A Danny Crow double was enough to earn United a 2-0 win over Tamworth and extend their unbeaten run to nine games.
Crow swooped to open the scoring in the 51st minute, capitalising on some uncertain defending from the Lambs. And the on-song striker doubled his, and his teams, tally in the 69th minute to set Martin Ling's side on their way to a third successive home win.
The match itself was far from a classic, particularly in a first half which was dominated by constant blasts on the whistle from over-fussy referee Jerden.
When the U's got on the ball they looked dangerous, but the visitors enjoyed the majority of possession, though they didn't make the most of numerous free kicks around the edge of the penalty area.
Their best chances fell to Aaron Mitchell, whose shot from close range was blocked by Simon Brown, and Jay Smith, who tip-toed into the box before dragging an effort wide.
For United, Scott Neilson forced Danny Alcock to parry away a 12-yard shot, while Lee Phillips thought he'd scored when he backhealed the ball past the keeper but saw his effort cleared off the line.
United came out for the second half looking much more purposeful, and their increased tempo was rewarded when Crow opened the scoring. Phillips and Neilson flicked a long ball forward, and Crow was on hand to pounce on a weak back header by defender Michael Wylde and side-foot the ball past Alcock.
Neilson could have made it two when he linked up with Phillips and got free in the box, but his control let him down and Alcock was able to race out and block his shot.
However, Crow made no mistake when the Lambs defence once again conspired to present him with a simple opportunity. Three visiting defenders tried to deal with a long throw from Dave Partridge, but only succeeded in gifting the ball to Antonio Murray, who helped it across the box to Crow, who got in ahead of the keeper and a defender to steer in his 17th of the season.
United saw out the final 20 minutes in comfortable fashion and secured a win which surely dispels any lingering relegation worries.
Man of the Match: Jai Reason - Enjoyed an energetic return to the side and displayed the excellent range of passing we know he is capable of.
Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Dan Gleeson, Dave Partridge, Brian Saah, Josh Coulson, Scott Neilson, Antonio Murray (Simon Russell 74), Paul Carden, Jai Reason (Rory McAuley 84), Lee Phillips, Danny Crow (Callum Willock 69). Subs not used: Aiden Palmer, Adam Marriott.
Booked: Saah 8, Neilson 77.
Tamworth: Danny Alcock, Richard Tait, Michael Blackwood, Chris Smith, Michael Wylde, Bradley Pritchard (Neil Mackenzie 77), Des Lyttle, Jay Smith, Alex Rodman (Seb Lake-Gaskin 62), Aaron Mitchell, Iyesden Christie (Jermain Murdock 72). Subs not used: Chamberlin Fankem, Tom Shaw.
Booked: Smith 24, Mitchell 56, Blackwood 77.
Referee: Mr G. Jerdan.
Attendance: 2121 (Away 37)
Matthew Gooding
Minute-by-minute report below:
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 0 TAMWORTH
21.37: Ball thumped into touch by Coulson and that's full time. The ref blows his whistle about four times to indicate the end of the game, summing up his performance tonight. United were much improved in the second half, and two sharp finishes from Crow secured the points. That's nine games unbeaten now, and Ling can surely start to look to next season.
21.36: One final charge forward for United, as Willock robs a defender and passes it wide to McAuley. He plays a one-two with Gleeson but puts a rising shot over the bar.
21.34: Three minutes to be added. United get the ball forward but Willock is penalised for pushing. Tamworth launch it long but Brian Saah repels that attack.
21.33: Phillips heads on a free kick but can't link up with Willock. Tamworth go forward down their left in response, and Blackwood's cross is headed wide by Wylde. Too little too late for the Lambs you feel.
21.31: Carden and Russell work the ball forward to Partridge. His cross is cleared into touch. The throw is taken quickly to Russell, who slaloms into the box but overhits the cross with three waiting in the centre.
21.29: Neilson with a sliding challenge on Tait. That's a free kick and Neilson is perhaps a little fortunate not to earn a second booking. Poor challenge.
21.28: Final substitution from Martin Ling, with Rory McAuley replacing Reason, who has been excellent tonight. Tamworth free kick on half way, but although Lyttle wins the initial header, United clear.
