Date: Tuesday 17th March, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: blustery
Goals:
United: Holroyd 63', 83'

Barrow:
Tim Deasy, Simon Spender, Paul Jones, Marcus Holness, Carlos Logan; Brendan McGill, Andrew Bond, Mark Boyd, Paul Brown; Lee Hunt, Lee Steele.
Subs not used: Lee Woodyatt, Natt Kerr, Matt Henney, Darren Sheridan, David Bayliss.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Jai Reason (Jon Challinor 90'), Paul Carden (c), Courtney Pitt; Chris Holroyd, Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Daryl McMahon, Josh Coulson, Lee Phillips, Danny Crow.

Booked: Willmott foul 15', Reason foul 80'

United's longest away trip of the season ended in victory as two second half moments of skill from Chris Holroyd settled this hard-fought game at Barrow

Gary Brabin named an unchanged starting line-up for tonight's match, with fit-again striker Lee Phillips recalled to the bench in place of Andy Parkinson, who needed stitches in the ear that was damaged late in Saturday's game.

Barrow joint-managers Darren Sheridan and David Bayliss made one change to the side that lost 4-1 at Torquay, with veteran striker Lee Steele called into the team in place of the suspended Jason Walker who was sent off in that game.

The home side started at a high tempo and set about United with vigour, chasing and contesting everything and clearly determined not to let the U's settle, and when the first half chance fell to Chris Holroyd after four minutes he lifted a hurried shot over the bar.

Half-chances were the order of the opening minutes as there was little opportunity for quality from either side, and when Wrexham loanee Spender's header bounced in front of Brown, he was unable to get the ball under control before Hatswell made the clearance.

Three minutes later another Hatswell clearance fell to Boyd whose snap shot from 30 yards landed on the roof of the net, then Steele cut inside and fired a left-footed shot wide of the far post, but the action was very scrappy with no one controlling the ball and possession swinging from side to side. Holroyd had clearly been marked out as a danger man and was closed down by two men whenever he received the ball, and the United front two often looked isolated from their battling team-mates.

Robbie Willmott was the first man booked after catching Bond late, although several Barrow players had surrounded Mr Duncan before he produced a card, but the official settled for a quiet word with Steele two minutes later when he appeared to strike out at Hatswell.

With Barrow contesting everything and United responding in kind there was still little quality as the half reached the midway stage, and the strikers were restricted to half-chances and long-range shots. For Barrow, Bond's 25-yarder was collected by Potter while Willmott's teasing 22nd minute cross was just too far in front of Holroyd and Rendell, and when Lee Hunt found some rare space in the United area Hatswell stretched to poke the ball back to Potter.

Another robust challenge on 32 saw Steele get past Bolland and leave his foot in on Potter who raced out to collect the ball, and three minutes later Boyd drove a free kick into the crowded area and the U's keeper made a brave save among the flying feet.

There were chances for United as the play opened up a little, although Barrow were proving awkward and determined opponents and frustrating the U's players. Holroyd slid a ball for Willmott to chase but Brown intercepted his run and held him up long enough for Deasy to claim the ball, then Reason turned smartly on the edge of the six-yard box but his shot was saved.

Willmott was clattered in the 44th minute and Carden's free kick was flicked on by Tonkin to Hatswell whose downward header was smothered by Deasy, then in stoppage time Reason's powerful 25-yarder was spilled by the keeper but smothered at the second attempt.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Barrow have been everything as advertised; awkward, hard-working and resilient and United haven't looked like breaking them down. They need to show more after a low-key first half effort."

Second half:
Play resumed in a similar pattern to the first half, although the already-booked Willmott was perhaps fortunate after four minutes when he escaped with a warning after hauling back Spender as he threatened to break clear.

A clear opening or even a slice of luck continued to elude United as Rendell released Pitt down the left but the winger's foot slipped from under him as he shaped to cross, two minutes later Reason's cross hit Rendell but he was unable to control it before it was hacked away, and on 56 Pitt's corner was flicked on and bounced in the area but Deasy smothered the ball as Rendell was about to pounce.

The final ball had been lacking all evening and continued when Reason beat his marker and tried to pick out Holroyd's run but his chip was slightly over-hit, but that slice of fortune arrived in the 63rd minute when United took the lead.

Phil Bolland launched a quick breakaway with a long clearance from defence, and as Barrow defender Holness and 'keeper Deasy hesitated, Chris Holroyd raced through decisively, controlled the ball and slid it under the keeper to give United the lead.

Three minutes later the lead was almost doubled when Carden's corner spun into the area and was kicked off the line, then fell for Gleeson who fired well over the bar. United were well on top at this stage and Willmott forced a save from Deasy with a dangerous cross in the 67th minute, then tried a shot from 35 yards that flew wide of the far post.

The goal had opened the game up and United were still enjoying most of the possession, and with the home side looking stretched Rendell crossed for Willmott whose shot ran narrowly wide, then Carden almost sent Willmott away into space with a glorious pass in the 77th minute but it caught Willmott by surprise and he was unable to keep it in play.

The increasingly influential Jai Reason was booked for a foul on Brown in the 80th minute, and United doubled the lead four minutes later when Gleeson took a free kick wide on the right. The ball was crossed in to Chris Holroyd on the edge of six yard box and he turned in an instant and beat Deasy with a smart finish for his eighth goal of the season.

United's defence had been imperious throughout the game, and even when Barrow had a rare chance at a late corner when Bolland was beaten in the air, Hunt was quickly closed down by defensive partner Hatswell.

At the other end the outstanding Holroyd beat the offside trap with a well-timed run, and twisted to control the ball inside the area, but Deasy stood up well to make the save and deny him a hat-trick.

As play entered stoppage time Gary Brabin sent on Jon Challinor for Reason, a U's corner was touched on by Rendell and turned across the line by Holroyd but he was flagged offside, and with the last chance of the game Hunt had a rare chance for the home side but fired wide from 12 yards to leave the 2-0 scoreline unchanged.

With leaders Burton and third-placed Histon enjoying comfortable wins against Weymouth and Grays, these hard-fought points could prove vital at the end of the season.

Referee: Mr S. Duncan

Attendance: 1,341

Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"United fans unfurled a banner with the words 'United in Endeavour' before tonight's match and the team took the message to heart. Barrow were awkward and resilient but two second half goals from Chris Holroyd and an imperious display from the back four guided the U's to three more precious points. A defensive error led to Holroyd's first on 63 minutes and his classy finish was emphatic, but not as emphatic as his majestic turn and shot that settled the match 20 minutes later. So it's three more hard-fought points for the U's, and with seven games to go the title is still very possible."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Phil Bolland - absolutely imperious defending as part of an extremely solid back four on which the victory was founded; Danny Potter didn't have a save to make and that says a lot about the back line. Honourable mentions to the rest of the defence and Chris Holroyd for two very well-taken goals."

Ref: Mr Duncan - sensible, unobtrusive and allowed the game to flow when he could. 7/10."

AT090317 web@cambridge-united.co.uk