Date: Saturday 30th April, 2005
Competition: Coca-Cola League 2
Attendance: 5,104 (away 1,360)
Referee: Mr M. Thorpe
Weather: overcast then sunny

A week after relegation and the day after going into administration, United recorded the first away win of the season thanks to our first penalty of the season.

As anticipated, Steve Thompson named an unchanged side for the second successive game, while Diamonds boss Barry Hunter called up defender John Dempster in place of Williams and striker Alex Hay in place of Billy Sharp, who has returned to Sheffield United after a prolific loan spell.

The match got off to a bright start as a defender's slip allowed Tes Bramble to work the ball to Iwan Roberts, whose shot was just wide of the far post, and a minute later the lively Bramble advanced to fire wide of the other post.

For the home side, Burgess also capped a good counterattack by lashing a long-range shot across the face of goal, while in the eighth minute Daniel Chillingworth stepped inside and curled a shot goalwards but Shearer stretched to get one hand to it and turn it behind.

Rushden were forced into an early change when Craig Dove replaced former U's loanee McCafferty after just twelve minutes, and then Hay slipped the offside trap and raced onto a ball over the top, but Adam Tann did superbly to get back and put the striker off as he sliced a shot well off target.

United enjoyed most of the possession at this stage but the home side were dangerous on the break and the U's were saved by the woodwork on 15 when Hay again used his pace to break through. He advanced to beat Ruddy with his shot but hit the post and rebounded away, and three minutes later Burgess let fly from 30 yards and Ruddy showed great reflexes to turn the ball over the bar.

Daniel Chillingworth worked hard in his role on the wide left and midway through the half his persistence culminated with a cross for Bramble, whose ambitious overhead kick flew wide. Broughton should have done better for Rushden with a chance on 24 minutes when he scooped the ball wide from a central position on the edge of the area, and on 29 minutes Bramble put United ahead in the most unexpected of circumstances.

The big striker controlled Nicholl's through ball and beat the offside trap before advancing into the area, where he was brought down by Shearer as he rounded the keeper, and United were finally awarded their first penalty of the season.

Bramble opted to take the spot kick himself, sending a right-footed shot straight down the middle to give United the lead and give the magnificent away supporters something to cheer about.

Rushden had their own hopeful penalty appeals waved away soon afterwards when the U's defence were caught out and Hay, Broughton and Ruddy collided in a tangle, and on 32 defender Peter Hawkins collected an undisputed yellow card for a dreadful two-footed lunge at Chillingworth; the subsequent free kick was well-taken by Tom Newey from two yards outside the area but parried by Shearer and hacked away by Dove.

The otherwise-immaculate Ruddy was beaten at a corner in the 37th minute but Hay thundered his header against the bar, and as the home side finished the half strongly Ruddy was equal to Bell's 25-yarder and also rose to collect a cross from Burgess.

Half-time summary:
"A half where United have ridden their luck but find themselves ahead, amazingly from a penalty. Yes, that's right, a spot kick! A good start by the U's but Rushden have hit the woodwork twice and Drewe Broughton has missed a sitter, but in between Bramble won himself a penalty and then converted from the spot. It was United's first of the season, but inevitably it's come too late to affect the U's future."

Second half:
The unlikely figure of Matt Somner drew a save from Shearer with a cross-shot soon after the break, while Ruddy impressed again when the towering Broughton climbed above the defence to meet a cross and the 18-year-old keeper tipped his header over the bar.

Steve Thompson was forced into a change in the 55th minute when Tes Bramble seemed to indicate a pulled muscle and made way for teenager John Turner, and five minutes later Tom Newey was replaced by Stuart Bimson, who was welcomed back following a two month absence following a knee operation with loud chants of "Bimmo".

The substitution came immediately before a Rushden corner, which was nodded back into the danger area by Broughton, but Gulliver's first time shot drew a superb save from Ruddy.

The match continued to be an open affair and a United long ball forward was met by Roberts, who timed his run perfectly to beat the offside trap but was closed down, and a subsequent header was collected by Shearer.

Moments later Hay outpaced the defence as he chased a long ball and Ruddy was out quickly to beat him to the ball, and the ground filled with the non-stop sound of singing from the 1,360 away fans as they began another chorus of "Going down, but we'll be back".

Ciaran Toner got clear of the defence and tested Shearer with a shot before Dan Gleeson came on to replace Chillingworth, taking up a role on the wide right to help defend against the home side's lively wingers for the last 20 minutes.

Broughton curled a shot over the bar on 73 and player-manager Barry Hunter brought himself on in place of Dempster, then two minutes later more inventive attacking play from United saw Toner lead a breakaway move, linking well with Turner who then played a good ball for Roberts, but the veteran striker couldn't quite stretch enough to reach the ball.

Referee Mike Thorpe had to retire from the action at this point to be replaced by linesman Mellor, while the fourth official look over on the line, and Gleeson made the most of his unusually advanced role by firing a shot across the face of goal and wide of the far post from just outside the area.

Turner and Toner also fired wide from similar range as the travelling supporters kept up their fantastic support, creating a party atmosphere and inspiring the players to respond with a spell of possession as they strung several passes together.

Turner showed great determination to hold off two challenges and set up Toner, but the midfielder got his angles wrong and his shot was well off target with five minutes remaining. At the other end Ruddy collected a long-range effort from Broughton and a stoppage time free kick by Bell cleared the bar and failed to threaten United's long-awaited first away win of the season.

Wrapped up by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"It may have been too little, too late, to save their League status, but Cambridge United finally gave the travelling faithful something to shout about with a first away win of the season. And if that wasn't enough of a surprise, the only goal of the game came from the penalty spot - also United's first of the season. Tes Bramble won the award and dusted himself off to tuck it away with a style that suggested the U's had been given them every day of the week. United rode their luck as Rushden hit the woodwork twice and John Ruddy made a string of saves to keep the home side at bay, but they deserved their stroke of fortune, not least for those fabulous travelling fans who partied throughout as though celebrating a title. Some good news at last then, after a miserable week."

Man of the Match:
"The fans again - they went for it from the time the teams ran out until about 15 minutes after the final whistle, with non-stop, noisy support. Quite remarkable. Honourable mentions for John Ruddy for a string of very good saves, Andy Duncan who was a rock at the back alongside Adam Tann, while Warren Goodhind had one of his better games at right-back against a tricky winger."

Referee:
"Mr Thorpe - I thought he was inconsistent and it was tricky to know what he was going to award at any given moment, and when he was replaced by one of his assistants the situation didn't change very much. 4/10."

[League Table

This is always the first place to read the full match report and post-match comments so check the site later, generate valuable income for the Club by talking about the match with fellow U's on our lively and friendly message board, and watch the match highlights tomorrow on U's World. Click here to log in or to subscribe for only £10.00.

Have you signed up for our SMS text alert service? You'll know all the news before anyone else, and on matchdays you can get the team line-up, the scorers, all the half- and full-time scores, and be the first to read the manager's post-match thoughts. Just 25p/message - click here for all the details.

AT 050430