Date: Monday 31st August, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast, blustery
Goals:
Rushden: Stuart 58'
United: Hatswell 63'

Cambridge United came from behind thanks to Wayne Hatswell's goal against his former club and remain unbeaten on the road, but the U's had the better of the play throughout and will feel this is two points dropped.

Martin Ling named an unchanged side for the third game, keeping faith with the side that won 3-0 at home to Gateshead on Saturday. The only change to the sixteen on duty was Rory McAuley's inclusion on the bench in place of goalkeeper Laurie Walker.

Diamonds boss Justin Edinburgh made one enforced change to the side beaten 2-1 with ten men at Stevenage on Saturday, calling up Kurt Robinson in place of the suspended Michael Corcoran.

With the travelling fans in great voice from well before kick-off, a bright start saw Jai Reason upended ten yards outside the area by former U's trialist Jamie Stuart and Robbie Willmott drove a low free kick past the wall but also just past the post.

In an entertaining opening, Rushden threatened with a free kick in the seventh minute after Tonkin brought down Pattison and Tomlin's free kick was flicked goalwards by Aaron O'Connor and smothered by Danny Potter, and moments later O'Connor found space but his curled shot from the edge of the area was easy for Potter.

United were getting a grip on the game and had the best chance so far on 13 when Gleeson held the ball up well before feeding Reason and the midfielder's low shot was almost backheeled in by Brian Saah got a touch, but Dale Roberts made a superb one-handed save to push it wide at full strength.

On 19 Gleeson's cross caused problems in the home area as the defence struggled to clear before a long ball out released O'Connor on the break. He raced away with Akurang in support but from the left of the area he fired another underpowered shot at Potter.

Four minutes later United went close again when Gleeson escaped his marker to meet Willmott's corner in space but sidefooted it wide from the middle of the area, leaving the home defence holding an inquest among themselves.

The home side were dangerous on the break and when Parkinson's cross was cleared long on the half hour Akurang raced on to the dropping ball but directed a weak shot at Potter from 25 yards. Within the minute, Roberts clutched a Willmott free kick and launched another counterattack, which saw Stuart nodding the ball wide after meeting Tomlin's cross.

Hard-working United still looked the side most likely to score and went agonisingly close on 34 when Willmott delivered a dangerous cross at pace towards Holroyd in the area, it fell to Parkinson with his back to goal and he tried instead to square it for Crow, whose shot was blocked by Roberts as the home defenders got back well to cover.

In a hotly-contested match, Mr Lewis was trying to referee with a light hand, preferring to call the players over for a warning rather than wave cards around and he contributed to the flowing nature of the match, while Danny Crow was everywhere for United, covering every inch of the pitch and joining his team-mates in closing down Rushden players whenever possession was lost.

With stoppage time approaching 42 O'Connor was fouled by Hatswell and Tomlin curled a free kick wide, Mark Byrne had a 20-yarder from the left of the area blocked by Hatswell, and in the last chance of the half Crow tried to pick out Parkinson with a cross and Stuart made a vital clearance. Half-time 0-0

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A satisfactory half for the U's who had much the better of things but have been unable to convert their opportunities. They have defended well when they've needed to and looked dangerous going forward. Now if they can just find that goal."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged for the second half and the first chance fell to the home side when Paul Carden brought down Pattison and Tomlin's free kick hit the wall, spinning loose to midfielder Byrne whose shot was arrowing towards the bottom corner but Danny Potter got down well to make a fantastic save.

Carden cleared the resulting corner and Willmott led the breakaway with Holroyd racing through the middle, but his pass fell just behind the striker and he had to check, giving the goalkeeper time to close the angle and block the shot. The close call just served to add extra volume to the concerted chanting from the 1,088 away fans roaring the team on.

The referee had tried to issue warnings rather than cards but reached for his pocket for the first time in the 56th minute when Wayne Hatswell was finally booked for a foul on Pattison after being warned for a similar previous foul.

There was a half-chance for United on 57 as Holroyd broke through against the keeper but the ball bounced up awkwardly and Roberts was able to make a clearance, and a minute later the home side took the lead against the run of play.

