Despite Danny Brown's admission that he "Got up and popped it back in", he sat out today's game as a result of the dislocated shoulder he suffered during the midweek victory at Rushden & Diamonds. Jimmy Quinn recalled Dan Gleeson to the squad in his place and reverted the formation to 3-5-2.

Following a midweek 4-0 drubbing by York, it was no surprise that Steve Bull rung the changes and he recalled central midfielder Ross Draper to replace Jonathon Loukes, Damien Jarrett replaced Alex Gibson in midfield, and Nathan Smith replaced Nick Wellecomme up front. Like United, Stafford lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.

Cambridge emerged from the dressing room in the knowledge that should results go their way, they could secure their play-off status against Salisbury in a week's time, and after a minute's silence in memory of former manager Alan Moore, the U's kicked off towards the South Stand.

After a touchy-feely start, in the 4th minute Paul Carden sent Courtney Pitt scurrying down the wing and he whipped a teasing cross in towards Lee Boylan who will be aggrieved that he didn't do better after catching the ball with his studs on its way out for a throw in.

Seven minutes in, after a scrappy clearance from Tom Ingram, Paul Carden picked up the pieces and played the ball to Ben Farrell who let fly with a low drive from 30 yards out, placing his shot low inside Danny Alcock's right post. 1-0.

But three minutes later Stafford grabbed their equalizer when Damien Jarrett played a pass to Ross Draper who cut through the centre of a static United defence and squared the ball to the left of a helpless Danny Potter, for Neil Grayson to tap in. Despite calls of offside against Neil Grayson from the Amber faithful, the goal stood, making it 1-1.

After some tidy play from Cambridge, Rob Wolleaston broke into the box in the tenth minute, but an excellent tackle from Wayne Daniel gave the U's their first corner. Courtney Pitt played it in towards Morrison who headed down towards Lee Boylan, who had his back to goal, but Stafford managed to clear their lines.

With the stopwatch showing 14 minutes, a long ball from Rob Wolleaston was chased down by Lee Boylan as he raced towards the goal with Damien Jarrett. Danny Alcock came rushing out to clear but only managed to head the ball straight to Courtney Pitt, who spotted Alcock stranded on the edge of his penalty area but chipped the ball 6 yards wide of the goal from 30 yards.

A minute later, the U's won another corner after Wayne Hatswell chased down an overhit Courtney Pitt cross, and from the resulting move Morrison rose highest and headed powerfully to the right of Danny Alcock who reacted sharply and held the header well.

20 minutes in, a long kick from Danny Alcock in the Stafford goal was contested by Albrighton and Grayson, with the referee adjudging that Albrighton had climbed on Grayson and awarding Stafford a free kick 25 yards from goal. However Samy Mawene's free kick caused no problems for Danny Potter as it cleared the Newmarket Road End.

A tidy one-two between Gleeson and Farrell on 24 resulted in Gleeson darting down the wing and whipping in a pacy cross into towards Mark Beesley, who won the header but couldn't keep it underneath the bar.

Courtney Pitt picked up the ball after some slack play from Ingram on 38, and after getting wide he delivered an inch perfect cross towards Lee Boylan who attempted a powerful diving header, but sent the ball just wide of the Stafford goal.

On 41 Stafford won a free kick from a fairly innocuous challenge by Rob Wolleaston and Ishmael Reid curled the resulting 30 yarder in, which was deflected over for a corner by Gleeson. The resulting corner was powerfully headed away by Albrighton.

When the half time whistle went, the amber faithful applauded the U's from the pitch, showing their appreciation for the amount of effort shown, but the visitors will have been far more pleased with the half time scoreline of 1-1.

Neil Grayson caused problems just after the restart, winning a series of headers which eventually fell for Samy Mawene who attempted a shot from 25 yards but it went comfortably wide of Potter's left hand post.

Courtney Pitt missed the chance of the match on 49 minutes when, after some good play from United on the edge of the Stafford box, Farrell whipped a dangerous cross towards an unmarked Pitt, who couldn't make contact six yards out when he looked certain to score.

