Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: rain, blustery wind
Goals:
United: Beesley 28', 64'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Jon Challinor, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Danny Brown, Paul Carden (c), Mark Convery; Mark Beesley, Chris Holroyd, Lee McEvilly.
Subs not used: Steven Drench, Josh Coulson, Robbie Willmott, Chris Jones, Felino Jardim.

Booked: Tonkin foul 75'

Wrexham:
Gavin Ward, Simon Spender, Darren Kempson, Shaun Pejic, Carl Tremarco; Wes Baynes (Michael Proctor 62'), Tom Kearney (c), Levi Macken, Shaun Whalley; Simon Brown (Sam Aiston 82'), Jefferson Louis.
Subs not used: Gareth Evans, Christian Smith, Anthony Williams.

Booked: Brown foul 45', Baynes foul 59', Tremarco foul 70', Macken foul 84'

A brace of goals by Mark Beesley got Cambridge United back to winning ways in an entertaining game in front of the home crowd.

Gary Brabin made three changes to the side that drew 1-1 at Ebbsfleet on Tuesday, calling up Chris Holroyd, Danny Brown and Mark Convery for their first starts of the season in place of Robbie Willmott, Rory McAuley and Chris Jones. He opted for a new-look 4-3-3 line-up with Jon Challinor switching from midfield to fill the right back slot, with Carden, Convery and Brown comprising the midfield unit and Holroyd playing up front alongside McEvilly with Beesley sometimes dropping deeper.

Wrexham boss Brian Little made one change to the side that lost 1-0 at home to Burton on Tuesday, calling up defender Shaun Pejic in place of Steve Evans who is away on international duty. Former U's loanee Christian Smith was among the Wrexham substitutes.

A spell of heavy rain eased off just as the game kicked off but United were still playing against a strong, blustery breeze and there was a big let-off inside first two minutes as Jefferson Louis got behind United's back line following a free kick, but slid the ball wide as Danny Potter raced off his line..

Having only been given the all-clear to resume contact training on Tuesday following a summer shoulder operation, Danny Brown marked his return with a booming clearance into touch and a strong sliding challenge moments later, but it was all Wrexham in the opening minutes and in the third minute Macken's shot on the turn was pushed behind by Potter at full-stretch.

Carden was the subject of boos from Wrexham fans referring to his on-off move there in the summer, and he showed them what they are missing with a firm challenge to start a good counterattack but unfortunately Lee McEvilly's final pass clipped Chris Holroyd's heels.

United had shaken off their early daze and Anthony Tonkin delivered a perfect cross for McEvilly but Ward saved bravely at his feet, and then in the ninth minute Tonkin picked out Beesley who flighted a cross to McEvilly but his header crashed against the post and away.

With two strong sides playing good football it settled into an attractive game of football with chances at both ends as Wrexham earned a corner that Bolland headed away then United earned a free kick that McEvilly crashed into the wall from 30 yards.

On 20 United went close when Holroyd played a 1-2 with Beesley before striking a first time shot from the edge of 'D' and Ward stretched to touch the ball over the bar, but the U's took a deserved lead on 28.

The goal followed a spell of good pressure as United's mobile front three linked to good effect, aided by strong running from the deeper players, particular Anthony Tonkin from left back. A chance on 27 followed great interplay as the pacy Holroyd fed McEvilly in the area four yards out but the ball fell awkwardly and he prodded it wide.

But another flowing move within a minute saw Tonkin make another good run down the left and cross to Beesley whose flighted header was cleared behind. The flagkick was delivered by Convery, flicked on by Holroyd and steered into the roof of the net by Mark Beesley as he ghosted in at the far post.

It was a deserved goal but Simon Brown drew a save from Potter as a reminder that the game was far from over, although the reshuffled United side was firing well on all cylinders and on 38 Wayne Hatswell made a good challenge to send Tonkin away to cross for Beesley whose snap shot was saved by Ward.

Potter was alert on 43 when Spender floated in a cross and the U's keeper came out quickly to make a good save in front of the advancing Wrexham forwards, and a minute later he did brilliantly to watch a slow and steady Wrexham build up before leaping to make an excellent save when Baynes suddenly turned and let fly from 30 yards.

Seconds later Jon Challinor was left flattened by Simon Brown's challenge in an incident that drew most United players over to remonstrate, including Danny Potter, and Brown was deservedly booked in the final action of the first half.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Difficult conditions but a cracking little game of football with both sides playing it around nicely, flowing football and United with the goal they deserve."

Second half:
Wrexham started the second half at a high tempo and earned an early corner and subsequent free kick that Potter dealt with comfortably, while Lee McEvilly headed into Ward's hands at the other end on 51.

A lively Wrexham move two minutes later ended with Levi Macken slicing the ball wide from the edge of the area, and on 56 Brown made a good block at Kearney's free kick as an enthralling match continued to swing from end to end.

In contract to Mr Hopkins on Tuesday, referee Darren Sheldrake had been sparing with free kicks and cards but his assistant flagged when Wes Baynes left his foot in on Tonkin in the 59th minute and deservedly earned the second card of the match.

The first substitution came on 62 when Brian Little sent on striker Michael Proctor for winger Wes Baynes and signalled his intent to push an extra man up front, but within two minutes United had extended the lead.

It was a breakaway move started and ended by Mark Beesley as he pushed the ball wide to link with McEvilly, who delivered a perfect chipped cross for Holroyd, and although the young striker's shot from the left of the area came back off the underside of the bar Beesley was there to ram home his second goal of the game.

There were half-chances at either end but United looked fairly comfortable now and Carl Tremarco's frustration spilled over in the 70th minute and he was booked for bundling Holroyd over rather than allowing the fleet-footed young striker to break away. Mr Sheldrake sensibly called several players and both captains to him to try to defuse the atmosphere, but Anthony Tonkin collected a card on 75 for a foul on Simon Brown.

Danny Potter was called upon two minutes later when McEvilly fouled Kearney, whose free kick was punched away by the United keeper, and although it fell for Whalley who tried a curling shot, there were cheers of derision as it threatened the corner flag more than the goal.

With eight minutes remaining Simon Brown was replaced by former Sunderland midfielder Sam Aiston, who made an immediate impression when his early cross had to be tipped over the bar by Potter, and a minute later Macken was booked for a foul on Convery but Beesley couldn't quite connect with McEvilly's whipped-in free kick after an intelligent darting run.

Wrexham worked hard to find a late breakthrough but United's makeshift side defended professionally, with Challinor looking as though he has always been a right back and comeback men Convery and Brown surprisingly lasting the full 90 minutes.

The final whistle was greeted with well-deserved applause from the home crowd as the U's returned to winning ways after taking two points from the last nine.

Referee: Mr. Darren Sheldrake

Att: 3,076 (away 261)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Cambridge United made light of a catalogue of injuries and suspensions as they turned on the style in a comfortable win. Wrexham are a decent side but they had no answer to the movement and invention of United's three-pronged attack, Mark Beesley snaffling a goal in each half. Jon Challinor answered the call to fill in at right back and played as though he plays there every week, but it would be wrong to pick out individuals on what was a thoroughly professional and entertaining team performance."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Mark Beesley - for scoring the goals his workrate all season has thoroughly deserved. Honourable mentions for the rest of the team, who overcame so many injuries and suspensions to see off Wrexham in convincing style - a real team performance."

Ref: Mr Sheldrake - let the game flow when he could, intervened when he had to and contributed to an entertaining afternoon. 9/10."

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