Magno Vieira's first two goals for Cambridge United secured a last day win at Northwich and lifted the U's to a second place finish.

Jimmy Quinn, celebrating the birth of new baby son Alexander James on Friday morning, made seven changes to the side that won against Torquay United on Tuesday. In came Mark Peters, Josh Coulson, Ben Farrell, Paul Carden, Lee McEvilly, Magno Vieira, and Robbie Willmott for his first U's start. Out went Mark Albrighton, Michael Morrison, Wayne Hatswell, Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt, Lee Boylan and Mark Beesley.

The U's lined up with a flat back four again, Gleeson and Brown in the full-back roles outside a master and apprentice pairing of Peters and Coulson, with Willmott and Reed in the wide midfield roles outside Farrell and Wolleaston, behind a front pair of Magno Vieira and Lee McEvilly, following up Tuesday's sub appearance by making his first start for six weeks after recovering from an ankle injury.

Northwich Victoria manager Dino Maamria made three changes to the side that secured safety from relegation with a win at Stevenage on Tuesday, bringing in Welch, Byrne and Burns for Meadowcroft, Crowell and Steele.

The match began at a very subdued tempo and it was the home side that threatened first when Byrom's fifth minute shot deflected behind off Ben Farrell and the same player fired wide at the resulting corner.

Robbie Willmott showed his pace down the wing and delivered a driven cross but Kerr headed the ball away, and two minutes later there were corners at both ends. Farrell headed away Byrne's corner for Northwich, and at the other end Reed's outswinger was cleared by Welch.

Jimmy Quinn had been watching the game from high up in the stand but he was clearly not happy with what he was seeing and joined Willy Wordsworth in the technical area to issue urgent instructions to his players.

Magno Vieira, handed his first start for a few weeks with his loan from Crawley due to expire after today's game, gave the Northwich defence warning of his pace in the 22nd minute when he cut in from the left to drive a shot that was blocked by Welch, but a minute later he put United into the lead.

Racing onto Dan Gleeson's long ball over the top, the Brazilian took advantage as Kirk hesitated and outpaced the defence into the area to slot home his first goal with a well-taken finish, leaving two defenders and the goalkeeper arguing in the aftermath.

Two minutes later Vieira got behind the hesitant defence again but this time Welsh made an important interception, and Dan Gleeson stayed down for treatment in the 27th minute and looked to be in some discomfort, but after a spell on the sidelines he returned gingerly to the action.

Dino Maamria instructed his side to switch to a 4-4-2 formation with wingback Ryan Brown dropping to right back, and it had a positive effect as on 31 Williams' cross was headed over by Burns and two minutes later David Brown got into the area but fired wide.

Josh Coulson showed good pace and awareness as Burns broke through on goal, the youngster getting back to make a good recovery tackle to nick the ball away and behind for a corner, and Lee McEvilly showed his value at both ends of the pitch with a defensive header before Brown completed the clearance.

The pace of the game was still fairly subdued and although the home side had spelled of possession they struggled to break through the U's back line.

The next chance arrived on 37 when Williams' cross was headed behind by Peters and Danny Potter punched Byrom's corner away, and in the closing minutes of the half Ben Farrell drove a shot over the bar from the left of the area while Michael Byrne cut in from the left but his shot was collected with ease by Potter.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United are a little disjointed, which is to be expected after so many changes, but so far so good for the U's, Magno Vieira with a well-taken goal against a disorganised Northwich defence. They have seen plenty of the ball but haven't caused too many problems as yet. More of the same after the break please."

Second half:
The second half kicked off with the U's attacking the end housing the travelling supporters but there was defending to do in the early stages as first Byrne and then Burns both had long range shots from wide caught by Potter.

Maamria made two early changes to bring on striker Lee Steele for David Brown and then Jamie Mullan for Danny Williams, while Michael Carr collected the first booking for a foul on Willmott.

