what looked a heavy pitch - but full marks to the United defence which worked it's collective socks off with - for me - the man of the match being Tommy O who was outstanding.

United kicked off without Messrs McArthur, Myall and Remy and - worryingly - were to play out the last few minutes without Danny Simmonds who limped off with what is thought to be an ankle injury. It looks as if Sarah is going to be busy this coming week getting those four fit and ready for next Saturday - but hopefully, George and Mike were playing the cautious game with at least a couple of the crocks who might be close to getting back in the side. Whatever - all three subs were used - namely, Body, Webb and Cornwall.

A reasonable sized gate of just under 600. 40 or so U's supporters made the trek to Wiltshire with the Boswell Barmy Army giving as good as it got in the vocal battles in the first half, with the Chippenham lot - plus drum - staying at the covered end that United were attacking. "You must have come on a skateboard" was a tad unreasonable way of describing the U's support - we might not be the best supported in this league - but the away support is always vocal and this was no exception. Whatever - the vocals were pretty good natured - lots of laughs and no signs that I saw of the problems that had manifested themselves at Chippenham's FA Trophy game with Dorchester the previous Saturday. Odd that - Dorchester's lot came out of that game with a bad name which I find hard to believe cos we've never had any problems with them.

As to the game - United were to create very little in the way of goal scoring chances with their closest efforts coming from Simmo in the first half and Steve Yates in the second - Simmo had a quickly taken free kick well held by the home keeper while Yatesie's cross - or was it a shot - very nearly caught the keeper out who seemed to misjudge his angles - the ball went a foot wide. Stuart Playford - up in midfield with Tommy O in central defence - got on the end of a Simmo corner but his header lacked power and the home defence cleared it's lines easily. Chris Honey - in for Ellis Remy - was closed down when he got on the end of a Simmo cross on 26 minutes and his effort was well over the bar.

It was to be one of those afternoons when the ball would not fall for strikers in either area and while United were to create little going forward, it has to be said that while Chippenham had several spells of sustained pressure, they didn't create a lot more with their best goal scoring opportunity seeing what looked like an own goal by Flanners being ruled out by a linesman's flag in the 80th minute.

United were to survive one of those goal mouth pinball sequences on 27 minutes when Chippenham forwards seemed to be lining up to take potshots at King Dave's goal - but the defence held out without a clear chance being created by the home side. Much of the game seemed centred between the two areas and the entertainment value was pretty low as both sides cancelled each other out.

Landry had a quiet afternoon apart from a couple of memorable occasions when he left the home 2 for dead - the pick of the two being the reverse nutmeg (like that one at home to Tamworth) in the second half. Landry was facing the corner flag being hounded by the 2 - he flicked the ball backwards between the 2's legs and was away but nothing came from his cross.

Chippenham's best opportunities came in the second half - the 9 might've done better in the 75th minute, Dave pulled off a fine save when a header seemed certain to go in from a corner and palpitations resulted when a cross flew across the goal mouth with nobody on hand to tuck it away.

In terms of pressure and chances etc etc - Chippenham definitely shaded it - but the efforts of the U's defence made it a worthy point against a side that's only lost twice, has added several players to the squad that gained them promotion last season and - like United - is making a very reasonable fist of life at Premier Division level.

You worked hard boys and deserved that point.

Well - we all knew it was going to come to an end sooner or later and so it was to be at Stevenage's plush Broadhall Way stadium where - despite the home manager's assertion that his lot were always in control in Sunday's NLP - the U's were distinctly unfortunate not to have got at least a replay and another crack at their struggling Conference opponents.

Finishing with nine men was the icing on the cake - for violent conduct so the NLP match report says - and that will come back to haunt us in two weeks when the resultant suspensions will see a minute squad even smaller as Landry Zahana-0ni and Adam Flanagan sit out the Eastbourne FA Trophy tie after their late red cards. More on that - and referee Kettle - later.

United started the game knowing full well that Stevenage had a long throw specialist who's efforts had been seen to land at the far post - and that made it so much more disappointing that the one goal of the game was to come from that source after just 7 minutes. Non existent marking left the home 12 acres of space to head past King Dave. That - ironically - was to be the one time that particular ploy had any effect in the U's box - but the damage had already been done.

