Cambridge United fell to defeat at Salisbury for the second time this season in a tale of two late penalties.
Matt Tubbs struck from the spot in the eighty-ninth minute to win the game for the Citadels, before Jai Reason saw his spot kick magnificently saved by James Bittner six minutes into added time. There were obvious parallels to United's last outing on Monday against Mansfield with the late penalties deciding the game, but this time The U's came off second best.
Martin Ling named a young line-up after survival was assured, with Adam Marriott replacing Danny Crow (groin) for his first start in professional football after ten substitute appearances. Blaine Hudson came in for the injured Brian Saah (thigh) while Sam Ives replaced Paul Carden (also thigh), with Aiden Palmer in for the suspended David Partridge.
The back four lined up with an average age of under 21, with only captain Simon Brown, Simon Russell and Lee Phillips being over the age of 23. Luke Berry took up his place on the subs bench, ready to make his professional debut if brought on.
After Jai Reason fired just over in the opening moments, Blaine Hudson made a composed back header under pressure from Reece Connolly early on, before Lee Phillips ran through on goal before being well challenged by Jamie Turley. Adam Marriott also showed a flash of his ability by turning his man expertly before slipping at a crucial moment before he could shoot.
Scott Neilson hit the wall with a freekick after Sam Ives' marauding run. Simon Brown was forced into a smart save from Aaron Martin, before Adam Marriott just failed to climb high enough to reach a Lee Phillips flick-on, before United took the lead on the half hour.
Referee Andy Bennett gave a freekick in the corner after the linesman signalled only a throw, and Jai Reason produced his second perfect delivery in as many games, allowing Blaine Hudson to power home his first goal in professional football in only his second appearance.
Ten minutes later The U's should have doubled their advantage, but Adam Marriott was denied a goal on his full debut by his own teammate standing on the line. After Phillips was denied by James Bittner the ball fell to Marriott, only to see his rebound smashed into the back of his fellow centre forward and away from goal.
Half time came and went, and United were immediately on the back foot as Salisbury won five corners in the opening moments. Josh Coulson and Rory McAuley both bravely headed away to clear the danger before Hudson lunged to make a vital interception when the ball fell to Jamie Turley inside the box, and finally Brown saved from Stuart Anderson.
It was only a brief respite for United though, as an equaliser came in Salisbury's next attack. After Scott Neilson was denied well by Bittner and Marriott saw his headed rebound cleared off the line, the hosts broke and won a freekick just outside the box. As Darrell Clarke tapped the ball, Matt Tubbs hit a superb strike which arrowed off the far post and past Simon Brown for Salisbury's equaliser.
The impressive Marriott was replaced by Antonio Murray, who played up front for the first time in a United shirt. Salisbury continued to look dangerous and Coulson was called upon to clear his lines when sub Jake Reid beat Simon Brown to the ball. Calum Willock replaced the tiring Phillips before Luke Berry came on to make his Cambridge United debut eight minutes from time, replacing Sam Ives.
The game was decided in the eighty-ninth minute as McAuley was adjudged to have pulled Tubbs down at a freekick, and Tubbs himself stepped forward to clinically power the ball home from the penalty spot. Just moments later and United had a spotkick of their own as Willock's effort was clearly handled, only for Jai Reason's powerful strike to be magnificently tipped wide by Bittner in what turned out to be the last kick of the game.
Man of the Match: Josh Coulson. Players such as Hudson and Reason impressed with positive displays but Coulson yet again was outstanding for United, allowing virtually nothing to get past him all afternoon.
Full minute-by-minute report below.
Reporting by Matt Ramsay.
14.15 Afternoon and welcome to a sunny Raymond McEnhill Stadium for this afternoon's league fixture between Salisbury City and Cambridge United. Safety was assured for The U's on Monday so today represents a chance for Martin Ling to experiment with his line-up.
David Partridge serves a one-match suspension, while Dan Gleeson, Kevin Roberts and Brian Saah are definitely out. Blaine Hudson should partner Josh Coulson at the back, with Adam Marriott tipped to make his first start in professional football in place of Danny Crow. Team news to follow as it arrives.
