Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side that lost 2-1 at Farsley Celtic last weekend, calling up Michael Morrison in place of Josh Coulson and handing loanee Magno Vieira his first start in place of the injured Ben Farrell (ankle). The Brazilian played up front alongside Boylan and McEvilly as Quinn opted for an adventurous 3-4-3 formation.

Woking manager Frank Gray made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 at home to Stafford, bringing in Paul Lorraine, Goma Lambu, former U Liam Marum and Matt Ruby in place of Adam Green, Damian Batt, Jason Norville and suspended skipper Tom Hutchinson. Another former U, Danny Bunce, was named as stand-in captain.

United kicked off towards the South Stand, which was filled with youngsters from the Youth Development scheme and their families and friends, and Magno Vieira earned applause in the first minute for a strong positive run at a defender that earned a corner.

Marvin Morgan headed Pitt's flagkick away but United kept the visitors pinned in their own half for the opening minutes as the front men stretched and tested the Woking defence, and new man Vieira demonstrated pace, strength and guile as he settled in.

Woking began to threaten on the break as former Histon target Morgan showed great pace and awareness, releasing Liam Marum for a chance that was cleared by Mark Albrighton, and in the tenth minute Quamina tested Danny Potter with a shot on the breakaway.

At the other end Vieira's good pass to release Boylan was scrambled away and on 15 Pitt lifted an excellent cross to the far post where McEvilly rose to head the ball back across the face of goal but Ross Worner made a good save.

Marum had a shot charged down by Albrighton near the penalty spot, on 20 Pitt's cross was turned behind for a corner, and four minutes later Pattison volleyed Bunce's corner wide.

But there was a lengthy stoppage from the 26th minute when Lee McEvilly landed awkwardly after jumping for a ball and stayed down in obvious pain as he received attention from physio Greg Reid and the club doctor. His ankle was strapped and the big striker received oxygen before he was lifted carefully onto the stretcher and was applauded from the pitch after a seven minute stoppage, lifting a hand to acknowledge the crowd as midfielder Mark Convery came on to replace him.

United resumed with five in midfield but were clearly unsettled by the injury and Pattison almost profited as he chased a through ball that eluded the U's defence, but United countered and Boylan drew a save from Worner with a 36th minute cross-shot.

Marvin Morgan was booked a minute later when he pulled back Carden as the midfielder threatened to get away from him, airing his discontent to the referee as the free kick was awarded. Goma Lambu and Courtney Pitt were fighting their own personal battle on that flank and the next booking followed on 41 when Lambu brought Pitt down and was booked for persistent fouling.

Lambu was involved again soon afterwards as play entered stoppage time, Lee Boylan flicking the ball on into the area and as Pitt stretched for the ball he was brought down in the area by his shadow Lambu.

The Woking man escaped a second card and Lee Boylan stepped up confidently to bury the ball into the bottom left corner as goalkeeper Ross Worner dived the wrong way. It was the little striker's sixth goal in four games and his tenth league goal of the season.

Woking threatened immediately as stoppage time continued into a fourth minute, first Michael Morrison heading away a free kick by Matthew Gray, and as the visitors pressed forward Potter punched a cross away to the edge of the area and Gray headed Lambu's cross over the bar.

Half-time 1-0

Second half:
Woking started brightly and Liam Marum went close in the opening moments following a breakdown in communication between Potter and Peters. Peters' back pass allowed the former U's striker to close down Potter and the goalkeeper's clearance was blocked, hit Marum's head and bounced free, and as Pattison acrobatically followed up he put the ball wide with the net gaping.

The U's defence continued to look shaky as Gray's shot was blocked by Peters and a follow-up shot was cleared behind, and at the resulting corner Gray was allowed too much space but fortunately headed fractionally wide.

Woking earned a free kick in a dangerous position when Carden brought down Bunce on the left and Gray's ball into the area fell for Marum who had time and space to turn, but the young striker pulled the shot wide.

United's players seemed to shake themselves out of their daze and on 56 a swift counterattack saw Courtney Pitt burst into the area onto a through ball but he was closely shadowed by Lambu and fired wide as his opposite number arrived.

Two minutes later an excellent flowing move saw Pitt meet Mark Convery's excellent cross and volley the ball an inch wide, but the move lifted the home crowd who responded with a fresh chorus of singing and clapping.

The visitors still looked dangerous on the break, especially through the lively Morgan, and a 63rd minute shot from Pattison was cleared behind by Peters for a Bunce corner that Peters headed away, and although Pattison connected with the ball he volleyed high and wide.

Pitt was causing problems all over the pitch and three minutes later he picked out Gleeson with a cross but the U's wingback was eased off the ball by Bunce as he was about to connect, and on 72 Quamina was booked for wresting Pitt to the ground.

Woking made their first change on 73 to bring on pacy forward Guiseppe Sole for Marum, and three minutes later Jimmy Quinn sent on the fresh legs of Josh Coulson for Peters, who had found the pace of Marum, Morgan and Lambu increasingly troublesome.

Sole showed his pace soon after coming on with a strong forward run and Paul Carden earned deserved applause for a superb challenge to rob him right on the edge of the area. Frank Gray made another change in the 79th minute to send on the towering Jason Norville for Lambu, while United's Mark Beesley replaced Lee Boylan who had run himself into the ground and left the pitch to warm applause.

Norville tested Potter moments after coming on with a shot from the edge of the area, and as the match edged towards an increasingly tense ending Paul Carden brought down Norville three yards outside the area but Sole lifted the free kick comfortably over the bar.

With United having to stand up to further pressure from Woking, Carden was booked for a late challenge on Pattison. Then in stoppage time Wolleaston lifted a ball over the top and Vieira gave chase, forcing Lorraine to put the ball behind for a late corner before the final whistle signalled a valuable home win that closed the gap to Aldershot to ten points.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Mark Albrighton (c), Mark Peters (Josh Coulson 76'), Michael Morrison; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Paul Carden, Courtney Pitt; Magno Vieira, Lee Boylan (Mark Beesley 79'), Lee McEvilly (Mark Convery 32').
Subs not used: Jack Jeffery, Jordan Collins.

Booked: Carden foul 89'

Woking:
Ross Worner, Paul Lorraine, Jay Gasson, Matt Ruby; Goma Lambu (Jason Norville 79'), Bradley Quamina, Matt Gray, Danny Bunce (c); Matt Pattison, Marvin Morgan, Liam Marum (Guiseppe Sole 73').
Subs not used: Nick Gindre, Adam Green, Damian Batt.

Booked: Morgan dissent 38', Lambu unsporting behaviour 41', Quamina 72' foul

Referee: Mr Mike Bull

Att: 3,778 (away 111)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"A Lee Boylan penalty two minutes into first half stoppage time brought the U's back to within ten points of the league leaders, but victory was overshadowed by a serious ankle injury to Lee McEvilly. The United striker landed awkwardly in the first half and was stretchered off after a seven minute delay for treatment, a delay that understandably knocked the United players out of their stride for a while. While Magno Vieira impressed on his full debut, it was one of United longer serving players, Courtney Pitt, who won the penalty that settled the match. Much of the rest was gritty rather than pretty as United ground out an important victory."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Magno Vieira - looks a very astute addition to the squad with vision, presence and the speed of mercury. Honourable mentions for Lee Boylan who worked his socks off and took the penalty with aplomb, Courtney Pitt who ran them ragged down the left, Dan Gleeson who marauded with menace down the right, and Paul Carden who sprayed the ball about to great purpose."

Ref: Mr Bull - got a lot of decisions right, including the penalty, and on balance you can't ask a lot more than that. 7/10."

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