So Saturday September 22nd, 2012 entered the record books as marking the worst ever start to a Colchester United season ever. In our 75th season this is hard to take and in truth there appears to be no end in sight.
Saturday started brightly however – a good journey, no motorway dramas and brilliant sunshine.
It was good to be reacquainted with Gerry and to meet up at the Old Farmhouse for lunch and the Exiles AGM. Now Gerry was due to be accompanied by Barsidepete fresh from his whistle stop Colchester tour, but alas overindulgence at the Bricklayers had accounted for him and he was absent for the festivities.
In fact looking around the South Stand where the U’s were congregated it seemed that many of the usual faithful were conspicuous by their absence. I would estimate about 90 were present. But they were in good voice.
Now those of you that know the stadium will be aware that it was one of the first of the new stadia to be constructed away from the town centre in 1988. It is a tight compact ground with a decent playing surface and a capacity of about 9,000.Yesterday the ground was about a third full with 3,133 inside to watch the action.
Now the first surprise was that John Joe O’Toole was not even warming the bench and Freddie Sears was also in the wilderness.
The beleaguered JW lined up Colchester as follows:
Cousins
Wilson Heath Eastman Rose
Izzet Bean Woody Duguid Massey
Morrison
Subs:
Henderson Wright Sears Pentney White Bond Coker
Colchester shaded the early exchanges and the home keeper Slocombe pulled off a smart save from Gavin Massey whilst Rose blazed wide when well placed.
Kem Izzet was playing well and made some tigerish challenges and later on became our main ball winner from the middle of the park.
It was obviously Sam Slocombe who came to the attention of the faithful. His name conjured up that famous classic comedy Are you Being Served. I have to say that he was resplendent in his fluorescent yellow top and black shorts and would certainly have earned praise from Young Mr Grace who would have opined that he was doing very well. Heaven knows what Mrs Slocombe’s pussy “Tiddles” would have made of it all.
Comment of the day however was in response to a visit from the Safety Steward who implored the faithful to sit down. One wag replied that “well they’re not sitting down at the other end”. The Steward glanced over saw that it was of course the all standing terracing for the home supporters and walked away to the howls from the faithful. He was never seen again.
Shortly after Mark Cousins tipped over at full stretch and in truth that had been the only save that he had needed to make in the first half.
The rest of the half passed largely without incident. The referee Mr Sarginson strutted about and booked both Rose and Woody for fouls.
Now half time brought a degree of relief from the tension that was building. After our lunches the pies were resisted (all £2.70 and from that redoubtable company PUKKA) but the coffee was piping hot and refreshing.
Gerry spoke to a guy who anticipated that the second half would be a season defining moment. And so course it proved.
Now I’m sure that even the most diehard Iron fan would agree that the match had draw written all over it but fate conspired to intervene late on.
So second half Colchester attacking the south stand end where the faithful, were situated. No changes at half time from either manager. JW propped up the right hand support on the dug out for most of the match and Joe Dunne looked concerned from the centre of the dugout. The subs sat impassively on the benches.
The sunshine continued to beat down and at every opportunity water was taken on. Marcus Bean and Kem Izzet were playing very well in the centre of the park and it was their distribution that was bringing Doogie, Massey and Morrison more into the game.
Three delicious crosses from the right went either just behind or just in front of onrushing Colchester players. Unfortunately two of the crosses were made by Clinton Morrison who should have been on the receiving end of them.
Clinton Morrison did have a glorious opportunity to open the scoring but Mrs Slocombe made a very good close range save and resisted the onrushing Heath from tucking in the rebound. Gavin Massey brought another fine save from Grace Brother’s keeper as Colchester pressed for a winner.
JW decided to make a change after 74 minutes and instead of taking Doogie off chose Kem Izzet. Now Izzet had been our most influential midfield player on the day and so we were mystified by this. Hendo emerged and had been on the field for less than 60 seconds when Leon Clarke was adjudged to have been fouled by Heath in the penalty area. Now I haven’t seen the replay yet but everyone felt that it was a harsh decision.
Clarke despatched the penalty straight down the middle of the goal whilst Cousins dived to his right. As ex keeper Gerry the cat observed how many keepers would save penalties if they simply stood up to the kick.
So 76 minutes on the clock and the U’s who still haven’t score an away goal this season found themselves trailing to a very poor Scunny side.
JW immediately made his final two substitutions, the unfortunate Massey was replaced by Sears and Doogie who was shattered was replaced by the youngster Wright.
Scunny as you would imagine had their tails up, they weren’t pussy footing around and Cousins had to make two smart blocks. But then Colchester started to press with some urgency. Freddie Sears made an instant impact and his good close control and determination forced Scunny back. From one such foray he advanced into the penalty area and was upended, the faithful (who had almost as good a view as the referee) bayed for a penalty but Mr Sarginson was unmoved.
In truth Sears seemed to go down easily but there was definite contact. The defining moment had arrived and Colchester had missed out.
Knill the Scunny manager made two late subs of his own after 87 minutes Ryan and Hawley replaced by Jennings and JW’s striking target last season Barcham.
Colchester forced a number of late corners and whereas last season Gerry was called into action to make a smart save down to his left before retrieving the ball, this year my son retrieved the ball from the stand and threw it to Freddie Sears who took the resultant corner.
There was still time for Slocombe to make two more decent saves and for the ball to somehow get under Marcus Bean’s foot when well placed around the penalty spot. Colchester kept going throughout the 5 minutes of added time without success.
After 95 minutes and 45 seconds Colchester’s misery was complete. Another defeat, the worst start to a season ever and still no away goal.
The fact that Scunny men of the match were both defenders in Ribeiro and Canavan spoke volumes but 4 points from 8 matches tells its own story.
Now in fairness to the faithful there were no choruses of Ward Out and only a couple walked out before the end. Everyone agreed however that JW does not show enough passion or commitment.
I noticed at the end of the game that he has taken to shaking minimal hands and disappearing down the tunnel. The fans deserve better, the club deserves better and the players deserve better.
Some players came over and applauded whilst the faithful also acknowledged the reactions. As someone once said, we are all in this together.
Clearly goal scoring is the biggest problem and JW must decide whether a loanee is the answer.
Perhaps the forthcoming week will determine whether it will be all change at the top or not.
The stats do not lie however over the last 22 games Colchester has managed 1 win 13 draws and 8 defeats. It is doubtful given Bradford’s current run of form whether Parky could be prised away to rescue the U’s.
Next week it is the Monkey Hangers in town. Enough said.
Up the U’s