Date: Saturday 22nd August, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: breezy, sunny

United extended their unbeaten away record with this draw in sunny Staffordshire, although the home side were twice denied by the bar and by Danny Potter in the first half, and debutant Brian Saah and Wayne Hatswell had chances to snatch it at the death.

Martin Ling made three changes to the team beaten at home by Crawley on Tuesday, handing Brian Saah his debut and recalling Anthony Tonkin and Danny Crow, with Josh Coulson, Darryl Coakley and Mark Beesley making way.

Gary Mills made one change to the Tamworth side that drew 1-1 at Gateshead, calling up fullback Michael Blackwood in place of Des Lyttle. The Lambs side included former U's midfielder Neil Mackenzie while former striker Trevor Benjamin was among their substitutes.

The game started at a good tempo with half chances for both sides, an early clearance bouncing off debutant Brian Saah's leg, picked up by Robbie Willmott and brought forward at pace but just too far in front of the scurrying Danny Crow, while Tamworth's Nick Wright tried his luck after five minutes with a curled shot from 35 yards that hit the bar.

United were lively on the break but the home side looked most likely to score and on 13 Nick Wright was allowed time and space on the left to fire a shot from 25 yards that Potter saved low to his right. United cleared the corner and Willmott led the counterattack before trying a shot from 35 yards on the left that was caught by Alcock.

Potter collected a first time shot that looped into his hands and on 16 Richard Tait was booked for throwing the ball away, then on 21 United were saved by the woodwork for the second time when Wright cut in and unleashed a left-footed strike from 25 yards that beat Potter but hit the bar.

Brian Saah looked comfortable on his debut and helped to deal with the confident home side as last season's Conference North champions showed why they are unbeaten this season with their neat passing, while United struggled to get their passing game going and too often resorted to aimless balls forward.

With the tempo dropping in the sunshine, a quieter spell was interrupted as Michael Blackwood had a shot blocked behind by Saah on the half hour, then both sides went close with free kicks.

On 34 Blackwood's free kick was seen late by Potter who made another good save, diving to push the ball behind with his fingertips, and two minutes later Pritchard fouled Paul Carden and Willmott's free kick deflected off the wall and flew an inch wide of the far post.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A difficult half for United, who have lived with a bit of good fortune. Tamworth hit the bar twice and Danny Potter made two very smart saves, but Robbie Willmott had a shot with a deflected free kick late in the half to show that on the break the U's might just be a force of their own. They will be happy to be 0-0 at half-time."

Second half:
Both sides resumed at a higher tempo and Michael Briscoe made a clearance almost off his own goal line three minutes in, while Neil Mackenzie's corner two minutes later was headed on by Smith and cleared by Saah and Crow, but there was little to to excite the crowd of 1,316 and the home side still looked the most likely to score.

The first real chance came on 58 when Saah was penalised for a foul on Pritchard and Rodman latched onto Mackenzie's free kick 25 yards out, but his shot was easily smothered by Potter.

United's substitutes had been warming up for some time and Martin Ling's first change saw Sam Ives replace Andy Parkinson in the 63rd minute, with Willmott pushed slightly further forward. United's first booking followed two minutes later when Reason lost the ball and Carden slid across to cover, upending Sheridan at the cost of a free kick and a yellow card.

Mark Beesley was sent on for Holroyd in the 71st minute, but the game remained flat and punctuated by free kicks, and Danny Crow's frustration showed in the 76th minute when he collected a booking for a silly kick at Pritchard after the ball had gone.

The game flickered into life ten minutes from time with chances at both ends as Shaw's shot was blocked by Reason and Beesley led a quick counterattack, swapping passes with Crow whose shot was hacked behind. Willmott's corner was brought down on his chest by Dan Gleeson but he volleyed over the bar from the left of the area.

Action switched to the other end moments later as Tonkin headed the ball behind for another Tamworth corner and Smith's header was blocked on the line by Ives, and United had to defend stoutly as the home side forced two more corners, the second one met by Smith with another header and Saah making a vital clearance.

Neil Mackenzie volleyed over with three minutes remaining, but as play entered stoppage time United suddenly had two golden opportunities to snatch the points. Wayne Hatswell delivered a free kick to the far post where Brian Saah's header was blocked on the line by Smith to deny him a debut goal, and from the resulting Willmott corner Hatswell's header was blocked.

United had ridden their luck at times and had the woodwork and Danny Potter to thank for the goalless half-time score, but both sides had chances to score after the break and a draw was probably a fair result.

Tamworth:
Danny Alcock, Richard Tait, Chris Smith (c), Michael Briscoe, Michael Blackwood; Neil Mackenzie, Tom Shaw, Bradley Pritchard; Alex Rodman, Nick Wright, Jake Sheridan.
Subs not used: Gavin Hurren, Stuart Nicholson, Des Lyttle, Seb Lake-Gaskin, Trevor Benjamin.

Booked: Tait dissent 16'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason, Andy Parkinson (Sam Ives 63'); Chris Holroyd (Mark Beesley 71'), Danny Crow.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Courtney Pitt, Laurie Walker.

Booked: Carden foul 66', Crow foul 76'

Referee: Mr D.S. Bond

Attendance: 1,316 (away 402)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"Another point for the U's but an unconvincing one as they rode their luck on the way to a 0-0 draw. The Conference North champions hit the bar twice and were denied twice by Danny Potter as United laboured on a sunny Staffordshire afternoon. It was more of the same when the second half finally sparked into life, Sam Ives kicking one off the line late on, but United nearly snatched victory as impressive debutant Brian Saah and Wayne Hatswell were both denied in stoppage time. But it would have been rough justice on Tamworth if either had gone in."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Brian Saah - an encouraging debut. Honourable mention for Dan Gleeson, who was one of the few players who seemed to be on his game today."

Ref: Mr Bond - not helped by an assistant who couldn't see infringements and decisions under his nose, but that wasn't Mr Bond's fault. He was competent and tried to play advantage when he could. 7/10."

AT090822 web@cambridge-united.co.uk