Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: freezing cold
Goals:
Burton: Harrad 17'
United: Reed 50', Rendell 68'
A fifth successive win as the U's came from behind again to win at fourth-placed Burton. Shaun Harrad gave the home side the 17th minute lead but Stephen Reed scored his first goal for the club with a 49th minute free kick, and after Burton's Daryl Clare was dismissed for an elbow on Mark Peters, Scott Rendell scored to complete the comeback.
Jimmy Quinn made three changes to the side that won 2-1 at home to Northwich on Saturday. In place of Darryl Knights (ill), Gavin Hoyte and Courtney Pitt he recalled Dan Gleeson and Mark Albrighton from suspension and injury respectively, and handed new loan signing Paul Carden his U's debut.
Nigel Clough made one change to the side that won at Exeter, bringing in midfielder Mark Goodfellow for John Brayford.
On a freezing cold night United made a hot start as Scott Rendell and Lee Boylan linked well to earn a second minute corner, and Stephen Reed's dangerous delivery pinged around the area before falling for Mark Peters to head wide.
In a lively opening spell, Marc Goodfellow lifted an optimistic effort over Danny Potter's bar from 30 yards, Boylan raced onto a through ball from Reed but was flagged offside, and moments later the U's striker burst through with a defender in close pursuit and drove a long-range shot wide.
The early pace settled into a game between two hard-working and evenly-matched sides who were probing for an opening; Burton's front pair of Daryl Clare and Shaun Harrad kept the United defence occupied while Boylan and Scott Rendell were constantly moving and try to find room.
With the U's defence standing firm, Webster was net to try an audacious shot that flew over the bar from over 30 yards, but in the 17th minute the home side took the lead.
A United attack broke down and Burton counterattacked, winger Keith Gilroy using his pace to get away from Albrighton and sliding the ball to Shaun Harrad to finish from eight yards.
Burton followed the goal with a couple of minutes of extended possession and Gleeson showed his frustration with a clattering challenge on Gilroy, receiving a yellow card on his return from an automatic one match ban, and on 21 Mark Peters was penalised for a 50/50 tussle for the ball with Clare and Clare drifted the 30-yard free kick wide.
United's best chance so far came on 28 when Rob Wolleaston cleverly allowed the ball to run for Mark Convery who lifted a rasping 25-yarder a foot over the bar, and two minutes later Rendell's flick on was miskicked by Burton defender Corbett but the alert Boylan was just unable to get there in time.
The tackles were flying in from both sides in a competitive match but Mr Scott preferred to deliver a warning to the players concerned rather than issue an immediate booking, and tried to play advantage rather than disrupt the flow of the game.
Burton threatened again on 37 and Danny Potter kept his side in the game with a top class save. Brewers captain Greaves met Gilroy's corner with a header that Potter tipped over the bar at full-stretch, and Scott Rendell headed away the second flagkick.
The home side finished the half strongly and forced another corner on 42, which Potter punched away and although Greaves got his head to the ball he put it wide, and the final chance of the half was a long-range volley from Gilroy that Potter saved comfortably.
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United started well but conceded and have struggled to get a foothold back into the match. It's all to play for after the break."
Second half:
With the U's attacking the end containing the away supporters, both sides emerged unchanged for the second half and a much-improved United were level five minutes into the half.
A free kick 35 yards out was tapped by Convery to Stephen Reed and he registered his first goal for the club with a powerful drive that deflected off a Burton player and looped into the far corner of the net in front of the ecstatic U's fans.
Seconds after the restart Clare broke into the area but was denied by Albrighton's well-timed sliding challenge, and on 54 Clare beat United's offside trap but Potter saved brilliantly and Harrad's follow-up was cleared behind for a corner that Greaves headed wide.
Lee Boylan almost scrambled the loose ball home when Kevin Poole dropped it in the crowded area but the ball was cleared off the line by a last gasp clearance, debutant Paul Carden drove a long range drive wide from 35 yards out on the left, and on 57 Dan Gleeson's excellent cross was tipped over for a corner.
Despite that good spell of pressure, United were struggling to retain possession and Jimmy Quinn made a double change on the hour, bringing on the experience of Leo Fortune-West and the fresh legs of Courtney Pitt for Lee Boylan and Mark Convery.
Three minutes later Clare fed the ball to McGrath in the area and he drew a great reflex save from Potter to deny a certain goal and keep the scores level.
Referee Graham Scott had impressed throughout the game, ignoring Nigel Clough's constant protestations from the touchline and missing very little, and in the 65th minute he had no hesitation in producing a red card to Daryl Clare for a clear elbow on Mark Peters.
Two minutes later United were ahead, substitute Courtney Pitt tearing down the left and producing a pinpoint cross for Scott Rendell to turn home his 13th BSP goal of the season from six yards.
Burton were far from dead and buried though, despite being a man down and a goal behind. Aaron Webster was causing problems overlapping down the left and in the 74th minute his cross was headed over the bar by lone striker Harrad..
Mark Albrighton was booked for a 76th minute foul on Harrad and Fortune-West blocked the free kick behind while Albrighton cleared the resulting corner. Burton kept the pressure on and soon afterwards the impressive Harrad brought the ball down on his chest but saw his shot blocked by Albrighton's studs.
With ten minutes remaining Michael Simpson was booked for a foul on Reed, and soon afterwards Rendell went down under pressure in the area and the ball ran to Wolleaston who whipped a shot inches wide of the post.
Nigel Clough made a change a minute later, withdrawing winger Mark Goodfellow for defender Darren Stride who was pushed straight up front as an emergency striker, and with Burton trying everything to get back into the game the action was frenetic and error strewn.
The experience of Paul Carden shone through at this stage as he sat calmly in front of the back three and allowed Wolleaston and Pitt to find space against the committed home side, and a good move down the right in the 85th minute saw Wolleaston beat his defender and lift a good cross into the area but Fortune-West mis-hit the ball at the goalkeeper.
A minute later Wolleaston drew a good save from Poole with a long-range strike, on 89 big Leo made space for an angled shot from just outside the area but put it too close to Poole, and during the four tense minutes of added time United won another two corners in front of their noisy fans before the final whistle heralded celebrations at another memorable win.
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Mark Peters, Mark Albrighton (c), Michael Morrison; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Paul Carden, Mark Convery (Courtney Pitt 60'), Stephen Reed; Scott Rendell, Lee Boylan (Leo Fortune-West 60').
Subs not used: Michael Hyem, Gavin Hoyte, Robbie Willmott.
Booked: Gleeson foul 19', Albrighton foul 76'
Burton Albion:
Kevin Poole, Andy Corbett, Mark Greaves (c), Tony James, Aaron Webster; Mark Goodfellow (Darren Stride 81'), John McGrath, Michael Simpson, Keith Gilroy; Shaun Harrad, Daryl Clare.
Subs not used: Jake Edwards, Ryan Austin, Dave Farrell, Saul Deeney.
Booked: Simpson foul 79'
Sent off: Clare violent conduct 65'
Referee: Mr Graham Scott
Att: 2,263 (away 374)
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"A fantastic second half fight back saw United come from behind to clinch a fifth consecutive win. Trailing to Shaun Harrad's 17th minute goal, United were under par before the break but were transformed by the interval. Stephen Reed's deflected restored parity five minutes after the re-start and United's cause was further boosted when Burton's danger man Daryl Clare lost his cool on a freezing night and was sent off for an elbow. The U's took full advantage moments later when Scott Rendell won the match."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Danny Potter - for a string of superb saves at crucial times."
Ref: Mr Scott - didn't miss much and refused to be intimidated by the home crowd and manager. 8/10."
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