21.26: The NRE in full voice as Danny Crow comes out for a warm down to great applause.
21.25: Quick thinking from Reason sees him pick out Neilson with a free kick, but his cross can't be forced in by Willock.
21.23: Reason's corner looks for Partridge, but it's headed away and Tamworth break quickly through Murdock, who wins a corner himself off the backtracking Gleeson. However, Tamworth can't get a head to Smith's delivery, and United clear.
21.22: Last change for Tamworth, with Mackenzie replacing Pritchard. The Lambs go forward but United break with Carden Gleeson and Neilson linking up, and Lyttle has to slide the winger's cross behind for a corner.
21.21: YELLOW CARD (x2): Good play from Neilson, scooping a pass over two defenders into the path of Gleeson, who wins a corner. Reason's corner is cleared to the far side, where Neilson is crowded out by Blackwood, and takes exception to the Tamworth winger's challenge. A bout of what you might call handbags ensues, which earns both players a booking.
21.18: The rain's bucketing down now, as United make a second change, with Simon Russell joining the action in place of Antonio Murray, who has had a good impact in the second half.
21.16: Christie's late tackle on Partridge earns the big striker a talking to. In fact that's his last contribution, with Jermaine Murdock taking his place. Tamworth have a lot to do if they're going to get something from this match.
21.15: Corner to Tamworth conceded by Gleeson. United clear to the edge of the box, and a snap shot from Pritchard deflects behind for a second flag kick, which is caught by Brown.
21.14: Crow subsituted immediately after his goal, with Callum Willock joining the action. You'd assume that was pre-arranged, as DC would have surely wanted to try and complete his hatrick.
21.13: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 0 TAMWORTH. Another goal for United, another goal for Danny Crow, and another less than distinguished piece of defending from Tamworth. Three players try to clear Partridge's throw, but collide and present the ball to Murray, who helps it across the box and Crow gets in ahead of the defender to tuck the ball in at the far post.
21.12: Crow and Phillips link well again and Mitchell has to slide the ball into touch under pressure from the latter.
21.10: First change for Tamworth, with Rodman being replaced by Seb Lake-Gaskin.
21.08: Partridge with an important header to clear Blackwood's angled cross. He's been solid tonight has the converted centre back, though his distribution lets him down there as he puts the ball into touch with Murray waiting for a pass.
21.06: That was a good chance for 2-0. Phillips flick puts Neilson in the clear, but the Bradford loanee's first touch isn't good, and when he gets his shot away Alcock is well placed to turn the ball behind. Reason's low corner misses everyone, and scuds across the area before being booted to safety by a Tamworth defender.
21.05: Play switches to the other end and Christie fizzes a shot wide from the edge of the area.
21.03: Rain beginning to fall as Crow chases a long ball into the left corner and concedes a throw. But United are soon back in possession, and a decent cross in from Antonio Murray is claimed by Alcock with Phillips in close attendance.
21.01: Reason with the free kick, to the back post where Coulson climbs but heads over.
21.00: YELLOW CARD: Crow lays off to Phillips, who is pushed over by Mitchell on the right touchline, 30 yards out. Free kick and a booking, presumably for persistant fouling.
20.58: Rodman fouled near the touchline, Murray the assailant. Ball into the far post, where Lyttle, all alone, really should have scored, but doesn't get the best contact, allowing Gleeson to block. Coulson makes an equally good stop to put his body in the way of the follow up. Tamworth aren't out of this.
20.57: Free kick to Tamworth inside their half for reasons unknown. Dramatic but confusing hand gestures from the ref seem to signal it was for honking a horn. Anyway, ball into the box from Pritchard has to be headed clear at full stretch by Neilson, and the follow up shot from Smith is thumped clear by Josh Coulson.
20.55: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 0 TAMWORTH. United have started much better in this half and Danny Crow opens the scoring. Phillips and Neilson help a long ball forward, and Wylde tries to nod it back to the keeper, but his header is underpowered, and Crow nips in to steer the ball into the net. Tamworth won't be happy with that goal, but it's a great opportunistic strike from the U's top scorer.