Jimmy Quinn made his first change to bring on Courtney Pitt for Reed in the 57th minute, and four minutes later Willmott raced onto Paul Carden's ball down the wing and beat two men before crossing to where Carden had made a good run into the area, but he was leaning back as he took the shot and couldn't keep the ball down.

Moments after Danny Potter had collected Lee Steele's 25-yarder, the home fans gave a warm welcome to Jonny Allen as he came off the bench for Aaron Burns to make a rare appearance in an injury-hit season, then Robbie Willmott showed his growing confidence as he made a good run and had a shot hacked away in front of goal.

A pacy United move on 66 saw Willmott cross for Pitt who got in front of his marker and headed the ball down for Vieira but the Brazilian had drifted offside and he was denied his second goal. Two minutes later Mark Beesley replaced Lee McEvilly after the big man took another step towards match fitness after his injury layoff.

Carr lashed an opportunist strike wide of the far post from way out on the left with 20 minutes remaining, and five minutes later Beesley almost connected with a sloppy backpass as he harried the defence but the ball was hacked to safety.

Northwich midfielder Carr headed a corner wide on 76 and three minutes later, with the home side enjoying some pressure, Potter rose to claim a further corner by Byrne.

At the other end United counterattacked to win a corner, which was cleared, but Pitt whipped in a follow-up cross and Beesley spun away from his marker but was just inches away from connecting with the ball.

The U's had lifted the pace a little and it paid off in the 84th minute when Magno Vieira connected with Beesley flick-on to turn smartly and fire a low shot beyond the keeper and inside the far post to lift United into second place.

Beesley almost made it 3-0 in the 90th minute but his shot from inside the area was charged down by Welch, and in stoppage time Pitt cut in to lift a wayward shot over the bar from 25 yards but the result was already beyond doubt.

This win was United's fifth in the last six games and lifted the U's above Torquay, who lost at home to Vieira's club Crawley, and into a second place finish in the Blue Square Premier.

Then amidst scenes of mutual congratulations between the home and away fans, former U's loanee Richard Logan produced an equaliser for Exeter deep in stoppage time at Burton to snatch fourth place, which ensured that Cambridge United play Burton in the play-off semi-finals.

With Torquay having requested to play their play-off matches first because they play in the FA Trophy final, our first leg is due to take place at Burton on Friday evening with the second leg scheduled for Tuesday 6th May.

Northwich Victoria:
Scott Tynan, Michael Welch (c), Natt Kerr, Mark Roberts; Danny Williams (Jamie Mullan 53'), Michael Carr, Michael Byrne, Joel Byrom, Ryan Brown; Aaron Burns (Jonny Allen 64'), David Brown (Lee Steele 51').
Subs not used: Ben Connett, Danny Meadowcroft.

Booked: Carr foul 53'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Josh Coulson, Mark Peters, Danny Brown (c); Robbie Willmott, Ben Farrell, Paul Carden, Stephen Reed (Courtney Pitt 57'); Magno Vieira, Lee McEvilly (Mark Beesley 68').
Subs not used: Rob Wolleaston, Michael Morrison, Wayne Hatswell.

Referee: Mr D Richardson

Att: 1,512

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A dramatic day of fluctuating fortunes saw Cambridge United pip Torquay to second place by a single goal. United made seven changes for today's match and took a while to settle but once they had they rarely looked in trouble. Magno Vieira signed off his loan spell with a goal in each half, and while he was doing the business for the U's his parent club Crawley were beating Torquay to deny them the runners-up spot. United now face Burton on Friday and the following Tuesday and go into the play-offs with form and confidence having already won there this season. A repeat of the league results against them will send United to Wembley."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Magno Vieira - two well-taken goals, plenty of running and lots of memories. There were a lot of good performances but particularly honourable mentions for Danny Brown at left back and Robbie Willmott who ended up playing wing back and playing it well, with good work in either box."

Ref: Mr Richardson - barely noticeable and kept the game flowing; what more could you ask for. 9/10."

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