Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: cool, overcast
Goals:
United: Rendell 49', Reason 90'
Mansfield: Duffy 34'
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Jai Reason, Paul Carden (c), Courtney Pitt (Danny Crow 86'); Chris Holroyd (Andy Parkinson 69'), Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Daryl McMahon, Jon Challinor, Josh Coulson.
Mansfield Town:
Alan Marriott, Gary Silk, Adie Moses, Scott Garner, Paul Mayo; Nathan Arnold (Scott Gardner 81'), Matt Somner, Jon D'Laryea (c), Ryan Williams; Mark Stallard (Aaron O'Connor 58'), Robert Duffy (Louis Briscoe 61').
Subs not used: Jason White, Neil Mackenzie.
Booked: Duffy over-celebrating 34', Mayo foul 38', Garner foul 65'
Cambridge United came from behind against the hard-to-beat visitors as a great comeback and goals by Scott Rendell and Jai Reason secured the points
Gary Brabin named an unchanged side after Saturday's 2-0 win at home to leaders Burton, with the only change on the bench where striker Danny Crow replaced goalkeeper Aaron Grundy.
Mansfield boss David Holdsworth made three changes to the side that won 1-0 at home to bottom club Lewes, calling up former U Matt Somner in place of another former U Neil Mackenzie, Ryan Williams for Michael Blackwood and Mark Stallard in place of Aaron O'Connor, while yet another former U, striker Rob Duffy, started up front.
Before kick-off, Gary Brabin received his Manager of the Month award and Paul Carden collected his Player of the Month and Goal of the Month awards to a great reception from the home crowd, but the opening stages were strangely subdued and cautious.
The first effort on goal arrived in the third minute when Mansfield defender Gary Silk fired over the bar from the edge of the area, winger Nathan Arnold advanced and curled an effort wide from 30 yards and former U Matt Somner also launched a long-range shot wide of the far post.
Things weren't quite clicking for United; in the sixth minute Anthony Tonkin released Chris Holroyd into a good position but the young striker lost his footing, then Tonkin tried to send Scott Rendell away on goal but he was flagged offside.
Paul Carden made a great run through the middle but seemed to be caught in two minds and with team-mates racing up in support he was closed down and the chance was gone, and Danny Potter was called upon in the eleventh minute when Ryan Williams' free kick seemed to be going over but dipped at the last minute and Potter had to leap to tip it round the corner of post and bar
After their uncertain start, United began to exert some pressure and on 17 Robbie Willmott made a good run forward but was brought down in full stride by Somner, who escaped with a warning. Courtney Pitt lifted the free kick over the bar but a minute later Wayne Hatswell was fouled and floated a free kick into the area, where Rendell turned smartly and unleashed a shot that was blocked bravely by Garner. Pitt lifted the resulting corner to the near post and Willmott's header whistled narrowly wide.
The crowd responded to the better spell of play and Hatswell tried a shot from fully 40 yards that was sliced behind by Mayo, but the corner was cleared and on 25 the experienced Mark Stallard drew a save from Potter with a shot from the right.
Mansfield were defending solidly, stifling the midfield with their chasing and harrying, while playing some good football on the counterattack, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense as United tried unsuccessfully to find a way through.
The pressure grew as Stallard made room for a shot that was blocked by Hatswell, although United had a moment at the other end when Marriott spilled a free kick under pressure from Hatswell but blocked the follow-up.
But the visitors capped their pressure with a goal on 34 when Williams' cross was met in the box by the unmarked Rob Duffy, who headed past Potter then ran to celebrate in front of the United supporters, pointing out the name on the back of his shirt and picking up the first booking of the game for his antics.
United threatened from the re-start and Tonkin crossed for Rendell whose shot on the turn was blocked almost before it left his foot, then Mayo brought down Willmott ten yards outside the area, picking up the second booking of the game, and Hatswell drove a low free kick into Marriott's hands.
Courtney Pitt pulled up sharply five minutes before half-time and was hobbling for a few minutes, looking unlikely to finish the hall. Reason had a corner kick cleared as the half wound down and Hatswell tried his luck from three yards outside the area but fired just over the bar with Marriott frantically backpedalling, while Pitt proved he had shaken off his problem with a strong run just before the half-time whistle.
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A frustrating half as United did the one thing you don't want to do against teams who don't concede many goals - they went behind. There have been a few half-chances but it has looked, at times, a tired performance from United, and they have work to do after the break."
Second half:
United started strongly and had the visitors pinned back in their half as Duffy had to head away Reason's free kick, then the young midfielder's powerful drive from 25 yards was blocked by D'Laryea for a corner, and United were back on terms just four minutes in.
