Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: Overcast
Goals:
Forest Green: Fleetwood 37', 50', 72'
United: Boylan 90'

It was unlucky 13 for United as the only unbeaten run in the division was ended at Forest Green Rovers in our 13th game of the season.

Jimmy Quinn made two changes to the side that drew at home to Aldershot on Tuesday night, recalling Stephen Smith and fit-again Gavin Hoyte in place of Stephen Reed and Mark Peters, while Rovers manager Jim Harvey named the same side that beat Stevenage 4-2 on Tuesday, with former U Danny Carey-Bertram restricted to the bench as he returns from injury.

United lined up in the new bright yellow and royal blue third strip, worn today for the first time due to a clash with the FGR black and white striped kit, but it was the home side who made the brighter start. Fleetwood got behind the United defence in the first minute and fired in a shot that was blocked by Mark Albrighton, and three minutes later defender Chris Giles headed over the bar following a throw-in.

United had their first sight of goal in the sixth minute when Michael Morrison showed good skill to beat his man and earn United's first corner of the match, but Ryan Robinson held Mark Convery's whipped-in corner.

The home side continued to press a below-par United and got behind the defence again in the eighth minute, Mark Beesley forcing a save from Danny Potter with a shot from near the penalty spot, and that was the pattern for the next ten minutes as United struggled to get to grips with the lively, confident home side and were exposed down the flanks several times.

United earned only their second corner of the game on 23 when Stephen Smith's long throw-in caused problems but Convery's delivery was easy for the keeper, and four minutes later another long throw from Smith culminated in a Scott Rendell header snatched by Robinson.

Mark Beesley, playing just off striker Stuart Fleetwood, was causing all sorts of problems to United and on 29 the forward made room in the area for a shot but lifted it over the bar. Fleetwood was also keeping the defence occupied and was caught out a couple of times by the offside trap, but on 37 he gave his side the lead.

Fullback Anthony Tonkin broke away down the left and cut inside Gleeson to slide a ball into the area for Fleetwood and the striker beat the offside trap to break into the area and roll his ninth goal of the season into the bottom corner.

United's travelling fans tried to lift their disappointing team with some renewed singing and chanting and in stoppage time former Forest Green loanee Rendell met a long ball over the top, brought it down and cut in from the right and got a rare shot away, but the shot was cleared by Mark Preece who had done well to close him down. Half-time FGR 1-0 United

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A poor half from United who have yet to get going. Behind and deservedly so, there's work to be done to keep the unbeaten run going."

Second half:
United started much more brightly after the break and forced the home side back as they attacked the new away stand behind the goal they were attacking, but Rendell was adjudged offside as the U's tried to mount their first challenge.

With no barrier at the front of that stand the away fans were very close to the action and had a good view as Pitt lifted a good ball into the area under pressure in the 49th minute, which was nodded on by Fortune-West to Convery but the midfielder volleyed just wide.

But the early pressure was turned on its head when United fell two goals behind for the first time this season, Gleeson blocking the first cross but Beesley's follow-up ball into the danger area saw Potter beaten at his near post and Fleetwood tucked his second goal of the game into the bottom corner.

Faced with their biggest test of the season, United launched an attack in the 53rd minute when Pitt raced onto a raking pass from Gleeson and played it inside for Rob Wolleaston whose first time shot drew a save from Robinson, and two minutes later Jimmy Quinn freshened things up with two changes.

Mark Peters came on for Hoyte and Stephen Reed came on for Pitt, with Peters moving up front to form a front three with Rendell and Fortune-West, and on 58 Mark Albrighton was booked for a crunching late challenge on Dodgson.

United's third and final change came a minute later when Lee Boylan returned from a month on the sidelines with an ankle injury to replace Leo Fortune-West, who had been as busy in defence as in attack, and United collected two more bookings in the next few minutes as Dan Gleeson and then Michael Morrison were carded for fouls.

The home side threatened again on 66 when Fleetwood's cross was blocked behind by Reed and Afful's corner was cleared by Albrighton, while Reed tried to find a way through but had his cross headed away two minutes later.

Gleeson lifted a cross into the area on 70 and Peters appeared to be pushed over as he rose to meet it, but United's penalty claims were ignored, to Rendell's obvious fury, and within two minutes Forest Green had put the result beyond much doubt with a third goal.

The flag stayed down as Beesley released Fleetwood to approach one-on-one with Potter, and although the United 'keeper stayed on his feet the in-form striker rounded him with great confidence and completed his hat-trick with aplomb.

Mark Peters collected a booking in the wake of the goal, presumably for arguing that Fleetwood was offside, and Jim Harvey sent on former U Danny Carey-Bertram in place of Beesley and two minutes later withdrew the goalscorer to be replaced by Jonathan Smith.

United kept trying to find a way through and Boylan was a willing runner on his return to action, but tiredness seemed to be creeping into the U's side after a spate of hard-fought games while the home side were brimming with confidence and with nine minutes left Harvey had the luxury of sending on Ollie James for winger Lee Dodgson.

Carey-Bertram was clearly keen to make an impression against the team that released him last season and clashed with a couple of former team-mates as he tried to force his way through, and then there was more controversy with four minutes remaining when Convery played a one-two with Boylan and was brought down as he tried to continue his run into the area, but controversially was booked for diving rather than awarded a free kick

The match finished at a good pace and Gleeson had a corner clutched by Robinson, Carey-Bertram had a low shot blocked by Potter's feet as play entered stoppage time, Afful put one wide under good pressure from Morrison, and Gleeson had two further corners cleared before United snatched a late consolation.

It was comeback man Lee Boylan who scored in the 95th minute, chasing between two defenders as Gleeson's cross bounced in the area and marking his return with a header in the last touch of the game.

Forest Green Rovers:
Ryan Robinson, Darren Jones, Mark Preece, Chris Giles, Anthony Tonkin; Les Afful, Jamie Pittman, Simon Clist, Lee Dodgson (Ollie James 82); Mark Beesley (Danny Carey-Bertram 75'), Stuart Fleetwood (Jonathan Smith 76').
Subs not used: Terry Burton, John Hardiker.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton (c), Gavin Hoyte (Mark Peters 55'); Dan Gleeson, Stephen Smith, Mark Convery, Rob Wolleaston, Courtney Pitt (Stephen Reed 55'); Scott Rendell, Leo Fortune-West (Lee Boylan 59').
Subs not used: Darren Quinton, Michael Hyem.

Booked: Albrighton foul 58', Gleeson foul 61', Morrison 65 foul, Peters 73' dissent, Convery 86' unsporting behaviour

Att: 1,179 (away 301)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Unlucky 13th for the U's as the unbeaten start to the season was comprehensively ended by Forest Green. United started slowly and never really got going in a performance as insipid as their new third choice yellow shirts. United's tormentor-in-chief was Stuart Fleetwood whose second goal in a well-executed hat-trick effectively settled the game five minutes after the re-start. There was scant consolation for the U's when Lee Boylan marked his return from injury with a 95th minute goal, but the run ended can United embark on another one?"

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match:
"Rob Wolleaston - here, there and everywhere in a performance that looked as if he was always metaphorically rolling his sleeves up. Honourable mention for Dan Gleeson who caused a few problems at right wingback, but it wasn't really a great game."

Ref: Mr Stephen Cummins - "A little inconsistent with his application of the rules, hence the disproportionate number of bookings to United, particularly the booking for Convery for diving where Fleetwood was let off with a warning earlier. 5/10"

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