Date: Saturday 4th December, 2009
Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast, rain
Goals:
Eastbourne: Armstrong 15', Marum 25'
United: Austin o.g. 22', Saah 47'

Brian Saah's second goal for the club helped United to come from behind twice for a point in the wind and rain at Eastbourne, but the U's were unable to take all three points in a scrappy game.

Martin Ling made three changes to the side that won 1-0 at home to Chester on Tuesday, calling up Lee Phillips for leading scorer Chris Holroyd, handing Sam Ives his first league start in place of Jai Reason and recalling Wayne Hatswell to the defence in place of the slightly unfortunate Josh Coulson.

Eastbourne manager Garry Wilson made two changes, calling up Neil Jenkins and Simon Johnson in place of suspended former U's skipper Danny Brown and the injured Simon Weatherstone. Another former U, Liam (Enver-)Marum led the Sports' front line.

Despite the pouring rain at kick-off, there were chances for both sides in a lively opening spell. Eastbourne fullback Neil Jenkins tested Danny Potter from 25 yards, and for United Robbie Willmott cut into the area but his shot was parried by Danny Knowles. Danny Crow tried to follow in with a brave header among the flying boots but the home side launched a quick counter and Northampton loanee Joe Benjamin raced clear but fired well wide.

Both sides were full of attacking intent and in the twelfth minute Benjamin released Marum who got past Hatswell but as he was forced wide the U's defender got back to make a recovery tackle, and two minutes later Rory McAuley picked out Lee Phillips, who held off his marker on the edge of the area and linked well with Courtney Pitt but the winger's shot was blocked.

Liam Marum was playing like a man with a point to prove to one of his former clubs, and United were undone in the 15th minute when the striker was allowed space on the left to curl a cross into the area and Sports skipper Paul Armstrong beat Hatswell to head home from close range.

But in an almost silent ground, United were level within six minutes. Darryl Coakley's tempting cross was cleared as far as Pitt who was upended by Baker, and Willmott's driven free kick flicked off Ben Austin's head and past his keeper into the net.

Far from settling down and building on the fortuitous equaliser, United again permitted the home side the space to score on 25, Jamie Taylor's cross from the right evading Hatswell as Marum peeled away from Saah to nod the ball in from three yards.

The stunned United supporters watched in near silence as Sam Ives picked up possession 30 yards out but drove a shot wide, then on 33 Benjamin cut in from the left and drove a 25-yarder wide of the far post, but the action was as disappointing as the weather and the home side began to sit deeper in defence of their lead.

Another Willmott free kick was headed away by that man Marum on 38, and three minutes later United threatened with some good link-up play on 41 as Coakley's cross found Phillips who flicked it on to Crow, but the ball was headed away by the stooping Elphick.

Rory McAuley collected the first booking in the 44th minute when he stopped Benjamin's run, his second foul on the lively Eastbourne man in three minutes, and the half ended with United's men needing a big improvement after the break.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"With plenty of attacking by both sides and both teams' defences looking less than secure, it's no surprise there have been goals in it. United's conceded goals were certainly avoidable and they must do better if they're to get anything out of this match"

Second half:
With United attacking the end containing the away fans and with the wind and rain at their backs, they made the perfect start to the second half. Earning back-to-back corners inside the first two minutes, Willmott's second resulted in an equaliser as Brian Saah made the perfect run into space to head home his second goal for United.

With the home side now on the back foot, McAuley met a rebound and had a shot blocked for a corner but Willmott's flagkick was cleared by Austin, and on 56 Saah made a double contribution at the other end when he conceded a free kick for a foul on Marum but then stretched to get a vital foot on Crabb's free kick to divert it away.

Two minutes later Benjamin sent Marum away with a through ball as the offside flag stayed down, but Saah made another good intervention to clear the danger, then United went close on 63 when Darryl Coakley tried his luck.

Scampering forward down the left, the young fullback spotted the keeper out of position so tried his luck from 45 yards, and Knowles reacted late and only just got a hand to the ball to tip it behind. Pitt's corner was met by Hatswell but he headed wide under pressure from a defender.

The next booking arrived on 65 when Pitt beat Taylor and was brought down from behind as he threatened to leave the midfielder in his wake, but Willmott's free kick cleared the bar and Martin Ling made a change immediately afterwards, sending on Jai Reason for Ives.

With 20 minutes remaining Paul Carden cleared a corner and sent Willmott racing away, Reason did well to control his mis-hit cross and picked out Carden, but Eastbourne had men streaming back and managed to smother the danger. Two minutes later the effects of the conditions could be seen as Crabb's curler hung awkwardly on the wind and was tipped over by the alert Potter.

Martin Ling then introduced Chris Holroyd's fresh legs in place of Phillips, who struggled to make an impression in the second half. But before the young striker had a chance to run at the tiring home defence there was a two minute break in play as referee Mr Jerden called the captains to him for a discussion, then met with the other three officials before taking over as fourth official while Mr Mackay took over in the middle.

His first act was to note the introduction of Eastbourne's Dan Smith for Jamie Taylor on 78 and United's final substitution saw Mark Beesley on for Crow four minutes later.

With two tiring sides swapping half chances in the mud and puddles, play became increasingly sloppy and error-strewn and Eastbourne's next change was to replace the spent Benjamin with Andy Atkin. The tension in the air suggested that the game could be decided by one error in the five minutes of stoppage time, and two minutes into the added time Willmott raced onto a through ball and one-on-one with Knowles.

It was a golden chance to win the game but he placed the shot too close to the sprawling Knowles, and a minute later another chance went begging when Willmott's cross was met bravely by Hatswell but his diving header flew just wide.

Play then switched to the other end and Hatswell blocked Marum's shot, but before the corner was taken defender Ollie Rowe replaced the Eastbourne striker as Garry Wilson decided to protect the point rather than continue their trend of conceding late goals, and moments later the final whistle brought a frustrating match to an end.

Eastbourne Borough:
Danny Knowles, Darren Baker, Ben Austin, Gary Elphick, Neil Jenkins; Jamie Taylor (Dan Smith 78'), Paul Armstrong (c), Simon Johnson, Matt Crabb; Joe Benjamin (Andy Atkin 88'), Liam Enver-Marum (Ollie Rowe 90').
Subs not used: Michael Jordan, Kayne McLaggon.

Booked: Taylor foul 65'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Rory McAuley, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Darryl Coakley; Robbie Willmott, Sam Ives (Jai Reason 66'), Paul Carden (c), Courtney Pitt; Danny Crow (Mark Beesley 82'), Lee Phillips (Chris Holroyd 72').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Andy Parkinson.

Booked: McAuley foul 44'

Referee: Mr G. Jerden

Attendance: 1,217 (away approx 250 unsegregated)

Post-match summary by commentator Mark Johnson:
"The U's came from behind twice to take a point at rain-lashed Eastbourne. Martin Ling made changes to leave out Jai Reason and top scorer Chris Holroyd but it was the defence that had problems, conceding soft goals from free headers in the first half. Between them, Ben Austin's own goal left United with a one goal deficit with the wind and rain at their backs for the second half, and they almost made the most of the conditions. Brian Saah nodded United level two minutes after the re-start, and with the U's in the ascendancy Wayne Hatswell and Robbie Willmott almost won it at the end. But as has often been the case this season, it was a case of so near but so far."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Brian Saah - rapidly turning into a goal machine! He grew in authority as the match went on and scored another priceless goal."

Ref: Mr Jerden and Mr Mackay - they were both OK and got most of the decisions right. 8/10."

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