Paul Carden hit a stunning late winner as United came from behind to beat Histon and record a third successive victory.

Carden found the net with a fizzing shot from 25 yards in the 84th minute to complete a comeback which had seemed unlikely after the visitors had taken a second half lead through Andy Pugh.

But after getting back on level terms within six minutes through Scott Neilson, United went on to dominate the closing stages, and Carden's winner was the icing on the cake.

The U's were also indebted to keeper Simon Brown for saving a first half penalty from Charlie Sheringham, controversially awarded for a hand ball by Danny Crow. He raced out to block a Gareth Gwillim free kick in the 24th minute, and all the players looked surprise when referee Mr Madley pointed to the spot.

Sheringham went for power rather than placement, hitting his effort straight down the middle of the goal, enabling Brown to stick out a big right arm and deflect the ball over the bar.

Histon had already had the ball in the net through Nathaniel Knight-Percival, who saw his effort ruled out for offside. United's best chance of the first half fell to Callum Willock, who found space to control an Aiden Palmer free kick, but could only shoot straight at David Knight from six yards.

It was the Stutes who finished the first half the stronger, and they were rewarded after the break when Pugh netted his first for the club. And although the visitors had been trying to play some neat football, their goal came from a more traditional Histon source; a set piece. Gwillim launched a throw into the area, which spun off a gaggle of players at the near post and fell to Pugh, who had time to pick his spot.

Martin Ling then made a double change, with Dan Gleeson and Antonio Murray joining the fray, and it was Murray who provided the cross for Neilson's equaliser. His centre was met by Willock, who outjumped Knight and flicked the ball into the path of the on-loan Bradford man, who smashed in the leveller despite the efforts of a defender on the line.

Murray made a lively cameo appearance, and he was indirectly involved in the winner, latching onto a Carden pass but seeing his shot deflected behind for a corner.

Brian Saah met Neilson's flag kick, and saw his header flash against the post and away. But Histon didn't clear their lines effectively, and the ball fell to Carden who lashed in the winner, a goal which moved United up to 15th in the table and a step closer to Blue Square Premier safety.

Man of the Match: Brian Saah - Very little to choose between the two central defenders, but Saah's contribution's in both boxes were telling.

Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Kevin Roberts (Gleeson 62), Aiden Palmer, Brian Saah, Josh Coulson, Paul Carden, Rory McAuley, Simon Russell (Murray 62), Scott Neilson, Danny Crow, Callum Willock (Phillips 72). Subs not used: Jai Reason, Mark Beesley.

Booked: Crow 24, Neilson 67, Carden 85.

Histon: David Knights, Erkan Okay (Oyebanjo 57), Gareth Gwillim, Adam Tann, Adam Bygrave, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Lee Smith, Glenn Southam (Tidswell 82), Daniel Sparkes, Charlie Sheringham, Andy Pugh. Subs not used: Lance Key, Callum Stewart, Max York.

Referee: Mr R.Madley.

Attendance: 4,417 (away 305).

Matthew Gooding

FULL TIME CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 1 HISTON

16.54: Miscommunication between Sparkes and Oyebanjo and United have a free kick and a chance to eat up a few more seconds. Crow escapes on the U's left and chips the ball in the direction of Phillips, leaving Bygrave to flick the ball out for a United throw. Into the fifth minute of extra time AND THERE GOES THE FULL TIME WHISTLE. United have a hard earned victory thanks to Carden's stupendous strike at the death.

16.53: Histon lump it long, but Sparkes can't find Sheringham, and the ball is through to Brown.Two minutes left.

16.52: Handbags between Gleeson and Gwillim, with the Histon left back taking exception to a challneg from his United counterpart. A talking to for both players is the result.

16.51: Yellow card. Neilson booked for a foul on Gwillim on half way, but United deal with the danger. Four minutes to be added. Carden, Neilson, and Crow run the ball, and the clock, down into the corner.

16.48: Cardy now has two entries in his personal goal of the season contest after that strike against Rushden. Crow wins a free kick in the corner but Gleeson's effort is caught by the keeper.