In the 54th minute, Gleeson played a nice ball inside to Beesley who forced his way into the area, where Sangare seemed to make heavy contact with Beesley inside the area but the referee saw differently and awarded Stafford a goal kick despite United's protestations.

Shortly after, in the 56th minute, Cambridge United won a corner, which was taken by Pitt after minor treatment to Lee Boylan who was down in the area. Michael Morrison was the target, but he headed wide from 15 yards.

Two minutes on, Stafford had a chance to take the lead when Ross Draper won a challenge with Mark Albrighton on the edge of the area; Ishmael Reid picked up the loose ball then slotted Nathan Smith in who snatched at his shot, firing it just wide from ten yards.

Just after the hour, a flick on from a Ross Draper pass by Ishmael Reid put Natham Smith clear of a stuttering Cambridge back line, who called for offside to no avail. Bearing down on goal, Smith curled the ball in the top corner leaving Danny Potter no chance. 2-1.

With United rallying, Stafford made their first change in the 68th minute, bringing on Jonathon Loukes for Tom Ingram, and in the 68th minute, Damien Jarrett earned the first booking of the game for body checking Courtney Pitt in front of the Habbin.

Two minutes later Rob Wolleaston won the ball in the middle, opting to set Courtney Pitt clear down the left, Pitt cut inside but Alcock dived well at his feet to claim the ball, taking a knock for his trouble.

After 71 minutes, a long free kick from the middle of the park was headed behind by Michael Morrison from just outside the six yard box, and the freshly booked Jarrett had to receive treatment as Morro landed on his ankle. The corner was taken by Mawene, but the ref gave the standard free kick for there being too much pushing in the penalty area. .

With 16 minutes left on the clock Jimmy Quinn rung the changes, with Magno Vieira coming on for Lee Boylan and Stephen Reed coming on for Ben Farrell. Steve Bull also made a change, bringing on Nick Wellecomme for Nathan Smith.

United won a free kick 25 yards from goal on 75 minutes, Courtney Pitt curling in a dangerous ball that Grayson managed to clear for a corner with an extravagant diving header, which he only just managed to avoid putting in his own net.

In the next stoppage, Quinn made his final substitution, bringing on Jack Jeffery in place of the dangerous Courtney Pitt. At the same time Steve Bull brought on Sebastian Arnolin for Damian Jarrett, who was understandably in no rush to leave the field.

With time running out, Stephen Reed picked up a clearance from Stafford and passed it out to Wolleaston, he played a cross towards Jeffery who was arriving at the back stick, however, he headed two yards wide from six yards out.

Inside the last minute of the four of stoppage time, good work by Mark Albrighton resulted in a cross that was headed away, but only as far as Mark Beesley who fired in a low shot that struck the post with the keeper stranded. It was to be the last chance before the whistle blew for full time, giving Stafford an unlikely result which could seriously impair United's play-off chances.

A standing ovation from the 48 travelling Stafford fans greeted the victorious visitors, as the United faithful headed off home or even to drown their sorrows at the CFU Beer Festival.

Alix Dorrington

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton (c), Wayne Hatswell; Dan Gleeson, Ben Farrell (Stephen Reed 74'), Paul Carden, Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt (Jack Jeffery 81'); Mark Beesley, Lee Boylan (Magno Vieira 74').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Robbie Willmott.

Booked: Carden foul 74'

Stafford Rangers:
Danny Alcock, Djoumin Sangere, Wayne Daniel (c), Chris Flynn; Damian Jarrett (Sebastian Arnolin 81'), Samy Mawene, Ross Draper, Tom Ingram (Jonathon Loukes 68'), Ishmael Reid; Nathan Smith (Nick Wellecomme 74'), Neil Grayson.
Subs not used: Danny Allen, Kevin Street.

Booked: Jarrett foul 69', Mawene foul 84'

Referee: Mr A. Hendley

Att: 3,810 (away 48)

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