Date: Saturday 13th December, 2008
Competition: FA Trophy 1st round
Weather at kick-off: cold, breezy
Goals:
Histon: Midson 5', Knight-Percival 60'
United: Rendell 46', 52' (pen), Willmott 90'

Histon:
Danny Naisbitt, Lanre Oyebanjo, Matt Langston, Mat Mitchel-King (c), Gareth Gwillim; Antonio Murray, Neil Andrews, Josh Simpson, Nathaniel Knight-Percival; Jack Midson (Craig Pope 51'), Danny Wright.
Subs not used: Damian Reeves, Erkan Okay, John Kennedy, Daniel Sparkes.

Booked: Langston foul 82', 83'
Sent off: Mitchel-King violent conduct 17', Langston second yellow 83'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Jon Challinor, Paul Carden (c), Ben Farrell; Robbie Willmott (Courtney Pitt 90'), Chris Holroyd, Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Felino Jardim, Danny Crow, Stephen Drench.

Booked: Bolland foul 17', Tonkin foul 44', Potter dissent 72'

Two goals from Scott Rendell, a penalty save by Danny Potter, and a late winner by Robbie Willmott saw Cambridge United edge this thrilling and controversial local derby in the FA Trophy. Two sendings-off, two penalties and five goals gave great entertainment value and will ensure an even more keenly-anticipated contest in the league meeting on Boxing Day.

Gary Brabin made three changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Burton on Tuesday, calling up Jon Challinor, Chris Holroyd and Ben Farrell for flu-hit Danny Crow, Mark Convery (injured) and Courtney Pitt, and opting for a narrower 4-3-3 line-up instead of wingers on Histon's soggy pitch. With Mark Beesley suffering with a hamstring problem, every available player was named in the sixteen on duty, including the under-the-weather Crow.

Steve Fallon made one change to the side that drew 1-1 at home to York, calling up midfielder Neil Andrews in place of defender Patrick Ada who is abroad due to a family commitment, with captain Mat Mitchel-King moving back from midfield to defence.

Wearing the new light blue change strip, United won the toss and opted to turn the teams around so Histon would be kicking into the strong breeze in the first half, but after enjoying the better of the opening exchanges on the soggy, sandy pitch, United fell behind after just five minutes.

Matt Langston made a good challenge on the edge of his own area and launched a counterattack leading to a free kick on the right of the area, from where Gareth Gwillim whipped in a low ball to the far post and Jack Midson pulled away from his marker to fire low through a crowd and into the net.

Two minutes later United won a free kick in a similar position and Robbie Willmott whipped in a dangerous ball, but although there seemed to be some shirt-pulling on United players the referee gave a free kick to Histon.

United's best chance so far came in 14 when Dan Gleeson worked the ball to Willmott who beat Murray and cut in from the left but his shot was always rising over the bar.

Then there were amazing scenes two minutes later following a seemingly innocuous incident as Holroyd tangled with Gwillim as the Histon man tried to shepherd the ball out of play. Tempers flared as Histon's Simpson and Mitchel-King and United's Bolland ran a long way to get involved, and as the referee dealt with the incident - with input from his assistants and the fourth official - Bolland was booked for dissent, Mat Mitchell-King was shown a straight red card for raising his hands to a United player, and U's first team coach Stuart Bimson was sent from the United bench to the stand.

The pitch was cutting up badly under renewed heavy rain and combined with the strong swirling wind to make conditions difficult for both teams, who were restricted to half-chances by a combination of stout defending and misjudged passing. Robbie Willmott always looked dangerous on the break and he threatened again with a good strong run on the half hour, but held the ball a fraction too long and was crowded out.

Histon's ten men were set up to counterattack and on 25 Oyebanjo made a good interception and surged forward from right back before sliding a through ball for Midson, but the goalscorer was caught out by the offside flag, and at the other end Scott Rendell flicked a header on and forced Langston to turn ad hack it out of play.

A Histon throw-in led to a quick move to the edge of the United area and former U's midfielder Josh Simpson lashed a shot wide, but play was disjointed by both sides and the goalkeepers' biggest challenge until the final few minutes of the half was keeping warm.

United began to get a grip on the game in the closing minutes and went close on 42 when Tonkin's long throw was headed on by Bolland, Farrell struck a volley that deflected off Holroyd's leg, but goalkeeper Danny Naisbitt did well to change direction and push the ball behind for a corner that was headed over the bar by Hatswell.