In the cab from the station we'd been saying that United needed to keep a clean sheet for the first 20 odd minutes and take things from there - that plan had gone out the window in short time. Yet - despite that early self inflicted set back - U's were to battle back into the game and were soon knocking the ball about nicely with Simmo and Macca looking in good nick. They'd started without Ellis Remy and Stuart Myall who'd failed to recover from injury - so Macca slotted into his usual place while Chris Honey partnered Landry.

Landry was to show some good touches early on. He ghosted past the home defence to set up Nick Hegley who's cross flew in front of the goal mouth with nobody on hand to convert and soon after the Stevenage goal, he set up Nick again with the pass of the game and the resulting shot brought a decent save out of the home keeper.

United were to create several reasonable long range opportunities which saw Macca shoot narrowly wide twice, Chris Honey had a similar effort and a well created curling effort by Flanners wasn't far off the angle of bar and post. Stevenage were knocking the ball about nicely on what looked a fine playing surface and their 20 looked a big handful - skilful and held the ball up well (Oh - isn't that what we've been after all season!). While United were to give the home defence plenty to think about - Stevenage should have doubled their lead after a mix up by the U's as they played out of defence saw a huge goal mouth scramble which somehow saw them emerge with no further damage. Another effort flew wide after Tommy O had been outpaced down the right with a good cross resulting on 20 minutes. When the action switched to the other end Steve Yates was unfortunate to see a shot deflected away for a corner.

By halftime, Landry and Flanners had both been booked - both for challenges from behind - couldn't really argue with Landry's - a typical mistimed striker's attempt at a tackle - but Flanners had won the ball and I thought he was bloody unlucky to see yellow.

More of the same in the second half as the fog descended to the extent that there were real concerns the game might not finish - not that we'd have been overly concerned given the score - but King Dave was getting more and more difficult to pick out. U's started the second 45 looking determined to get that goal back. Great work by Yatesie who was a handful all afternoon. He cut in from the right and his cross was met by Landry who's effort was cleared off the line.

While United had the bulk of the pressure, Stevenage continued to look dangerous on the break and Dave had to be alert as he came out to smother - and he was to bring off a good save a la Kettering, low to his left, when Stevenage looked likely to double their lead.

Landry was to have an effort ruled out for offside and a Stuart Playford header across the 6 yard box went frustratingly the wrong side of Simmo while at the other end, Dave did well to pluck a low hard cross out of the air and was saved by the foot of his left post when Stevenage broke clear once again. Nick Hegley was set free down the left - U's were to use both flanks well - but his fine cross was headed clear. It really looked like one of those days when things were just not going to go right and it all went tits up as the game entered it's final stages. Flanners looked to have got clear of two defenders only to be stopped by the referee's whistle - Adam's clear disbelief at the free kick decision alone turned to something unprintable when a red card was waved at him.

While the Flanagan red card looked distinctly dodgy - something confirmed by home supporters and officials according to Tony Cosens on the ClubCall account of the game - there could be no arguing about the stupidity of Landry's actions in front of the referee a few minutes alter when as he walked back after the ball had gone out for a goal kick, he got involved in something with the Stevenage left back and out came the red card again.

The final whistle went shortly afterwards and United's FA Cup involvement was at an end with those two late dismissals leaving a nasty after taste to what had been an absorbing game in which the U's never looked out of place against Conference opposition that was certainly a lot better than Kettering. For the home manager to say his lot found it relatively comfortable left one wondering what game he'd been watching.

Difficult to know where to start with this one. Yes - it's a worry we've not scored in our last four games - we've only got one goal in our last five - and we haven't won in four - and it's a worry that James Body who's been working his way nicely towards a starting place in the team had to hobble off in the second half. It's also a Micky Mouse competition which few people give a toss about in it's early stages.

But for all that - any fears of a big hangover from Stevenage were banished as the U's put on what I thought was a pretty reasonable display against a strong Brighton line up which included Charlie Oatway and - just a tinge of irony - John Piercey who was close to signing for us a couple of months ago.

The game was played at quite a fast pace throughout and any neutrals in the sparse attendance (1821 to 171, talk about riches to rags) wouldn't have noticed which of the two sides on display was the full time, pro outfit. Chris Honey had his best game of the season which just had to coincide with such a drab competition - but who knows, maybe his confidence will have picked up after this game in which he had several attempts on goal one of which brought out a decent save from Will Packham.