14.25 The teams are out warming up, Danny Crow is indeed not among the squad. Youngsters Ives, Coakley, Hudson, Berry and Marriott are all in the sixteen.
14.30 The teams have now been announced, with Lee Phillips, Simon Russell and Simon Brown the only players over the age of 23. Adam Marriott makes his first start in professional football while Blaine Hudson makes only his second appearance. Sub Luke Berry would make his professional debut if he comes on.
Team news.
Salisbury: James Bittner; Sean Clohessy, James Turley, Chris Giles, Aaron Martin; Stuart Anderson, Darrell Clarke (c), Christopher Shepherd, Ben Adelsbury; Matt Tubbs, Reece Connolly.
Subs: Bradley Gray, Chris Flood, Ryan Pryce, Ronnie Bull, Jake Reid.
CUFC: Simon Brown (c), Aiden Palmer, Rory McAuley, Josh Coulson, Blaine Hudson; Sam Ives, Jai Reason, Simon Russell, Scott Neilson; Lee Phillips, Adam Marriott.
Subs: Danny Potter, Antonio Murray, Daryl Coakley, Luke Berry, Calum Willock.
Referee: A. Bennett.
14.45 The sides are heading down the tunnel following their warm-ups. United's supporters are congregated behind one goal and presumably quite glad that the sun's out.
14.57 The sides are out, United in their traditional amber and black with Salisbury in their home white kit.
15.00 Salisbury get us underway, shooting towards the away fans in the first half.
15.01 Good start from United as Lee Phillips flies past a challenge before heading towards the edge of the box, teeing the ball up to Jai Reason. The midfielder fires a left footed effort only just over the top.
15.06 Blaine Hudson faces his first test and does well to fend the ball away from Reece Connolly and heads towards Simon Brown. United break and Adam Marriott feeds a perfect through the middle to Lee Phillips, who tries to run through but is caught up by Jamie Turley.
15.08 Matt Tubbs gets above Rory McAuley but can't add any power to the ball, so captain Simon Brown makes an easy claim.
15.12 James Bittner drops Jai Reason's freekick, but gets away with it as the ball rebounds to outside the area. Josh Coulson lifts the ball back in but the Salisbury defence recovers to clear.
15.15 Adam Marriott shows a flash of quality as he turns his man expertly forty yards out, but slips at the crucial moment and the ball is scuffed towards Bittner.
15.19 Jai Reason's Hollywood ball comes off for United as it's chested behind for a corner. A flicked header by Josh Coulson goes wide.
15.22 Two of United's youngsters combine well as Marriott lays to ball off for the rampaging Sam Ives, who is clearly fouled twenty-five yards from goal. Scott Neilson steps up and hits the wall.
15.25 Simon Brown gets down well to his right to save Aaron Martin's header from a left wing cross, but the whistle had gone for a foul on Jai Reason.
15.27 Rory McAuley's long throw is well flicked on by Phillips and is just inches above the leaping Adam Marriott. Salisbury go direct as the ball is cleared and Matt Tubbs fires a shot that goes out for a throw-in.
15.30 GOAL CUFC 1-0 Salisbury. United take the lead under a touch of controversy. The referee gives a foul by the corner flag when the linesman had given a throw, and United capitalise. Jai Reason's delivery is perfectly aimed to the back post and Blaine Hudson gets in front of his man to imperiously power a header home for his first goal in professional football.
15.34 Rory McAuley crosses beautifully from the right but again Marriott is just too small to climb enough to direct his header, which goes over.
15.37 CRC are 2-0 up at home to Debenham Leisure Centre, Jordan Patrick and Jonathon Thorpe the scorers.
15.38 A horrible moment prevents United from doubling their lead. A terrible back pass lets Phillips in on goal and the striker is denied by a good save by Bittner before the ball falls to Marriott, who cuts inside and smashes the ball past the keeper, denied by his own teammate standing virtually on the goal line.
15.46 One minute of stoppage time is played without incident to bring a highly satisfactory 45 minutes to an end for the visitors.