20.52: Reason's flag kick is deep and finds Phillips, whose low shot is deflected away. United retain possession well though, and Carden finds Murray on the left, and his teasing centre is just too high for Neilson arriving at the back post.
20.51: Brown's long ball in the direction of Phillips forces Mitchell to concede a throw near the corner flag. Partridge's throw goes into the feet Reason, who nudges his man - and the ball - away behind off the Tamworth man last for a corner.
20.50: Murray's cross just too high for Phillips. Neilson retrieves but can't get the ball back into the area. Tamworth try to break through Rodman who is foiled by Saah.
20.49: The teams are out, and we're off again as part two begins with a shrill blast of the ref's whistle.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 0 TAMWORTH
20.34: Two minutes to be added, probably should be more given the amount of free kicks this ref has awarded. They pass without incident and that's half time. United look dangerous on the attack, but they aren't keeping possession well enough. And although the flow of the game isn't being helped by the pedant in black, Ling's men need to up their game in the second half.
20.32: Reason and Phillips ferry the ball onto Neilson, but his shot on the turn flies over. United are finishing the half the stronger.
20.30: Superb cross from Reason into the corridor of uncertainty near the edge of the six yard box. Unfortunately Phillips can't get the touch needed to divert it into the goal, and the ball zips past him and the lunging Partridge at the back post.
20.29: Good persistance from Antonio Murray sees him help a long ball over to Lee Phillips, who turns away from a defender and sees his low shot deflect behind. Partridge wins a header from the resulting corner, but Tamworth half clear. Carden returns the ball with interest and this time Saah's shot on the turn deflects away for a throw on the U's right.
20.26: Crow decides to play Tamworth at their own game, falling dramatically under challenge from Mitchell and winning a lucky free kick 40 yards out. Reason takes to the far post, where Saah heads it back across but Alcock scoops the ball up under no pressure.
20.24: The free kick goes to the back post this time, and is headed away as far as Pritchard, who unleashes a snap shot which is fortunately straight at Brown.
20.22: United not holding onto the ball nearly well enough in this match, Tamworth keep regaining possession with ease. They have a throw here on the right with Lyttle. Murray tackles and wins the ball off Tait, who falls over and gets a free kick. This is getting beyond the joke, but the ref is enjoying himself, strutting about like a preening peacock.
20.20; Misplaced pass from Pritchard releases Murray, but he dallies and is crowded out. Tamworth clear and Rodman wins another dubious free kick after clashing with Saah. This ref is buying every trick the visiting forwards are trying.
20.18: Tamworth get a corner after Partridge can't clear his lines, the ball ricocheting behind off the United left back. It's another low one from Smith, but a better one, and a shot comes in which is blocked by a Tamworth player six yards out before being cleared by the grateful U's defence.
20.17: And that's Tamworth's best chance, Smith running through the defence and finding space in the box, but dragging his shot wide of the goal.
20.15: Reason frees Partridge on the left. His cross finds Neilson at the back post, who heads back across and Phillips back heels the ball past the keeper before it's smuggled away from near the post. The United players are convinced that was in the goal before it was cleared and I have to say that it looked a good foot over the line to me. Nothing doing from the linesman, who was perfectly placed on the Habbin side.
20.14: United look dangerous when they get on the ball, but sadly that hasn't been often enough in a half where the visitors have enjoyed territorial advantage.
20.12: Tamworth have had a lot of free kicks but not done much with them, and that's another poor one from Smith, which is in the general direction of Rodman but headed clear.
20.10: YELLOW CARD: Jay Smith goes in the book for mouthing off, and then as Tamworth go forward Neilson and Christie clash near half way. Free kick to Tamworth (obviously) and a talking to for both players. Coulson heads the danger away as far as Blackwood, who is fouled by Neilson. This is a better position for a free , on the corner of the area on the U's right.
20.09: Reason over the top for Crow, who tries to loft the ball into the area but miskicks. And that's the best chance for United so far, Reason finds Neilson, who shoots across goal but sees his shot parried away by Danny Alcock, with the defence mopping up the loose ball.