The only goal came after 15 minutes when a looping cross was tucked away by the unmarked Roger Pandong, a tricky little 11 who was apparently on trial under the beady eye of our old boss - Dean White. Overall - U's had more goal attempts than Brighton but much of what was created was long range stuff - little was created in the Albion box.

On the injury front - a great shame to see James Body hobble off - he looks more and more at home in midfield and while he does little that's exceptional - most of what he does, he does right. Good to see Stuart Myall come on in the second half - but he's not 100% yet - turning apparently a problem still. Stuart Playford and Adam Flanagan were both replaced in the second half - Stuart said something about a tight groin but that'll hopefully not prevent him playing on Saturday. No idea why Flanners came off.

King Dave took a nasty blow in that part(s) of the anatomy that only male readers will be able to nod sympathetically about - spectators inevitably discussed just what Sarah's physio manual would've suggested she do - something along the lines of:-

"Should a player receive an eye watering clump in the knackers, take your time going out to him in the hope that the unpleasant sensations he is experiencing will not require your attention by the time you get to him. Use that time to try and understand just why all spectators find what he is going through hugely amusing"

Happily, Dave was duly able to effect repairs on his own.

Back to DM Premier action at The Pilot Field for the first time since Halesowen were seen off on October 5th and any hopes of avenging that unfortunate injury time defeat at St George's Lane on the opening day of the season were dashed in an abysmal 22 minute spell in the first half which had U's supporters recalling that home drubbing at the hands of Grantham a couple of seasons ago. There can be no disputing the fact, 1-4 does not lie, United were taken to the cleaners by a very useful looking Worcester outfit who went back to the top of the Division on the back of this result - and Welling holding Tamworth to a 1-1 draw at Park View Road.

Yet, the U's had started brightly with a Steve Yates (his 300th appearance) run down the right resulting in a well struck cross which the City keeper had to get down to sharply inside the opening minute. Then Chris Honey was released down the right by a superb Danny Simmonds pass and the City defence scrambled Monster's cross away.

It all started going tits up on 7 minutes - a McArthur run was halted on halfway - City broke away and a good interchange of passes released the 11 into the United box to fire past King Dave. A couple of minutes after Flanners had fired well over the City bar, it got worse for United. Tommy O got caught napping doing what defenders always do - trying to see the ball out for a goal kick, he was robbed and a cross picked out the 10 who had far too much time to turn and double the Worcester lead on 11 minutes.

United's one decent effort on goal of a catastrophic first half came just after conceding that second goal. A well placed free kick from Macca was equally well tipped over by Danny McDonnell and like it says - that was just about the sum of U's efforts in that first 45. 29 minutes gone and we were 0-3 down. Dave rather unlucky with that one - he came out and did well to block the 9's shot but the ball rebounded nicely for the 9 to hammer in City's third.

Give Dave credit - and he's the only one to get any in that first half. Had it not been for him, the U's could easily have been 0-5 (or worse) adrift when referee Ebbage blew for half time. Every time City went forward they looked as if they'd add to their tally while United looked what they have looked like for much of the season - lightweight up front with the additional - and it has to be said, unusual - handicap of the defence looking way out of sorts.

The second half was a little better - United looked rather better - but City - with the division's best defence - knew they'd wrapped it all up and their foot was off the pedal. But they still looked dangerous and had threatened a couple of times already when - ironically given their poor first half - the U's put together the move of the game to haul themselves back into the game on 51 minutes. Landry in the middle of the park released Nick Hegley down the left and ran on into the area to meet Nick's cross with a glancing header just inside the post.

Heggers had a good second half and was involved in most of what the U's put together in terms of attacking football. Another cross from him was just too high for Chris Honey - still looking for that first goal of a horrendous season - to get any direction on. City were to then shrug off going down to 10 men on 54 minutes when their 7 was sent off for a second yellow after he fouled Macca.

United - backed by plenty of vocal encouragement from the Barmy Army - were unable to mount any sustained pressure - everything seemed disjointed and for all that they might have got another goal - Simmo was robbed by a fine last ditch tackle as he bore down on goal, Heggers did all the hard work cutting in from the left, leaving a defender flatfooted, and scuffed a weak shot wide with only the keeper to beat, Landry headed wide and we saw a typical bit of Webby as he beat three defenders on his way to the edge of the box and fired over the crossbar. A loud shout for a penalty when Heggers went down - the video couldn't prove that one one way or the other - but all the time City still looked the better side and added a fourth on 88 minutes when their 12 neatly lobbed Dave from an acute angle to wrap up United's heaviest defeat of the season to date.

