Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast after rain
Goals:
Rushden: Rankine 75'
United: Beesley 65', 74'

A Mark Beesley brace secured a second successive vital away win as United inched closer to cementing a play-off place.

Jimmy Quinn made one enforced change to the side that won at Droylsden on Saturday, Mark Albrighton returning from suspension to face one of his former clubs in place of the injured Josh Coulson (back) in the centre of the back four, with Michael Morrison and Danny Brown in the fullback roles. On the bench, youth team goalkeeper was included in place of Mark Peters (ill).

Rushden & Diamonds manager Garry Hill made two changes to the side that lost 4-3 after extra-time in the Setanta Shield final to Aldershot, calling up defender Michael Corcoran and midfielder Lee Tomlin in place of Osano and Kelly.

After each team had dispersed from their own pre-match huddle, the match kicked off with United defending the end packed with the away fans who had been singing from well before kick-off and simply cranked up the volume as the match got underway.

It was a high-tempo start from United and Courtney Pitt made good use of the space he found down the left, testing the defence with two early crosses and then winning a corner in the ninth minute after sneaking between two defenders and forcing a hurried clearance.

Pitt's corner was headed on by Albrighton, crossed back in by Ben Farrell, and was eventually cleared back to Pitt for another cross, which former Rushden skipper Hatswell met at close-range and was blocked by the 'keeper. A lightning breakaway move saw Challinor and Rankine burst through the middle against Albrighton and Challinor drove a shot wide of the far post.

The early pace settled a little and the home side began to retain possession, one move culminating in a Curtis Woodhouse shot over the bar from 20 yards, while in the 22nd minute Rankine had time and space to pick out Challinor but the former Cambridge City man headed straight at Danny Potter, and two minutes later he got between two defenders to meet Burgess' cross but this time fortunately headed inches wide.

After withstanding an extended spell of pressure following a Rushden free kick, United counterattacked on the half hour through Ben Farrell who raced forward before picking out Mark Beesley but the striker's cross hit Howell.

The home side continued to enjoy the better of a very open half, although Boylan headed over the bar two minutes later, and in the 42nd minute striker Michael Rankine was booked for dissent after throwing the ball away in protest at the award of a free kick.

There was a break in play soon afterwards as Paul Carden and Curtis Woodhouse stayed down after a clash of heads, with former boxer Woodhouse disappearing down the tunnel for further treatment while Carden eventually resumed with a bandage around his head and a changed shirt.

Danny Brown collected a booking in stoppage time for a foul on Tomlin and the resulting Burgess free kick was initially missed by Danny Potter, but he smothered the ball when it was crossed in again by Challinor just before the half-time whistle.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"So far, so good for United, with results elsewhere helping, but they've had some hairy moments in defence, which they have just about survived."

Second half:
United were now attacking the stand containing their supporters but the home side were first out of the blocks as Tom Shaw advanced to drill a shot over the bar from 25 yards inside 20 seconds and a minute later Albrighton had to head away Rankine's cross.

Four minutes into the half Stephen Reed jogged on to replace Carden, who had suffered that first half head injury, and two minutes later a good strong run by Mark Beesley forced a corner but Dale Roberts raced off his line to make a good catch.

United were looking more threatening, with Boylan darting everywhere up front, and in the 55th minute Courtney Pitt started a spell of concerted pressure when he beat one man and won a corner off the second. The flagkick was headed behind by Gulliver under pressure, and at the next corner Hatswell rose superbly to meet Wolleaston's ball but his downward header was turned equally superbly round the post by Roberts.

Pitt's next corner was headed behind by Hope and Wolleaston took the fourth flagkick short to Reed who crossed and Lee Boylan rose between two defenders to head goalwards and although the ball was pushed away Farrell pounced with a 25-yard strike that was saved by Roberts with Boylan following in.

Reed picked out Boylan to head over the bar on 57 and three minutes later the home side won a corner that Burgess fired over the bar from the edge of the area. They won another corner on 64 that was headed away by Morrison but Tomlin crossed the ball back in to keep the pressure on until Stephen Reed made a vital interception to launch a counterattack from the Rushden goalmouth.