16.47: The NRE is bouncing, and United could have had a third there, Saah climbing high to meet a Carden free kick but getting under the ball and heading over.

16.45: CAMBRIDGE 2 - 1 HISTON. Screamer from Paul Carden puts United in front. From the corner Saah leaps and heads against the post. Histon clear their lines as far as the U's skipper, who smites a stupendous shot into the bottom left corner from 25 yards.

16.45: GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL

16.44: Carden rides a tackle on the edge of the box, and finds Murray, whose cross cum shot is blocked behind for a corner.

16.42: McAuley twists and turns, finding Murray, who shoots straight at Knight. Good effort from 20 yards, just lacked the required direction. Southam jogs off to be replaced by Tidswell.

16.40: Neilson cuts inside and tries a shot with Crow in acres of space at the far post waiting for a pass.

16.38: Crow onto Gleeson's through ball, holding it up near the byline and chipping a cross into Murray, who can't control. But United come again with Phillips, who overhits his pass and can't find Crow.

16.36: Concerted pressure from the U's leads to Palmer cutting inside Oyebanjo and setting up Murray for a shot which flies over. He'd love a goal against his former employers.

16.34: Good run from McAuley to meet Palmer's long ball and win a corner. Neilson's cross flicked on by Crow at the near post and snaffled by Knight.

16.32: Substitution for the U's, with Willock going off and being replaced by Phillips. Willock has been excellent for United, hopefully big Phill's fresh legs can find us a winner.

16.29: Neilson, energised by his goals, bursts down the right, winning a throw, which is taken quickly to Crow, whose cross is blocked away for a corner, which McAuley heads way over. The attendance today is 4417, with 305 making the long journey from Impington to be here.

16.28: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 1 HISTON. Get in there, United level through Scott Neilson. Murray's cross is aimed at Willock, who jumps with the keeper and flicks the ball over him, leaving Neilson with the task of smashing the ball past the defender on the line.

16.25: Saah tries to get things going with a typically graceful run which ends with a crunching tackle from Tann just outside the box. Free kick, though the ref could have played advantage with Saah having already played the ball on to Murray in space. Carden's free kick smashes into the wall, that was poor.

16.23: Gleeson slips and Sparkes reaches the ball and tries his luck, but shoots wide. United need to respond quickly, they've been second best for most of this game.

16.22: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 - 1 HISTON. Histon lead and it's Andy Pugh with the goal. Gwillim's throw in flicks off a couple of heads and Pugh finds space to volley in at the far post. Double change for United, wiith Gleeson and Murray replacing Roberts and Russell.

16.19: United so close to taking the lead. Crow and McAuley help Palmer's cross on to Neilson, but Knight spread himself and blocks the shot at the expense of a corner. The corner is cleared but United are building a bit of pressure. Russell and Neilson have swapped flanks and the Bradford loanee is seeing more of the ball.

16.17: Free kick away without too much difficulty for the Stutes, who break with Knight-Percival and Pugh, who forces a throw on the left. First change for Histon, with Oyebanjo on for Okay.

16.15: Neilson sprints clear on the break, with Crow and Willock in support. He elects to play in the former, but his first touch is poor and Histon clear. United go direct again, and Willock draws a free kick from Tann five yards outside the box.

16.14: United bring the ball clear, but Palmer trips over his feet neare the toucline and the ball goes out for a Histon throw.

16.13: Gwillim in fact leaves it for the busy Southam, who whacks it into the South Stand. Panic over, that was rubbish.

16.12: Sheringham turns away from Saah and goes down on the edge of the box. Very very soft award of a free kick, but Gwillim will fancy this.

16.10: Good interplay from Neilson and Willock tees up Crow who shoots over. I hope the prospect of free burritos isn't distracting our number 10.

16.09: Foot up from Neilson on Gwillim and it's another free kick in a dangerous area. That looked more head down than foot up to me. Anyway, U's defend, it's a poor one from Gwillim and truth, and its thumped away

16.07: Pugh's shot deflected and Histon have a corner. Brown punches Gwillim's delivery away.

16.06: Here we go. Early ball forward headed back to Knights by Gwillim.