20.07: The ref's pedantry wouldn't be so bad if he was blowing up for the constant fouls on Phillips by Mitchell, who seems to take the striker in an arm lock every time United get the ball forward. Crow bursts down the left and floats a cross onto the roof of the net.
20.06: Not wishing to sound biased, but the ref is giving Tamworth everything at the moment. Christie and Partridge challenge for the ball in the air, and Christie goes down holding his mouth and gets a free kick. Smith floats it into the far post and over everyone and it goes out for a goal kick.
20.04: Tamworth could do with investing in some new boots for their players, as they don't seem to be able to stay on their feet. This time Smith falls after being brushed aside by Partridge and gets a free kick on the touchline 20 yards United clear the initial free kick but the ball is returned towards Rodman, who helps onto Mitchell in space, but his shot is blocked behind by Simon Brown. Good save at close quarters from the U's stopper. Corner clutched by Brown and U's breathe a sigh of relief.
20.01: Lyttle goes down screaming after a tackle from Neilson. Doesn't get a free kick, and is back on his feet after a brief spell of treatment. I assumed he'd sustained a serious injury but miraculously he seems ok to continue. United had kicked the ball out to allow Lyttle to be treated, and the Lambs sportingly (!) whack it into touch for a throw rather than returning the ball to Brown.
20.00: United clear the danger from the free kick at the expense of a throw, which is launched into the area and into the hands of Brown.
19.58: The ref is swinging his arms about all over the show, if he's not careful he'll have to book himself for dangerous play. Reason wins the ball from Blackwood, who falls dramatically and gets a soft free kick.
19.57: Good chasing from Reason sees him win the ball off Blackwood in the right corner and get United a throw. Tamworth clear and get another soft free kick on half way for the merest of touches by Carden on Rodman. Smith wins a header from the booming free kick into the area but is penalised for holding Saah.
19.54: YELLOW CARD. Christie wrestled to the ground near half way by Saah, who is surprisingly booked. Ref indicates it's for a swinging elbow, I'll have to take his word for that. Free kick to Tamworth on half way, which goes into the box and is headed clear by the towering Partridge.
19.53: Smith obviously not one who learns from experience. The third corner is low to the near post and Brown claims.
19.52: Blackwood and Rodman work the ball onto Tait on the right, and Partridge again has to block his cross behind for a corner. The corner goes into the near post looking for bean pole defender Mitchell, but the ball is headed over by Partridge for another corner. Another low one from Smith, and this time Carden heads behind.
19.51: Nice pass from Crow over the top releases Murray. He burrows into the box from the left, and tries to cut the ball back for Phillips, but the ball is just behind him and is cleared.
19.50: Tamworth actually 4-4-2, with Rodman up alongside Christie. They have a corner now, with Tait's shot blocked away by Partridge. Ball headed to the edge of the box and thumped clear by Crow.
19.48: Corner short to Gleeson, but his cross is cleared at the near post with Crow lurking.
19.47: Lee Phillips will be looking to make the most of his first start for five games. He bundles through midfield and wins a free kick after being fouled by Smith. 40 yards out, central position. Reason floats it in and Saah's shot is blocked behind for a corner.
19.46: United attacking the South Stand in which 30-ish Lambs supporters are gathered. And off we go.
19.42: The team's emerge to the strains of Wonder of You. Tamworth in red and white, United in the normal amber with black sash number.
19.36: Some cracking names among the Tamworth substitutes. For the sake of my fingers I'm hoping Chamberlin Fankem and Seb Lake-Gaskin remain on the bench,
19.30: TEAM NEWS: Martin Ling makes two changes to the starting line up, with Jai Reason and Lee Phillips coming in for Callum Willock and Rory McAuley. Simon Russell makes a welcome return to the bench.
Tamworth will probably employ the experienced Iyesden Christie as a lone striker. One familiar face in their squad, Countdown king and ex-United midfielder Neil Mackenzie, is on the bench.
19.25: Evening folks, and welcome to the Abbey Stadium for tonight's match with Tamworth. Three points tonight and United should be able to well and truly lay the spectre of relegation to rest.
