Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast
Goals:
Histon: Midson 85'
United: Hatswell 74'

Histon:
Danny Naisbitt, Lanre Oyebanjo, Matt Langston, Patrick Ada, Gareth Gwillim; Antonio Murray, Josh Simpson, Mat Mitchell-King (c), Jamie Barker (Lee Roache 73'); Jack Midson, Danny Wright.
Subs not used: Craig Pope, Neil Andrews, Richard Pacquette, Joe Welch.

Booked: Simpson foul 33', Ada foul 56', Oyebanjo 79'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Jai Reason, Paul Carden (c), Courtney Pitt; Lee Phillips, Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Jon Challinor, Josh Coulson, Chris Holroyd, Danny Crow, Aaron Grundy.

Booked: Gleeson foul 61', Hatswell over-celebrating 74'

Gary Brabin made three changes to the side held 1-1 at home by Crawley two days ago, switching to a 4-4-2 formation and handing today's new signing Lee Phillips his debut up front alongside Scott Rendell. Also called into the side were wingers Robbie Willmott and Courtney Pitt, who helped the second half comeback on Saturday, while Daryl McMahon, the injured Mark Beesley and Chris Holroyd were the men who made way. This morning's non-contract signing, goalkeeper Aaron Grundy, was named among the substitutes.

The U's fans created a noisy atmosphere from well before kick-off, but many more were locked outside as the away areas filled up and the turnstiles were closed.

Histon left-back Gwillim wriggled free from Paul Carden to cross for Midson to nod wide in the opening moments, while Lee Phillips' first shot was a low shot from 25 yards that bobbled in front of Naisbitt who caught it at the second attempt.

Saturday's free kick goalscorer Courtney Pitt lined up a set piece from 30 yards when former U Josh Simpson tangled with Carden, but lifted the ball well over the bar and stand behind, and on 13 Wayne Hatswell floated a deep free kick from near the halfway line on the left but it flew all the way through to Naisbitt.

Scott Rendell came off worse when caught between Oyebanjo and Langston as they challenged for a header, landing in a heap and holding his forehead while Langston was spoken to by referee Mr Hendley, but the U's striker was able to continue and Langston was on hand to clear Jai Reason's resulting free kick.

On 17 Potter sliced a clearance and the Histon strikers closed in, but Gleeson got there to make the clearance, and a minute later he made a good interception to clear the danger as Wright broke away, while Reason started a move that led to United's first corner in the 21st minute, but Wright headed Pitt's cross away.

Two minutes later Histon had the best chance so far when Wright cut inside and slid a low ball to Midson inside the area, but the striker prodded a low shot just wide of Potter's far post, and when a Histon free kick was cleared moments later Carden led the breakaway before releasing Willmott, but the young winger was dispossessed near the corner flag.

In a good spell for United, Reason's powerful 25-yard drive was well-struck but too close to Naisbitt, and the first booking arrived on 33 when Josh Simpson challenged Phillips with his foot up, but that good spell became increasingly stop-start as more free kicks were given.

Bolland headed a long Gwillam free kick behind on 35 and Rendell got back to make a headed clearance, but with every foul seemingly punished by a free kick there was little rhythm to the game. A rare passage of open play saw Willmott made a good run down the right and beat a defender as he cut inside, but his low 20-yarder was too close to Naisbitt.

United had a chance from nothing a minute before half-time when Dan Gleeson's long-range shot deflected off Rendell's heels into Phillips' path as he darted into the area, but it took him by surprise and although he flicked a foot at it, the catch was easy for Naisbitt.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A disappointing half with few chances as a low key atmosphere has yet to inspire either those in the ground or those locked out."

Second half:
United resumed brightly and an early Pitt free kick from the left wing dropped into the area but was headed away by Langston, and a minute later Hatswell delivered a cross into the area and his defensive partner Phil Bolland's looping header was tipped over by Naisbitt, but the resulting corner fell short.

It was a game where defences were on top, but United's new strike partnership linked in the 54th minute when Rendell nodded the ball into Phillips' path, and he controlled the ball and stepped into space before lifting the ball over as he was charged down by Ada.

At the other end Wright was released to chase a long through ball but Danny Potter headed the ball away from a yard outside his area, and Patrick Ada collected the second booking of the game for clattering into Phillips from behind.

On the hour, new man Phillips collected the ball just outside the area, skipped a challenge from two defenders and directed a low shot beyond Naisbitt's fingertips but inches wide of the post, and a minute later Dan Gleeson joined the two Histon men in the book following an aerial challenge on Barker.

Pitt created problems near the left hand corner flag in the 67th minute, eventually winning a throw-in that Tonkin launched into the area, and as Histon hacked the ball clear Hatswell connected with the ball 35 yards out and drove a powerful shot over the bar.

The match had been very even but it burst into life moments later when Hatswell met a long Histon clearance and inadvertently nodded it into Midson's path, and as the striker challenged for the ball in the area he and Potter collided and both fell to the ground as the ball ran free.

Play was waved on and United countered to win a Pitt corner that Naisbitt punched away, it fell for Rendell whose 25-yarder was brilliantly parried by the Histon keeper, and as the ball ran free in the box Willmott prodded it across the face of goal but wide of the far post.

Steve Fallon brought on former Barnet and Cambridge City striker Lee Roache for Jamie Barker in the 73rd minute, but a minute later his side fell behind to an exquisite goal.

Carden's free kick was punched away by Naisbitt and fell short, and although it was hacked further away the ball fell perfectly 35 yards out for Wayne Hatswell who spotted Naisbitt off his line and volleyed it perfectly beyond is clutching hand and under the bar. The defender, who also scored against Histon on Boxing Day, ran to crowd to celebrate and was booked for his celebrations.

Histon thought they had equalised on 79 when Midson floated a cross to Murray in space on the right of the area and he tucked the ball beyond Potter and turned away to celebrate, but the ball hit the bottom of the far post and bounced away and Wright's follow-up shot was blocked by Hatswell.

Oyebanjo was booked for a tangle with Pitt in the 80th minute and curled a long-range shot wide a minute later, then with five minutes remaining Histon equalised with one of their trademark points-winning late goals.

A Gleeson challenge led to a soft free kick from the left that was headed on by the offside-looking Langston, the normally reliable Potter seemed to clutch the ball right under his bar, but somehow he fumbled and dropped it to Midson who tucked the ball into the empty net from close range, leaving United players and staff with their heads in their hands.

Histon mounted their usual late bombardment in the dying minutes and a Gwillim free kick was headed away by Hatswell, a cross towards Roache was headed behind by Tonkin and the corner was headed away by Bolland, and as the U's defence stood firm Hatswell and Bolland both made further clearances, and Murray's shot in stoppage time was headed away by Reason before the final whistle ended an even match that burst into life for an exciting climax.

Referee: Mr Andy Hendley

Attendance: 2,579 (away 1,096)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Honours even in the South Cambs derby as a rare mistake from Danny Potter cost United dear. Lee Phillips made a lively debut for the U's, but after a scrappy first half it was a defender who broke the deadlock, Wayne Hatswell with a 35-yard volley after a nervous clearance from Naisbitt. United had chances to wrap it up, but as the clock ticked down Histon came up with their old trick of a late goal, this time Midson profiting after Potter made a hash of a straightforward cross into the box."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Wayne Hatswell - a fantastic piece of skill and vision for the goal to accompany his rock solid defending. Honourable mentions to Phil Bolland who was another solid citizen where and when needed."

Ref: Mr Hendley - a bit inconsistent but in comparison to the referee for the Crawley game he was world-class. 5/10."

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