Adam Marriott climbed from the bench to grab two clinical goals as Cambridge United ended the season with a win. The striker struck twice in the final fifteen minutes to ensure Martin Ling's side finish the season in tenth place.

Simon Brown had saved Colin Little's first half penalty to keep the match scoreless before the young striker made his mark after replacing Lee Phillips.

Martin Ling made one change to the starting line-up from last week's 4-1 win against Hayes & Yeading, bringing Phillips back into the starting eleven at the expense of Marriott. Paul Carden's brother Adam was named on the bench for the hosts, while Robins legend Colin Little was named in the side for the final time before heading to Manchester United in an academy coaching capacity.

With the game kicking off in glorious sunshine, United managed to win a corner within thirty seconds before Brian Saah made an important block on Chris Senior following a fumble by Simon Brown. In an open and attacking opening Little struck a fine effort from well out on the left which was easily claimed by Brown. Rory McAuley and Phillips both had headed opportunities from Aiden Palmer crosses without ever testing Stuart Coburn.

Carden capitalised on a misplaced Robbie Lawton pass before being halted by a cynical foul by the same player, but the captain scuffed his freekick well wide from forty yards, before the game sparked into life after twenty seven minutes with a penalty for the hosts.

From a deep freekick, Brian Saah was deemed to have fouled Young when trying to shepherd the ball out of play. On his final appearance for the club, Colin Little saw his effort parried by Brown as the stopper went down to his left.

This was followed by a period of midfield to and fro before Danny Crow fired powerfully at Stuart Coburn from outside the box. The remainder of the first period seemed a typical end of season clash with very little of great interest to report on, so it was perhaps a relief when the half time whistle arrived.

As the second half got underway Little tried to make amends for his missed penalty by going for goal at every opportunity, while Dan Gleeson headed over from a corner. Adam Carden came on for Anthony Danylyk to make it a family affair for the final half hour, before Robbie Willmott returned from a two month absence by replacing Scott Neilson twenty-five minutes from time.

Adam Marriott wasn't far behind as he came on for Lee Phillips before Dan Gleeson laced a twenty yard effort which was charged down. Moments later Altrincham should have taken the lead as Chris Senior beat the offside trap before seeing his effort well saved by Brown. As the rebound fell to the same player it was blazed well over, to the relief of the United fans behind the goal. Jai Reason made his way on soon after as Martin Ling made his final change of the season, Rory McAuley the man to be replaced.

The opening goal arrived fifteen minutes from time, and it was United who broke through. Reason's ball forward found Paul Carden in an unusually advanced position. As he tried to turn goalwards a second ball made its way to Marriott, who buried a finish into the far corner with virtually his first touch of the game.

Following the goal it was United who twice came close in close succession. Willmott's excellent ball forward split the defence and Danny Crow was well denied by Coburn, before the keeper prevented Reason from doubling the lead with a point blank save. Colin Little was one of two Altrincham players to then be replaced, to a standing ovation for his services to the club.

Moments from time, United made the points safe with Marriott again showing off his massive potential by producing a clinical left footed finish from Willmott's through ball. The full time whistle came soon after, to mutual applause to both sets of players and a tenth place finish for The U's.

Man of the match. Dan Gleeson. In a good all round second half performance it was the right back who was most solid throughout, getting forward to good effect. Another contender simply has to be Marriott- one of many reasons why Cambridge United can look forward to the 2010/11 season.

Full minute-by-minute reporting below.

Reporting by Matt Ramsay

14.15 Afternoon all and welcome to the final game of the Conference season. Cambridge United travel to Altrincham on the last day knowing that a win will see them finish in the top ten after a long season.An Altrincham win will see them climb above The U's in the final standings. Elsewhere, CRC host Felixstowe & Walton United as they continue their Ridgeons League title push. Team news to follow as it arrives.