That fourth might have been a little harsh given that United did do better in the second half - but there can be no doubt that we had to watch and suffer as the much better side on the day won as convincingly as the three goal margin suggests. This was also City's first Pilot Field success since Hastings Town replaced the Mark 1 version of United in 85.

The statistics that illustrate just how United's 02/03 honeymoon has come to a grinding halt make utterly depressing reading after this latest blow, at the hands of our old boss, Garry Wilson. Six games without a win, five of them defeats, just one goal in those six games and in the space of just over three weeks we've seen the U's manage the dubious feast of exiting all four cup competitions.

Yeah, yeah, yeah - no Adam Flanagan, no Landry Zahana-Oni, no Ellis Remy and no Stuart Myall - that didn't help given the slim playing resources. But we've seen the team cope with such setbacks already this season and it's simply impossible to explain how - after a poor performance last Saturday - United managed to be abysmal for virtually all of this game.

Borough looked a decent side in the opening half but as the game proceeded they were able to relax as the realisation dawned on them the U's were so bad that they didn't have to play that well to win the game. United looked out of sorts from the first minute when a poor pass - Burtie, I think - across the area nearly let Borough in. Bad marking was help them take a crucial early lead on 9 minutes - nice move down the left which saw Matt Smart set up Andy Ducille - but where was the marking for Ducille? There were to be times in that first half with United constantly second best when an uncommitted spectator would've thought U's were Eastern, and Borough, Premier Division sides.

Scott Ramsay - who we were apparently very interested in and who could well have signed for us in the close season - thought he'd get a free kick at least when he broke clear of Steve Yates only to appear to be fouled - but the referee waved him away. Yatesie - who up till recently has been one of our best players this season - had a nightmare, hardly anything he tried came off and Simmo was another one to be right off what's been some very decent form of late.

It was to be more Borough's defensive cock ups than United's attacking prowess that threatened Paul Stark's goal. A corner saw him and one of his defenders go for the ball which was headed down onto the deck and over the bar. And Stark nearly let Graham Webb in when he came for and didn't get the ball - that all ended up with Paul Ruddy firing well wide.

George had opted for a Honey/Webb option up front and to nobody's great surprise it didn't ever look like working even when United came out at least looking a little more intent for the second half. Monster was to be well shackled by the Boro defence and that coupled with his never ending barren spell in front of goal left home supporters bewildered yet again that George persists with a striker who's desperately out of form. Webbie? Nothing changed. He always gives 100% and this was no exception - but he never looked like making that vital breakthrough.

Paul Ruddy brought a decent save out of Stark with a header from a Nick Hegley cross right at the start of the second half. Soon after that, Borough should have doubled their lead but somehow, Ducille blasted wide when it looked easier to score. Soon afterwards as United - at last - started to apply some thing like concerted pressure on the Borough goal, a Yatesie cross to the far post found an unmarked Simmo but from an acute angle he got under the ball and fired over the bar. A minute or so later, one of those goal mouth scrambles saw Chris Honey's shot beaten out by the keeper.

That opening 15 minutes or so of the second half was United's best spell of a poor display and their task got even tougher on 66 minutes when Rudds - already on a yellow - mistimed a tackle and out came another one followed by inevitable red. Borough were to have good chances to add to their lead as United left gaps at the back - Westcott rounded King Dave and fired into the side netting and sub Dave Adams had two good opportunities late in the game but by then it didn't matter cos Ramsay had made it 2-0 on 78 minutes from the penalty spot. Not sure what it was for - but there were no arguments from our defenders.

I hate losing - and I hate even more losing to local rivals - I hate seeing them celebrate - but this display was as poor as it gets and we deserved nothing out of this game. I sincerely wish Garry Wilson well - he gave a lot to Hastings Town as player, manager and coach and he was shabbily sacked in 98 - but why couldn't we give his team more of a contest on this miserable, wet afternoon.

Still - nice easy one next week at Tamworth where we can get things going again.