The move started with Pitt's free kick and flowed across the pitch involving Hatswell, Carden and then Willmott, who delivered a beautifully flighted cross onto the head of Scott Rendell to nod home the equaliser and his tenth league goal of the season.
Moments after the restart Hatswell met another Willmott cross but Marriott made a save from three yards and launched a counterattack, sending Stallard into space with just Potter to beat, but Tonkin made a superb tackle from behind to win the ball.
United were rampant and Pitt and Tonkin linked to force a corner, which was punched away to Rendell who met the dropping ball on the volley but screwed a a difficult chance wide.
David Holdsworth made two substitution either side of the hour, bringing on striker Aaron O'Connor for Stallard, then Louis Briscoe for Rob Duffy, who had been targeted by the home crowd since his goal celebrations and was getting increasingly wound up.
Mansfield were still pinned back for long periods but a quick break from defence on 62 by Arnold ended with a shot just wide from the edge of the area, while for United Bolland teed the ball up for Reason who fired a low volley inches wide.
The Ipswich midfielder was involved again on 65, his through ball sending Holroyd clear but he was hauled down just outside the area by Garner, who was booked. Marriott punched Reason's free kick away but Pitt crossed the ball back in and as United kept the pressure on Gleeson's cross was headed wide by Rendell.
Holroyd was down on the ground during that last move and he was eventually led off with blood pouring down his face and shirt, to be replaced by Andy Parkinson in the 69th minute. Willmott moved up front with Parkinson slotting in on the right.
Mansfield had a couple of half-chances on 75 as O'Connor volleyed well wide then Arnold got clear but Hatswell won the ball cleanly on the edge of the area. At the other end United streamed forward as Reason picked out Willmott, who cut in and fired wide with Parkinson screaming for the cross at the opposite post, and as the Mansfield defence backed off Hatswell tried a shot from 40 yards that bounced awkwardly in front of Marriott, who smothered it gratefully.
It was still all United as play entered the final ten minutes, Rendell's through ball evading the Mansfield defence as they backed off and the scurrying Pitt almost reaching it before they hacked it away, and Holdsworth made his final change to send on Scott Gardner for Nathan Arnold.
Still United attacked and Pitt linked well with Willmott, who crossed for Parkinson but the winger's shot was bravely charged down by Somner, then Pitt darted into the area to meet a cross and was sent flying but United's penalty claims were ignored and it felt increasingly as though the breakthrough wasn't going to come.
In the 87th minute Danny Crow replaced Pitt, who received a standing ovation from the Main Stand as he left the pitch, and moments later Tonkin's cross was a fraction too high for Willmott, who was now out wide on the left.
Marriott made a superb save to deny Reason, whose volley had been heading for bottom corner, and as play entered stoppage time Reason's cross was flicked on by Crow into Rendell's path but he couldn't stretch far enough to direct it into the net.
A rare chance for the visitors saw Briscoe in the clear with Potter, who made the save, then the ball swung back into the Mansfield half and eventually into the net. Reason's shot was diverted wide for a corner, which was delivered deep by Carden and nodded back across goal by Crow to Jai Reason, and the 19-year-old marked today's loan extension by turning the ball home from close-range. His first - and thoroughly deserved - goal was greeted by ecstatic scenes on and off the pitch as he was flattened by his team-mates in front of the Newmarket Road End.
The vital goal came at the same time as news filtered through that Histon had fallen behind to a late goal at Barrow, leaving United still in second place and now four points above the Stutes and eight behind leaders Burton.
Referee: Mr Nick Kinseley
Attendance: 2,781 (away 177)
Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A Jai Reason header three minutes into stoppage time capped a mighty 'come from behind' victory against Mansfield. The visitors don't concede many goals and United did the one thing you don't want to do against a parsimonious defence - fall behind. That's just what happened when Rob Duffy headed home ten minutes before the break. The U's were subdued before the interval but rampant afterwards and Scott Rendell levelled within five minutes of the re-start to set up a half that United completely controlled. But just as it looked as though their efforts would be in vain, Jai Reason stooped to conquer and give United three more points."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Robbie Willmott - excelled in three different positions, terrified a solid Mansfield defence, and the architect of a vital equaliser too. Honourable mentions to Paul Carden who showed that Player of the Month award wasn't a flash in the pan, Jai Reason who came good in the second half, and Courtney Pitt who showed grit to go with his undoubted ability."
Ref: Mr Kinseley - didn't want to be the centre of attention and controlled the game with quiet authority, but maybe should have given United a penalty in the second half. 7/10."
AT090310 web@cambridge-united.co.uk