14.25 The teams have been announced and United make one change for the last game of the season. Lee Phillips replaces Adam Marriott up front as Martin Ling makes one change from last week's 4-1 against Hayes & Yeading. Colin Little plays his 245th and final match for Altrincham before heading to Manchester United in a coaching capacity, while Paul Carden's brother Adam is on the bench for the hosts. Robbie Willmott makes a welcome return to the bench after missing several months through injury.

Team News

Altrincham. Stuart Coburn; Greg Young (c), Rob Williams, James Smith; Shaun Densmore, Nicky Clee, Robbie Lawton, Anthony Danylyk, Peter Doran; Colin Little, Chris Senior.

Subs. Russell Saunders, John McAliskey, Michael Welch, Adam Carden, Ryan Clarke.

CUFC. Simon Brown; Dan Gleeson, Aiden Palmer, Josh Coulson, Brian Saah; Rory McAuley, Paul Carden (c), Simon Russell, Scott Neilson; Danny Crow, Lee Phillips.

Subs. Danny Potter, Robbie Willmott, Jai Reason, Adam Marriott, Calum Willock.

14.55 The sides are out and United have a good away following with them today. The hosts are in their traditional red and white with The U's in amber and black.

14.58 The U's will be shooting towards their own fans in the first half, and it's Martin Ling's side who get us underway. United win a corner inside the first thirty seconds which is headed away.

15.00 Altrincham nearly take the lead at the other end as Simon Brown fumbles a seemingly unthreatening ball in, and the stopper is indebted to Brian Saah for charging down Chris Senior.

15.01 It's Altrincham's turn to win a corner. Anthony Danylyk scampers down the right and buys a flagkick of Saah, before Senior flicks over from the corner.

15.05 Good work on the right from Lee Phillips sees him turn full circle before winning a throw. Dan Gleeson cuts inside his man with a nutmeg and plays the ball off home captain Greg Young for a corner. Again the ball is headed clear.

15.07 Inventive play from Colin Little sees the striker lash an adventurous effort from well out on the left, but it's a comfortable claim for Brown in goal.

15.15 Good play from Dan Gleeson sees an excellent cross just taken off Lee Phillips' head, before the right back retains the ball and eventually wins a right wing corner. The ball eventually makes its way in at the second attempt, before Aiden Palmer's cross is headed into the arms of the keeper by Rory McAuley.

15.17 Palmer again gets forward very well and his cross from the byeline is headed just wide by Lee Phillips.

15.21 A loose ball by Robbie Lawton allows Paul Carden to storm forward through the middle, but Lawton responds by fouling his man. On another day that would be a booking but not today. The freekick from forty yards is tapped to United's skipper, who scuffs his effort through for a goal kick.

15.25 MISSED PENALTY. Out of nothing a penalty for the hosts. Brian Saah looks to shepherd Greg Young out of play, but is adjudged to have brought the defender down. Dan Gleeson is booked for letting the referee know he doesn't agree with the decision. On his 245th and final appearance for the club, Colin Little steps up and sees his penalty well saved by Simon Brown. The ball goes to the keeper's left and is at a good height for the stopper, but he still has to go the right way. That's Brown's second penalty save since joining the club.

15.35 United have seen most of the ball since the penalty, with the exception of a few forays forward on the flanks for the hosts. Danny Crow finds some space just outside the box and unleashes a left footed effort which moves in the air before being claimed by Coburn.

15.38 Brian Saah just climbs enough to divert a cross behind for a corner. If he hadn't made contact then Senior would have been in. The corner goes straight behind for a goal kick.

15.43 Simon Russell gets to the byeline before appearing to be tugged back, but it won't be given as a foul if it's inside the box. One minute of additional time to be added on.

15.44 One last chance of the half sees Danny Crow cut inside from the left, but his cross is over hit and beats the two attacking players at the far post and goes out for a goalkick.

