United were made to work hard for their 2-0 win against an Altrincham side that belied their fifth-from-bottom position. Lee McEvilly scored in his second consecutive home game to put United ahead on 23 but visiting keeper Stuart Coburn was inspired and prevented United from extending the lead. It looked costly when the visitors equalised with ten minutes left, but Mark Convery's deflected shot restored the lead five minutes from time.

Jimmy Quinn made one change to the side that won 5-0 at home to Droylsden on Tuesday night, restoring Mark Convery to the centre of midfield in place of the injured Danny Brown (ankle). Courtney Pitt continued in a role behind the front two.

Altrincham boss Graham Heathcote made one change to the team that drew 2-2 at home to York, calling up striker Colin Little for the injured Tom Cahill, and changed from his preferred 4-4-2 to a 3-5-2 formation with Toulson and Jennings on the flanks.

Cheered on by over 1,000 Junior U's and their friends and families in the South Stand, United started brightly and went close in the second minute when Dan Gleeson's cross deflected goalwards off a defender and goalkeeper Stuart Coburn reached the ball just before Lee McEvilly.

Two minutes later Stephen Reed advanced down the left and delivered a cross towards Scott Rendell that Greg Young did well to stretch and head away. McEvilly was frustrated by the offside flag in the tenth minute but there was no such problem two minutes later when the flag stayed down as Gleeson made a strong run before picking out McEvilly, Coburn saving well with his feet, and Pitt had a shot blocked away at the resulting corner.

James Jennings was booked for clattering into Gleeson on 16 and a minute later the visitors showed they would threaten on the counterattack when they earned a corner that Danny Potter saved, but their offside trap was sprung again when United took the lead in the 23rd minute.

The flag stayed down as Scott Rendell scampered down the right and then picked out Lee McEvilly in the middle of the area, and he struck a low finish into the bottom far corner to notch his second consecutive goal for the U's.

United almost extended the lead within two minutes when Rendell nodded the ball into the area and Gleeson cut in from the right to power a shot that was diverted behind, and at the other end Altrincham threatened on the counterattack and Toulson's shot across the face of goal was diverted behind by the stretching Mark Albrighton, the resulting corner curled straight over the bar.

Stephen Reed fired well wide on 28 after Rob Wolleaston had won possession and advanced with men to his left, and for the Robins Jennings overlapped down the left and cut in to drive a long-range effort wide of the far post.

McEvilly and defender Ryan Shotton had clashed repeatedly throughout the half and on 32 the striker was flattened off the ball, protesting afterwards to the referee, and he was involved again three minutes later when he rounded Altrincham captain Darren Tinson and was pulled down a yard outside the area.

Altrincham made a substitution before the free kick was taken, sending on Christopher Lane for the limping Tinson. Reed lifted the free kick into the area and Albrighton made contact with a powerful volley, but Coburn made a superb reaction save to tip it over the bar.

An entertaining and competitive half continued as Gleeson had a header saved, Jennings had a long-range effort blocked by Wolleaston, and McEvilly made spectacular efforts to connect with a Gleeson cross in stoppage time, and the ground was buzzing with conversation as the half-time whistle brought the action to a temporary halt.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"An entertaining half between two well-matched sides. United have scored the goal, they could have had more but Altrincham look a threat going forward themselves. It's not over yet."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged and with United attacking the Newmarket Road end Reed had an early cross cleared and Wolleaston saw his cross plucked from the air by Coburn, but the early stages of the half were prevented from flowing by a series of free kicks.

Altrincham were far from out of this game and on 55 Jennings' cross was cleared by Albrighton as far as Little, whose stinging volley was only parried by the diving Potter but Convery hacked it away.

Four minutes later a good flowing move involving Pitt and Rendell saw Convery cross the ball to McEvilly, but although the big striker stuck out a foot he was unable to turn the ball inside the post, and at the other end an Altrincham free kick led to a chance for Chris Senior whose near post header was superbly saved by Potter.

The busy Gleeson's 66th minute cross was met by Rendell, but the striker was denied a certain goal by Greg Young's brave defensive header, the defender colliding with the post in doing so.

Reed's corner bobbled around the area before it was cleared but moments later McEvilly pounced on a loose clearance and picked out Convery, the midfielder's cross was missed by the keeper but was hacked away again in a scramble and Rendell was harshly booked for challenging for the loose ball

Altrincham made a like-for-like change up front on 68 to bring on Joe O'Neill on for Senior, and three minutes later Greg Young, who had required treatment after his brave goal-saving header, was replaced by Richard Battersby.