A minute later another U's corner was whipped in to the near post and blocked by Langston, and as the ball pinballed around the goalmouth and Untied tried to force it home, Histon players threw their bodies in the way and eventually scrapped the ball away.

Anthony Tonkin was booked on 44 for mistiming a challenge, and just before the end of the seven minutes of stoppage time Rendell latched on a loose ball on the edge of the area but lifted the ball well over the bar.

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A dismal afternoon and a dismal afternoon for United, but they are against ten men after Mitchel-King was sent off for a spot of eye-gouging. The U's have pushed forward looking for an equaliser and are getting closer."

Second half:
There were no changes to the teams at half-time, although Midson had a fitness test during the break, and with the rain was still lashing down United were level almost before the crowds had returned from the tea bars.

Just 40 seconds in, from an impossible looking position wide on the right, level with the edge of the area, Scott Rendell looked up and floated the ball past the rooted Danny Naisbitt to score the first United goal in a competitive match at Histon since the 1940s.

Histon looked temporarily stunned although they recovered to force a chance in the 51st minute, Midson nodding the ball on and Murray firing wide, but immediately afterwards the struggling Midson was withdrawn for defender Craig Pope. He took up his usual role at right back and Oyebanjo moved into midfield, leaving just Danny Wright up front.

Still unpopular with United fans after his clash with Leo Fortune-West at the Abbey last year, Pope's first action was to concede a penalty as Robbie Willmott got in behind him and he brought the young forward down in the area. Scott Rendell stepped up confidently and sent Naisbitt the wrong way to put United ahead with the fourth goal of his second spell with United.

United's fans celebrated long and loud at taking the lead but the home side were far from finished and on 58 Knight-Percival played a neat one-two with Simpson and his shot was tipped against the bar, and two minutes later he went one better as a long throw was flicked on from Langston to the unmarked Knight-Percival at the near post, and as the ball spun up in front of him he lashed it home.

Even with Histon reduced to ten men, the game swung evenly from end to end and on 66 Challinor broke away but lashed a shot over the bar and into the roof of the stand with Farrell racing alongside in support, while four minutes later at the other end Histon won a corner and Langston headed over the bar.

With 15 minutes remaining and the match finely poised, Chris Holroyd tricked his way past Langston but the defence recovered to clear the danger, then two minutes later Challinor's wicked cross caused problems but Pope made a vital clearance, and the backtracking Oyebanjo was forced to make an important headed clearance two minutes later as United kept the pressure on.

An incident-packed match had more twists and turns in store, and first came another red card when Matt Langston was harshly booked for an 82nd minute foul on Willmott, then rashly collected another booking for lunging at the same player two minutes later, reducing his side to nine men for the last seven minutes.

Then with five minutes remaining Danny Wright was brought down in the area and again referee Mr Sutton made a harsh judgement and awarded a penalty, which Wright fired down the middle, but Danny Potter got a strong hand to the ball to push it away and a defender completed the clearance.

And the final twist came in stoppage time when, with minds turning to a potential replay on Tuesday night, Tonkin worked the ball to Rendell who pulled it back across the edge of the area to Robbie Willmott and the teenager steered it past Naisbitt to put United ahead again.

Willmott then made way for Courtney Pitt for the last few minutes, and in the dying seconds Histon forced another corner when Wright's shot was headed behind and goalkeeper Naisbitt raced forward to join the attack, but the flag kick was the final action of the game and the final whistle heralded huge celebrations from the United players, and the U's supporters who comprised more than half of the gate.

Referee: Mr Gary Sutton

Attendance: 1,146 (away 645)

Match Summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Cambridge United beat the Histon hoodoo in a local derby match that had everything - a rain-swept, sodden pitch, a seesaw scoreline with goals early in each half, two red cards and two penalties. Histon got the perfect start with Jack Midson converting a set piece after just five minutes, but they were reduced to ten men after 17 when Mat Mitchel-King was sent off after a melee. If Histon started the first half well, United started the second better when Scott Rendell levelled inside a minute of the restart and slotted home a penalty soon after. But you would never have known Histon were a man short and Knight-Percival levelled on the hour to set up a thrilling finale in which Matt Langston was sent off, Danny Potter saved a penalty and Robbie Willmott won the match in stoppage time. Roll on Boxing Day!"

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Scott Rendell - ran himself into the ground and scored two vital goals. Honourable mentions to the rest for a good team effort."

Ref: Mr Sutton - had a big influence on the match with some interesting decisions. 4/10."

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