The U's-letter: Issue 27

Your weekly United summary

Oct 23, 2025

Back-to-back wins are still eluding United, but back-to-back newsletters are no problem this week for UTAS. The U’s also get a chance to put their own form right up at Notts County, which is one of the league’s better away days. We’ve proven how dependable we can be with our home form, but we’re still one of the league’s worst teams on the road. So with two tricky visits on the horizon in Notts and Salford, we need to get that sorted quick.

The podcast is out twice a week as usual and it’s your first port of call for all U’s-related topics. Coconut Tier members get extra written content every week, a written data-led match preview of each league game, and this week an extra Mailbag episode where we discuss our best XI, all-time favourite kits, and what we need in the January transfer window.

What’s New? 📰

A 3-2 loss in the Vertu at the hands of Barnet on Tuesday, including Britt Assombalonga (remember him?) scoring for the visitors and them following it up with a last minute winner.
You can bid for the match worn shirts from the Bromley game to help raise money for the brilliant Romsey Mill charity.

At The Match ✍️

U’s 2-1 Bromley: Got There In The End

United responded from a desperately poor afternoon at Shrewsbury by backing up their near-perfect home form with another well-earned three points. In seeing off Bromley 2-1, the U’s confirmed themselves as the best home side in the league so far. Their current position outside the playoffs, not in it, is simply explained by the diametrically opposed away form; 20th, with only Accrington, Crawley, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham posting worse numbers on the road.
On Saturday, the sense of needing a bounce back was evident. We’d been here before: namely following a defeat at Bristol Rovers with a win against Newport, and a dull draw at Tranmere with dispatching Crawley. The need to be constantly bouncing back from poor results is a conversation for another day: at Saturday lunchtime, we just knew we had to do it.
And it only took 2 minutes to get it underway. Shayne Lavery didn’t know much (or anything really) about his opener, but he wheeled away like he’d controlled the finish perfectly. Deflecting off his midriff and in, wrongfooting the goalkeeper in the process, it was the perfect start to the afternoon. He could easily have added to his tally too, getting in great areas only for the Bromley keeper to pull out two great saves to deny him.
But Sam Long in the visitors’ net couldn’t deny Kouassi doubling United’s lead on the 41st minute. It was exquisite forward play from the loanee. His performances have improved week-on-week, and this really caught the eye: collecting the ball from an early throw, rolling the defenders, and accurately powering the ball into the top corner.
Harris said in his post-match that it could have been 4 or 5 by half-time. For the first time, I agreed with his hyperbole. But the Bromley side that came out in the second half were a different proposition, much more to the standard we’d expected of a team that had only lost twice going into Saturday. Michael Cheek (who else?) got them back in it with a delightful lob after catching United’s defence sleeping for a long ball, and with 40 minutes left on the clock it looked like turning into a nervy finish.
The stoppage time read 15 minutes after the referee injured his knee off the ball, looking in all sorts of pain. So a lengthy switch around of the officiating team took place, meaning that added time defending a one goal lead was made even more agonising as the clock ticked into triple figures. But without too much stress, United held firm and secured another valuable three points. Now it’s time to see whether that away form can be addressed.

View From The Away End 🧐

Bromley - By Holly Norris

It was the result I predicted, just the other way around! The ground was nice, the cows outside the ground made us all laugh. The halftime entertainment was hilarious. The two Cambridge goals were excellent, especially the second one from the throw in. Our goalkeeper Long saved a few good chances, it could have easily been 4/5-0 by half time. Adam Mayor is a great asset to your team.
My prediction of Michael Cheek scoring was correct, and he’s certainly made his mark in League Two. We had a couple of good chances but we just couldn’t find the net. The better team won on the day. It was well deserved, and we wish you all the best for the rest of the season. Let’s hope our home game against you is a more competitive game.

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Opposition Preview 🔮

Notts County (A) - 8th place - Saturday 25th October (3pm kick off)

Last 5 (all comps): DWWWL - An under-the-radar start to the season for Notts, who weren’t hugely fancied pre-season but are knocking around the play-off spots, just like us really.
Last time out: Notts County 0-1 U’s, 12th January 2019. A Greg Taylor winner to seal a terrible football match but a great afternoon out.
Our H2H: P31, W12, D8, L11. The last time they beat us was actually 21 years ago, in November 2004.
Manager: Martin Paterson. After doing a decent job at Burton and keeping them in League One, he was hired at Notts – and not to the best reception. But so far it looks like he’s started decently enough.
One to watch: Alassana Jatta. The striker was linked with a move to Plymouth all summer but County kept hold of him. He’s a big threat up top.
Former U’s players: Not that I can see.

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Under The Other Stands 🏟️

A weird weekend in League Two. High-flyers Swindon lose 4-0 at Accrington, top of the league Walsall lose at home to Bromley who ended the game with 10 men, and Gills lose at fellow promotion-contender Grimsby in a game they were reduced to 9 in. But then have subsequently had both suspensions rescinded.
At the other end of the division, Cheltenham and Shrewsbury won huge games respectively. Newport sit bottom now in what looks turning into a disastrous season for them if they don’t sort something out soon.
Another eye-opening result worth mentioning is Bristol Rovers conceding four goals at home for the second game in a row, this time losing 4-1 to Tranmere. Their recently-improved form has now taken a huge nosedive.

Stats Corner 🔢

Before the Bromley game, we were winless in our last 11 games against teams from London.
For the third time this season, Bromley had to ask for a qualified official in the stadium during one of their games.
By the next time they play at home, it will be over 7 and a half months since Newport’s last home win in all competitions.