The goal came from Tomlin's corner dropping to Jamie Stuart just outside the area, and the centre half drove a fantastic low volley beyond Potter from 20 yards.

United threatened again on the hour when Parkinson was brought down by Robinson and Willmott's free kick was punched away by Roberts, and within a minute another breakaway saw Crow beat the offside trap and try to lob the keeper from a tight angle, the ball dropping mere inches wide.

There was little doubt about the second booking of the game on 62 when O'Connor left his foot in on Carden and left the U's captain in a heap on the right, and from the free kick United got their reward. Jai Reason delivered the ball onto the head of Wayne Hatswell who ghosted in to glance a header beyond Roberts and inside the far post.

The equaliser lifted the away fans to new volumes and Willmott made a good run and cross that was bravely headed away by Downer, who had been nursing a damaged wrist since early in the second half, and on 67 Stuart upended Crow as the striker tried to turn, and Hatswell tried a repeat of the goal as he ghosted in to meet Reason's free kick but he was too slow to turn and the chance was gone.

Substitutions followed as Justin Edinburgh sent on former York striker Craig Farrell for O'Connor on 68, just after the striker had lifted another chance over the bar, then on 75 a double change for United saw Sam Ives and Mark Beesley replace the hard-working Parkinson and Holroyd, while Rushden's Sam Smith replaced Cliff Akurang.

United were still enjoying the better of the play and chances and on 77 Willmott gambled as the ball dropped in space, beating the keeper to the ball and poking it goalwards but it bounced just wide, then on 80 Sam Ives showed good pace down the flank, leaving Downer in his wake and keeping the ball in play before cutting it back but Beesley's 20-yard effort was caught by Roberts.

Brian Saah, who had again showed with a cool and capable game why he has played all his football up to now in Leagues One and Two, collected the final booking on 82 for a foul on Farrell but Potter was equal to Tomlin's free kick.

Mark Beesley's search for his first goal of the season should have ended five minutes from time when he received the ball eight yards out but he was denied by a superb challenge from Curtis Osano before he could unleash the shot.

At the other end sub Farrell tried his best to put his side back in front with a 25-yarder wide of the far post and a header over the bar as stoppage time approached, and Osano rampaged forward and cut inside but lifted his shot over the bar.

United's final chance to snatch a deserved win came four minutes into time added on when Sam Ives met Willmott's corner but the teenager's left-footed shot was blocked by Downer from the edge of the area, leaving United's travelling army to swap deserved mutual applause with the players while ruing the loss of two points.

Rushden & Diamonds:
Dale Roberts, Curtis Osano, Simon Downer, Jamie Stuart (c), Kurt Robinson; Matt Pattison, Max Porter, Mark Byrne, Lee Tomlin; Aaron O'Connor (Craig Farrell 68'), Cliff Akurang (Sam Smith 76').
Subs not used: James Reid, Neil Cousins, Bobby Aisien.

Booked: O'Connor 62' (foul), Stuart 67' (foul)

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott, Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason, Andy Parkinson (Sam Ives 76'); Chris Holroyd (Mark Beesley 76'), Danny Crow.
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Rory McAuley, Courtney Pitt.

Booked: Hatswell 56' (foul), Saah 82' (foul)

Referee: Mr R. Lewis

Attendance: 2,344 (away 1,088)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"The U's left Nene Park a little disappointed having to settle for a draw against Rushden. United had the better of things for long spells but fell behind to Jamie Stuart's crisp volley just before the hour. Wayne Hatswell levelled moments later, gliding a header home at a well-worked free kick against his former club. Both sides had their chances to claim the three points late on; United had the better of them and would have won it five minutes from time but for a fantastic last-ditch challenge on Mark Beesley. There are definite signs for the Ling dynasty as United continue to recover from a destructive summer."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Dan Gleeson - as solid as ever at right-back, coming forward to join the attack as well and barely giving the dangerous Rushden wingers a look in."

Ref: Mr Lewis - another decent referee who missed little and tried to let the game flow, showing his cards only when necessary. 9/10."

AT090831 web@cambridge-united.co.uk