Mark Convery started and almost finished a good move on 71 when he played a ball down the line to McEvilly, he picked out Gleeson in space whose ball across the face of goal was met by Convery but he was denied by Coburn's feet as the visiting 'keeper continued to hold United at bay, almost single-handedly.

United's failure to make the most of their chances was almost punished on 74 when they were denied a clear free kick for a foul on McEvilly and the striker was still on the ground as Altrincham counterattacked, Lawton crashing a scorching shot off the underside of the bar, which was clutched gratefully by Potter.

Back came United and Rendell's good cross was met by McEvilly with a fantastic header, but again Coburn was there to tip the ball over, and when McEvilly connected with Reed's flagkick it was no surprise to see the visiting keeper make another save.

As this good spell continued, McEvilly chased a 76th minute through ball into the area but was pushed off balance by a defender as he shaped to shoot and the save was comfortable for Coburn.

The visitors fitted in a rare corner before Jimmy Quinn made his first change on 78, bringing on Ben Farrell for Courtney Pitt who had worked tirelessly in support of the front two and received deserved applause as he came off to be replaced by Farrell, making his second sub appearance since arriving from Bedford Town last week.

With ten minutes remaining Rob Wolleaston picked up possession on the left and advanced to fire inches wide of the far post from 25 yards, but then United were made to pay when Altrincham scored.

It came from a counterattacking move down the right, Joe O'Neill rarely getting the better of Morrison to release Colin Little behind the defence, and as Potter came off his line Little rounded the keeper to calmly place a low shot from the centre of the area

Robbie Willmott had been readied to come on and the change was made immediately after the goal, the teenager coming on for McEvilly who had run himself into the ground in another impressive game.

Stephen Reed drove a free kick wide after Convery was brought down right on the edge of the area after a good run, Gleeson fired wide from 25 yards a minute later, but United took the lead again with five minutes remaining,

It was Mark Convery who finally beat Coburn, although it took a deflection to make sure. The midfielder's 22-yard shot was aimed inside the far post but diverted off both Shotton and Lane and flew inside the near post, giving the previously unbeatable goalkeeper no chance as he tried to change direction. There was an explosion of celebrations around the ground and goalscorer Convery was buried by a pile of his team-mates, requiring brief attention from physio Greg Reid before he could continue.

Scott Rendell had received little protection throughout a hard-fought game and the referee earned further grumbles from the home crowd when he gave nothing after the striker was clearly pushed over by two hands in his back.

With two minutes remaining, teenager Michael Hyem came on for Convery and the winning goalscorer, who said in today's programme that he wants to score more goals, left the pitch to massive applause.

With stoppage time approaching, the ball fell to Wolleaston and he volleyed a dipping shot just over the bar, and after five minutes of added time the final whistle signalled a hard-earned three points for United and celebrations around the ground.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton, Wayne Hatswell; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt (Ben Farrell 78'), Mark Convery (Michael Hyem 88'), Stephen Reed; Lee McEvilly (Robbie Willmott 82'), Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Mark Peters, Josh Coulson.

Booked: Rendell foul 67'

Altrincham:
Stuart Coburn, Ryan Shotton, Darren Tinson (Christopher Lane 36'), Greg Young (Richard Battersby 71'); Ryan Toulson, Liam King, Robbie Lawton, Warren Peyton, James Jennings; Colin Little, Chris Senior (Joe O'Neill 68').
Subs not used: Gary Scott, Jake Sedgemore,

Booked: Jennings foul 16'

Referee: Mr Russell Fletcher

Att: 3,595 (away 91)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Three more vital points for the U's but they needed a touch of fortune to see off Altrincham. The visitors may be struggling at the wrong end of the table but they didn't look like it and it took a deflected Mark Convery shot five minutes from time to settle the game. U's played well and took the lead midway through the first half thanks to McEvilly, but visiting keeper Stuart Coburn somehow prevented United from getting the cushion of a second goal and when Colin Little levelled ten minutes from time victory seemed to have been snatched from United's grasp. Convery had other ideas however, and United just about deserved their luck."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Lee McEvilly - a barnstorming performance up front and he proved just too much for the Altrincham defence to deal with. Honourable mentions for Dan Gleeson who had a good game down the right and Stephen Reed who had an equally good one at left wingback, Rob Wolleaston and Mark Convery seemed to be everywhere in the middle of the park, and Michael Morrison was immense at the heart of the defence."

Ref: Mr Fletcher - seemed to get worse as the game went on, made some bizarre decisions and gave Scott Rendell as much protection as a papier-mâché fireguard. 4/10."

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