He advanced away from the danger area and linked with Wolleaston, eventually releasing Mark Beesley through on goal to slide it past Roberts from 12 yards for his second goal in two games.

Moments after the restart Challinor was booked for flattening Reed and Lee Tomlin had the ball in the net on 68 but he had already been flagged offside, and United doubled the lead in the 74th minute.

Courtney Pitt was the provider with a superb run and pinpoint cross to the feet of Mark Beesley as he stole in to tuck the ball home at the near post and double the lead with his second goal of the game.

The bouncing away support renewed their singing but the lead was halved within 90 seconds as Tomlin broke away down the left, and with both Pitt and Wolleaston down after challenges earlier in the move he delivered the perfect cross for Rankine to steer home from two yards.

Farrell showed huge commitment to challenge for the ball and win a corner moments after the restart but a free kick was awarded for a U's foul in the area, the home side countered at pace and Danny Brown made a fantastic challenge to race across and stop Rankine breaking away through the middle, staying down afterwards.

The move continued as Rushden picked up possession, but they were flagged offside although the prone Brown was playing them onside, and Burgess was booked for dissent for his prolonged protests. Brown was withdrawn a minute later as Jack Jeffery came on, Reed switching to left back, and the closing minutes proved to be tense as the home side pressed for an equaliser.

With five minutes remaining Hatswell had a header blocked from a Wolleaston corner and Beesley tried a follow-up shot from an acute angle but lifted it over the bar, and Garry Hill responded by sending on the fresh legs of young striker Sam Smith for Challinor.

A minute later Beesley stung Roberts' hands with a 20-yarder that the keeper could only fumble behind, the corner was not cleared and Albrighton had a shot blocked but Ben Farrell's pass was cut out and the home side broke away but fortunately Tomlin's shot was well off target.

Jack Jeffery had a cross-shot saved and the West Ham loanee showed strength and intelligence in the closing minutes as United tried to keep possession in stoppage time. Farrell also had a cross snatched from the air and Magno Vieira replaced Boylan in the fourth minute of stoppage time just seconds before the final whistle was greeted by the 1,176 away fans who comprised nearly half of the total attendance.

United maintain their grip on third place and althoughStevenage and Burton both won, and top two Aldershot and Weymouth drew, Exeter lost 2-0 at Salisbury meaning they are now five points adrift of United. [League table]

Rushden & Diamonds:
Dale Roberts, Michael Corcoran, Chris Hope (c), Phil Gulliver, Dean Howell; Lee Tomlin, Tom Shaw, Curtis Woodhouse, Andy Burgess; Jon Challinor (Sam Smith 85'), Michael Rankine.
Subs not used: Martyn Margarson, Andy Gooding, Conal Platt, Abdou El Kholti.

Booked: Rankine dissent 42', Challinor foul 66', Burgess dissent 78'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton, Wayne Hatswell, Danny Brown (Jack Jeffery 81'); Ben Farrell, Rob Wolleaston, Paul Carden (Stephen Reed 49'), Courtney Pitt; Mark Beesley, Lee Boylan (Magno Vieira 90').
Subs not used: Robbie Willmott, Phil Smith (GK).

Booked: Brown foul 45'

Referee: Mr B. Malone

Att: 2,358 (away 1,176)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Cambridge United kept their play-off campaign on track with an impressive win at Rushden. The home side have nothing to play for but you would never have known it as they gave the U's a few hair-raising moments before the break. It was a different story after the interval and Mark Beesley scored well-taken goals on 65 and 74 minutes but Rushden replied immediately. The Amber Nation were out in force again though, and they roared their heroes home to an important three points."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Lee Boylan - held the ball up well, particularly in the second half, chased everything and covered every blade of grass. Honourable mentions for Courtney Pitt and Rob Wolleaston who ran themselves into the ground again, Ben Farrell who impressed down the right wing and looks as though he was always meant to play at this level or higher, while Wayne Hatswell mopped up everything in the centre of defence, but it's almost unfair to select individuals after a solid team victory."

Ref: Mr Malone - always looked to play advantage, although if I have to be critical he was almost too ready to play on rather than give free kicks, but rather that than the other way around. 8/10."

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