16.04: Steve Fallon has been on the pitch at half time to warm applause from both sets of fans. He is to have a testimonial at the Abbey on May 8th. The teams are back out, here we go again.

HALF TIME: Cambridge United 0 - 0 Histon

15.48: Coulson helped to his feet, and is soon back in the action as play resumes. With half time so close I assume he'll be assessed during the break. The ball goes back to Brown and that's half time. It's been a funny half, with United dominating the early stages but Histon then getting a foothold, and after Brown's penalty-saving heroics the visitors have been on top. Could go either way in the second half, but with neither defence looking particularly solid, I reckon there's bound to be at least one goal.

15.46: Two minutes to be added. Crow lays the ball off to Neilson, whose shot is deflected and runs through to Knight. But United have a problem with Coulson down clutching his ankle. The Histon stopper sportlingly puts the ball out of play to allow treatement.

15.45: As derby's go this isn't the most vociferous. I've been at livelier funerals. Crow tries a clever pass which is too clever for either Russell or Willock and Histon have a goal kick.

15.43: Knight spills the ball under pressure from McAuley after Palmer's cross, but he recovers to fall on the ball then clear his lines.

15.42: The Histon front two look lively, and Pugh works it on to Sheringham, who cuts away from Roberts' half-hearted challenge but shoots wildly over.

15.41: Quick feet from Russell sees him skip away from a couple of challenges and play a pass inside the full back for Palmer, whose cross is headed clear.

15.39: Neilson penalised for foot-up, and that's a Histon free kick 40-yards out. Gwillim to take and Coulson whips it away at the far post with Smith and Sheringham closing in. Neilson sprints away on the break but good defending from Knight-Percival sees him off.

15.37: Neilson tries to get Crow away with a through pass, but United's top scorer is under pressure from two defenders and shoots wide. Neither defence looks particularly sturdy at present.

15.36: Clear foul by Knight-Percival on McAuley goes unpunished, then Rory bundles the doubled-barrelled one to the ground for a Histon free kick.

15.34: Corner for the U's after Gwillim heads the ball behind. Russell's cross comes into the near post and Coulson heads wide. Might feel he should have done better from there.

15.32: Still baffled by that penalty award. The ball may well have struck an arm but it was in no way deliberate so to book Crow seems harsh in the extreme. Neilson at the other end feeds Russell whose shot is weak and straight at Knight.

15.31: Pugh in but Brown out quickly to clear for a throw. Histon having a good spell here. Gwillim's throw is like an exocet, and Coulson heads away, taking a knock in the process.

15.30: Referee now over-compensating by giving United a couple of soft free kicks, the second of which hero-of-the-hour Brown scuffs out of play.

15.28: PENALTY SAVE: Woooooo, go Browny. Sheringham hits his penalty straight down the middle, and the U's stopper sticks out a big hand and deflects the ball over the bar. Justice has been done the United fans will feel. Histon have a corner which is overcooked and cleared.

15.26: PENALTY + YELLOW CARD Pugh tumbles under challenge from Saah and Histon have a free kick 20 yards out. The U's wall charges down Gwillim's free kick, and that's a penalty! Hand ball against Crow I think, yellow card, and a spot kick. Baffling decision that.

15.25: Willock fouled by Tann for a free kick 40 yards out. Carden lofts it to the far post towards a clutch of yellow shirts, but Roberts heads wide.

15.24: Palmer sticks to his task well against Sheringham and puts the ball out for a throw. The wing is playing havoc with United's attempts to clear, but the left back does so, and almost releases Willock, who can't keep his footing and loses out to Bygrave.

15.22: Tann thumps the ball into the main stand roof, sending a shower of dust onto Mark Johnson's head in the process. United can't capitalise on the throw, but soon counter again with Neilson and Roberts, whose cross is blocked away for a throw.

15.20: United playing a high-tempo pressing game, pushing the Stutes back at every opportunity. Crow finds some space on the edge of the box but can't get his shot away, or pick the obvious pass to Palmer on the left.

15.17: Clever ball from Crow puts Willock away in a one-on-one with Bygrave, who chops him down on the right corner of the box for a free kick. Good position for a cross, which Knight punches away. Carden follows up, but his cross is cleared too.