HALF TIME Salisbury City 0-1 CUFC.
16.02 We're back out, no changes have been made and United get things underway once more.
16.05 Simon Russell gets back to make an excellent over-the-head interception to deny right back Sean Clohessy, who would otherwise have had a clean run on goal inside the box.
16.07 A flurry of corners for Salisbury, as Josh Coulson watches the ball perfectly to head the ball behind, before Rory McAuley does the same. From the fourth corner, the ball falls to Turley less than ten yards out but he is denied by a splendid lunging block from Blaine Hudson. From the fifth corner in a row, Stuart Anderson dragged a shot across Brown from outside the box which the keeper saves with his knees.
16.12 Worried times for United as Blaine Hudson is adjudged to have pulled his man back just outside the box. A few yards further and it would have been inside the box, and it's Aiden Palmer's time to make the block as the freekick is cleverly pulled back across goal.
16.14 What does young Maz need to do to score today? Scott Neilson prods a ball which is well saved by Bittner and the ball falls to Marriott, who flies in to bravely head the ball goalwards. Turley gets back to prod the ball away from under the bar for a corner
16.15 GOAL Salisbury 1-1 CUFC. Salisbury bring the ball away quickly and Ben Adelsbury is felled by Reason when it looks like the midfielder is going to shoot. Darrell Clarke taps the freekick to Matt Tubbs, who arcs a shot perfectly into the far corner via the post. Great freekick.
16.19 It's been an eventful start to the half, and Scott Neilson nearly gets the chance for United but it just won't fall for him. The shot eventually comes in and goes wide of the near post, and The U's players are insistent that it should be a corner which isn't forthcoming.
16.22 End to end stuff and Sam Ives is beaten to a loose ball in the centre circle which allows the ball to be played down the line, but Josh Coulson is on hand to head the ball behind for yet another corner.
16.23 Jake Reid replaces Reece Connolly for the hosts.
16.24 Reason's freekick is cleared to the same player and his second delivery is excellent, allowing Josh Coulson to peel away and head at Bittner. Antonio Murray comes on for Marriott, who has had an impressive first senior start.
16.31 An opening on the break for the hosts and sub Jake Reid runs through and just gets to the ball ahead of Simon Brown. The ball trickles towards goal but is hacked away by the recovering Josh Coulson.
16.33 Chris Flood replaces Stuart Anderson for Salisbury. Fourteen minutes remain.
16.35 Lee Phillips has run himself into the ground today, and is replaced by Calum Willock.
16.36 Openings are harder to come by for United but Simon Russell nearly gets free on the left, and the ball is cleared as far as the flying Scott Neilson, who sees his shot charged down.
16.37 Luke Berry comes on for his first appearance for Cambridge United. He replaces Sam Ives and has eight minutes to make an impact.
16.40 Danger for United and two penalty shouts, first for a high ball and then for an alleged handball by Blaine Hudson, who is on the floor at the time.
16.42 Chris Flood earns the first booking of the afternoon for leaning dangerously into Rory McAuley, who gets up after an initial moment of concern.
16.44 PENALTY. GOAL. Salisbury 2-1 CUFC. Rory McAuley is adjudged to have pulled Tubbs inside the box as a freekick is brought in. Rory McAuley is booked, as is Jai Reason for his protests. Tubbs steps up and smashes the ball to Brown's right to put Salisbury into an eighty-ninth minute lead. We immediately go into four minutes of stoppage time.
16.48 CRC's lead is decreased to 3-2. The ball is almost entirely in the United half, just where Martin Ling's side don't want it. Josh Coulson is playing as a makeshift centre forward, and Simon Russell flashes a freekick past everyone.
16.50 PENALTY. A high ball drops to Willock inside the box and his powered shot is clearly handled. In the 96th minute, Jai Reason steps up and sees his penalty magnificently saved by James Bittner, who pushes the powerful penalty wide of the post. Reason is distraught after a fine game from him individually, and it's the last kick of the game.
FULL TIME Salisbury City 2-1 CUFC
Matt Ramsay
