Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: mild, cloudy
Goals:
Charge 58', Poole 90' (pen)

Cambridge United failed to bounce back from home defeat against Luton, instead producing a disjointed and insipid performance against second-from-bottom Grays.

Martin Ling made one change to the side beaten 4-3 at home by Luton on Saturday, calling up Lee Phillips for his first start of the season in place of Mark Beesley. Grays manager Julian Dicks included four former U's in his squad, with Gavin Hoyte in the centre of defence and Sam Cutler, Jack Jeffery and Lee McEvilly among the substitutes.

Lee Phillips announced himself to the Grays defence in United's first attack of the match, muscling his way past left-back Craig Braham-Barrett to cross from the byeline, but Grays went close in the fifth minute when Kenny Davis' excellent cross-field pass released Glenn Poole into space on the left and the winger lashed a shot wide of the far post.

The action was largely scrappy but a good United move on 12 led to a corner, which was delivered deep to the late-arriving Dan Gleeson. He miscued the ball back across the box and as Grays failed to clear it Courtney Pitt crossed for Wayne Hatswell on the right of the area, but his shot was underpowered and easy for former Millwall keeper Preston Edwards.

With passes going astray from both sides, chances for the forwards were rare and on 22 Chris Holroyd picked up possession near halfway, looked up to see no options ahead of him so forged through the middle on a slalom run past three Grays men and saw his 25-yard drive saved by Edwards.

The first booking followed two minutes later when Cameron Mawer - sent off against United at Weymouth last season - dived in on Hatswell. As Mr Farries produced the yellow card the travelling U's fans, mindful of Saturday's defeat against ten men, chanted "Keep him on!"

United enjoyed a better spell of possession and Holroyd appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty when he was blocked just inside the area by Braham-Barrett, and moments later Jai Reason had a shot from just outside the area charged down while Pitt drove a 20-yard free kick inches wide.

A rare foray by Grays saw Braham-Barrett earn a corner on 33 but Danny Potter was equal to Uddin's header, and as United counterattacked Willmott whipped in a low cross but Holroyd poked the ball wide at the near post. Soon afterwards a Willmott corner was crossed back in by Pitt but Edwards clutched Brian Saah's close-range header.

Jai Reason joined Mawer in the book on 40 when he checked flying left-back Braham-Barrett in full stride, and with half-time looming and Grays mounting another rare attack the referee waved away penalty appeals as the ball bounced up against Hatswell's arm. United's clearance found Phillips on halfway and he spotted Edwards off his line but drove an ambitious shot wide in the final action of the half. Half-time 0-0

The second half kick-off was delayed by several minutes due to a change of referee, with Mr Farries having picked up an injury in the first half, and ten minutes of disappointing and disjointed play by both sides was summed up when Pitt raced onto the ball just outside the area but lashed it over the bar.

The U's had gone for the throat after the break, committing men forward and occasionally being caught out with men upfield, and Grays made United pay on 58 when a corner was cleared to Charge on the edge of the area where he had time and space to sweep a low shot beyond the diving Potter.

United almost struck back three minutes later at a free kick when Reason's shot was blocked and rebounded to Gleeson, whose first-time shot was parried by Edwards and eventually hacked off the line, and the U's went close again a minute later when Holroyd turned away from Hoyte but his low ball across the area was hacked clear.

Martin Ling freshened up his forward line in the 68th minute, sending on Danny Crow for Phillips, and two minutes later Glenn Poole was booked for time-wasting as he dallied over a free kick.

The U's fans were given something to cheer at last on 74 when Dan Gleeson led a charge through the middle before sliding a ball to Pitt whose powerful shot was deflected behind. The flag-kick was cleared and as United maintained possession Hatswell's firm header towards the top corner was snatched by Edwards.

Julian Dicks made his first substitution to bring on Charlie Taylor for goalscorer Charge in the 76th minute, and two minutes later Sam Ives replaced Reason in midfield. Further bookings followed on 82 after Potter's poor clearance left Gleeson exposed to the pace of Barham-Barrett and the two players tussled for the ball near the corner flag, both getting a lecture and a yellow card from the replacement referee.

Mark Beesley replaced Willmott with seven minutes remaining as Ling tried to liven up the attack and a quick counterattacking move moments later saw Holroyd scamper down the right but Edwards rose well to claim his cross. With United seeking the equaliser Grays found space to attack and Sam Ives blocked a Poole free kick and a shot by Robson, while at the other end Holroyd broke clear down the right and fired a low shot that beat the keeper but rolled agonisingly wide of the far post.

Chances were traded at either end and Potter punched Poole's shot away with four minutes remaining, while in the 90th minute Holroyd spread the ball to Mark Beesley on the right edge of the area but he buried a first time shot into the sidenetting, and then in stoppage time Grays doubled their lead with a disputed penalty.

Anthony Tonkin headed the ball away but left Richard Graham in a heap on the ground, and after extended discussions with his assistant and several protesting United players the replacement referee showed Wayne Hatswell the yellow card, to the confusion of players and fans alike.

Glenn Poole took the penalty, driving it inside the left-hand post and although Potter dived and got a hand to the ball he couldn't stop it sneaking inside the post. The second goal put Grays' second win of the season beyond doubt and a section of disappointed United fans booed the team's performance at the final whistle.

Andrea Thrussell

Grays Athletic:
Preston Edwards, Cameron Mawer, Anwar Uddin (c), Gavin Hoyte, Craig Braham-Barrett; Kenny Davis, Paolo Vernazza, Daryl Robson, Glenn Poole; Richard Graham, Daniel Charge (Charlie Taylor 76').
Subs not used: Lee Butcher, Sam Cutler, Jack Jeffery, Lee McEvilly.

Booked: Mawer foul 24', Poole time-wasting 70', Barham-Barrett foul 82'

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Dan Gleeson, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Anthony Tonkin; Robbie Willmott (Mark Beesley 83'), Paul Carden (c), Jai Reason (Sam Ives 78'), Courtney Pitt; Chris Holroyd, Lee Phillips (Danny Crow 68').
Subs not used: Josh Coulson, Andy Parkinson.

Booked: Reason foul 40', Gleeson foul 82', Hatswell unsporting behaviour 90'

Referee: Mr J. Farries

Attendance: 976 (away 482)

Andrea's Man of the Match:
Chris Holroyd: "One of the few players to approach his normal standards in an overall poor team performance"

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