15.16: Willock is enjoying a good physical battle with Adam Tann, and almost works his way into the box but is crowded out and then penalised for a foul on the experience defender.

15.13: Palmer delivers the free kick from half way, and oh my word that should have been a goal. Willock pulls away from his man, chests the ball down, but shoots straight the keeper who makes a brave block from six yards. David Knight in the Stutes goal shouldn't even have smelt that, Willock had the whole goal to aim at.

15.12: Histon corner after Coulson puts the ball behind. Carden heads the ball clear at the near post and United eventually win a throw on the left, then a free kick for shirt pulling on Willock by Okay.

15.10: Coulson makes a good interception to block Pugh, but Histon have possession with busy Southam until the United number four intercepts again and tries to burst clear, only to be halted by a robust challenge from Gwillim. But United counter with Willock, finding space on the right and crossing for Neilson whose shot is blocked at full stretch by Tann.

15.09: Russell releases Willock, who bursts into the area but can't find Crow or Neilson with his cross.

15.06: Saah penalised for backing into Sheringham, and Histon have a free kick in a good position. Gwillim's delivery is a peach, into the six yard area, and Knight-Pervical toes the ball into the net and wheels away in celebration, only to see that the off-side flag is up. Let off for the U's, and the Newmarket Road End take great pleasure in taunting the visiting fans who thought they'd taken the lead.

15.04: Crossfield pass from Southam misdirected, and pressure from Willock and Russell forces the visitors to concede a throw. The same two combine when the ball comes back into play, but Russell's through ball is too far ahead of Palmer and goes out for a goal kick.

15.03: Ooh, that was a chance for United to take the lead. Russell's free kick was decent, and Kevin Roberts appeared eight yards out but got his angles wrong and headed wide.

15.02: And we're off. Scott Neilson fouled on the right 30 yards out and United have an early free kick.

15.01: Both teams form pre-match huddles. United attacking the South Stand in the first half as per usual.

14.57: Here come the teams, decent crowd today I should think though the Abbey is far from full.

14.51: Dave Partridge warming up with the U's subs, suggesting he will be back in the squad for Tuesday's match with Salisbury. Danny Potter also on the pitch and moving freely, the shoulder seems to be healing nicely as he takes a couple of catches above his head.

14.48: Last time Histon came to the Abbey the sides shared the points in a 2-2 draw. Rendell and Hatswell found the net for United, with Midson and Antonio Murray replying for the Stutes. On their only other visit, two years ago, United were 1-0 winners courtesy of Mark Albrighton's rocket shot.

14.41: Grey skies over the Abbey Stadium this afternoon, and a cold wind whistling in off the allotments. Histon players doing some strange warm-ups, none of which seem to involve kicking the ball.

Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Kevin Roberts, Aiden Palmer, Brian Saah, Josh Coulson, Paul Carden, Rory McAuley, Simon Russell, Scott Neilson, Danny Crow, Callum Willock. Subs: Dan Gleeson, Antonio Murray, Jai Reason, Mark Beesley, Lee Phillips.

Histon: David Knights, Erkan Okay, Gareth Gwillim, Adam Tann, Adam Bygrave, Nathaniel Knight-Percival, Lee Smith, Glenn Southam, Daniel Sparkes, Charlie Sheringham, Andy Pugh. Subs: Lance Key, Andrew Tidswell, Callum Stewart, Lanre Oyebanjo, Max York.

Referee: Mr R.Madley

Attendance:

14.35: TEAM NEWS. Having beaten Kettering on Tuesday evening, it's probably no surprise that Martin Ling selects and unchanged line up, with Callum Willock shaking off an ankle knock to take his place alongside burrito boy Danny Crow in attack. Dan Gleeson is back on the bench after a virus.

Histon make one change, with Andy Pugh recovering from injury and taking the place of Andrew Tidswell up front. Contract rebel Lanre Oyebanjo is among the substitutes.

14.32: Afternoon everyone and welcome to the Abbey Stadium for this afternoon's match against Histon. A few technical problems have dogged me so far, so let's hope they've resolved themselves now, ho hum