Golf Cabriolet won't start

[Trubshoe]

2.0 8V ADY
My wife's Golf has been intermittently cutting out, and she sometime has to apply much revs to keep it running. It has now finally died. I suspected my crank position sensor problem had returned, however I have tested this and it is working.And I get a good spark at the plugs. I am fairly sure it is the fuel pump. There does not seem to be any fuel at the plugs, although there is a fuel smell in the engine bay. I decided to replace the in line fuel filter. When I put the new fuel filter in I connected a fuel pressure gauge to the out put of the filter, and turned the ignition on. The gauge that can measure to 80PSI did not register!
I note with the new fuel filter in I can get the car to start if I press the accelerator when it catches, however it will not idle.
Any ideas? Should the pump blindly pump or does it need some other input to build up pressure? Are fuel pumps unreliable? If I just point the hose from the pump at a bucket the petrol comes out however it does not seem to be under a lot of pressure (i.e. it would not spray horizontally)
Any help much appreciated.

Regards
Angus

[Trubshoe]

I don't think it is the fuel pump now, (after I have ordered one) I stuck 12 V accross the fuel pump, and a pressure gauge on the output from the filter, and the must have got about 80 PSI before I disconnected. I can get the car running, and it seems to run ok, it just won't idle. I watch the rev counter and it just drops down to nothing when I release the accelerator, even when the is warm.
Any ideas

Regards

angus