15.44 One last chance of the half sees Danny Crow cut inside from the left, but his cross is over hit and beats the two attacking players at the far post and goes out for a goalkick. That's it for the first half, Altrincham's penalty miss means they've had the best chance of the game so far, while United won't be too disappointed with the score. They'll want to work Coburn in goal more after the interval. It seems typical end of season fare to be honest.

HALF TIME Altrincham 0-0 CUFC

15.57 Bad news from The Abbey, CRC are a goal down to Felixstowe & Walton United.

16.00 The sides are back out and Altrincham get us underway. No changes have been made.

16.03 Paul Carden is slightly unfortunate to be adjudged to have fouled Robbie Lawton, but he nearly talks his way into the referee's notebook. Today's attendance is 1546, including 310 from Cambridge.

16.05 Altrincham come out of defence at pace and Little nearly feeds a willing runner on the left. The ball eventually comes to Shaun Densmore who shoots at Josh Coulson, and the rebound is blasted at the same player.

16.07 Peter Doran makes a good run to the back post to run onto Little's scuffed shot, but Aiden Palmer does well to narrow the angle and force the midfielder to fire wide.

16.09 Little is desperate for a goal on his final appearance for the club. Dan Gleeson gifts possession to the striker, who ignores his two supporting players before firing wide of the far post.

16.11 United win a corner following a freekick won by Rory McAuley. Dan Gleeson heads over.

16.12 Anthony Danylyk goes off to be replaced by Adam Carden. It's Carden vs Carden in the middle of the park for the last half hour.

16.16 CRC are now level at 1-1 through Christy Finch. Robbie Willmott makes his way on for the first time in two months, coming on for Scott Neilson. Is that the last time we see him in a United shirt?

16.22 Phillips pressure sees Coburn hack his kick out for a throw, before Danny Crow wins a corner. Phillips has made his last contribution to the game, and perhaps his United career. Wonderboy Marriott comes on.

16.23 Dan Gleeson hammers an effort at a defender from just outside the box as the corner looks to be cleared. United win a corner despite the linesman (one yard away) giving a goalkick. James Smith goes into the book for voicing his displeasure.

16.25 Altrincham should be ahead. Senior beats the offside trap before cutting into the area. Brown makes a good block and Senior blazes the rebound well over.

16.27 Jai Reason comes on as United make their final change of the season. Rory McAuley trots off after a fine performance.

16.30 GOAL. Altrincham 0-1 CUFC. Eight minutes after coming on and Adam Marriott proves his worth yet again. That may well be his first touch of the game and it's a clinical finish after receiving a second ball. Paul Carden picks up Jai Reason's ball in and tries to turn, the ball falls behind the defence and Marriott is there to fire into the far corner.

16.32 United could have finished it off. Robbie Willmott threads a superb ball between two defenders and Danny Crow is onto it. Just as it appears he's overrun it he prods the ball goalwards, to be denied by a fine low save by Coburn. Crow appears to have strained a muscle in doing so.

16.36 Altrincham replace Robbie Lawton and bring Michael Welch into the fray.

16.37 United are making all the attacking play here, Reason unleashes a splendid pass to the right flank to Marriott. His fellow sub holds the ball up until Reason is arriving, and the midfielder's effort is excellently stopped by Coburn.

16.41 Four minutes of the season remain, and the final change sees John McAliskey come on for Colin Little. Little receives a standing ovation for his near 250 game spell at the club. His penalty miss remains a crucial moment in this match.

16.45 The fourth official informs us we're into the last three minutes of the season. That's how much stoppage time we're going to have.

16.47 GOAL. Altrincham 0-2 CUFC. The boy can play. Willmott slips the ball to Adam Marriott, who turns outside and hammers a superb left footed effort into the far corner. That's five goals this season from a player who has only started twice.

16.49 That's it, United see out a 2-0 win as sub Adam Marriott hits both goals in clinical fashion. Simon Brown's first half penalty save was pivotal as United end the season in tenth place.

FINAL SCORE Altrincham 0-2 Cambridge United

Matt Ramsay