It was another frustrating afternoon at the R Costings Abbey Stadium, as United dominated proceedings against high-flying York but slumped to a fifth successive league defeat.

Neil Barratt's deflected strike in the 48th minute was the difference between the teams, with his half volley from the edge of the area hitting Sam Ives and flying past Danny Potter.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of United somewhat, but they rallied and went on to dominate the second period, but failed to test Michael Ingham in the York goal.

Lee Phillips had a good game on his return from injury, but missed the best chances of the second period, twice heading wide from close range as Martin Ling's side turned the screw. But despite their best efforts it was the away side who took the points, their ninth win on the bounce.

The first period was similarly one sided, with Robbie Willmott twice going close, racing clear but seeing a shot saved by Ingham, then volleying over from a Rory McAuley cross. Paul Carden was also inches away from scoring a stunning goal, lashing a 25-yard shot just wide in the 38th minute.

But it wasn't to be, and United's quest for a win will continue when they travel to Eastbourne on Tuesday night for the FA Trophy second round replay.

Man of the Match: Jai Reason - A tigerish performance in the centre of the park, winning tackles and displaying a good range of passing.

Cambridge United: Danny Potter, Rory McAuley, Aiden Palmer, Brian Saah, Wayne Hatswell, Paul Carden, Jai Reason, Sam Ives (Parkinson 67), Danny Crow, Lee Phillips (Marriott 80), Robbie Willmott.
Subs not used: Laurie Walker, Daryl Coakley, Josh Coulson.

York City: Michael Ingham, David McGurk, James Meredith, Danny Parslow, Luke Graham, Ben Purkiss (Sangare 86), Chris Carruthers (Ferrell 90), Neil Barratt, Levi Mackin, Michael Rankine, Richard Brodie (Pacquette 74).
Subs not used: Kevin Gall, Adam Smith.

Bookings: Brodie 45 (foul)

Referee: Mr D. Drysdale

Attendance: 2646 (away 295)

Matthew Gooding

As it happened

FULL TIME Cambridge United 0 - 1 York City

16.54: And there goes the final whistle, I can't believe we've lost that game. In a lot of ways that was a great performance from United, but profligacy in front of goal has cost us yet again. No boos from the crowd today, who applaud a despondant looking U's team off the pitch.

16.53: Parkinson races forward and his cross is headed behind. Danny Potter thinks about joining the attack but Willmott's cross is into the box before he has time to race forward. The ball bounces around in the box and eventually Marriott is flagged offside. Probably the last chance gone.

16.51: McAuley scuffs a shot wide, wasteful from the young right back.

16.48: Four minutes to be added, seems a bit conservative, especially as York are on the attack.

16.48: It's hit and hope stuff now, but it works as United win a corner. Ingham flaps Willmott's cross away for a second flag kick. Willmott delivers, Hatswell wins the header, and Reason shoots over. Final sub for York is Andy Ferrell replacing Chris Carruthers.

16.46: Parkinson finds Reason, who digs a lifting shot out that zooms over the bar. Time wasting substitution for York with Sangare replacing Purkiss.

16.45: The York fans are getting a bit riled by the lack of decisions they're getting from the ref. They finally get one on half way after na over enthusiastic challenge from Reason on Parslow. United 4-2-4 now as they look for an equaliser.

16.42: Maz almost wriggles through near the byline, but can't get the cross in. York seven minutes away from a hard fought victory.

16.40: That's big Phill's last contribution, as he's substituted, with Adam Marriott taking his place.

16.39: The pressure mounts as Hatswell heads a Carden cross across goal but no one can get on the end of it. And I can't believe that stayed out! Again Hatswell wins the initial header, and Phillips, all alone in the six yard box, heads wide. Unbelievable.

16.36: Great chance for Phillips, who throws his arms in the air in frustration as he heads wide from McAuley's tempting cross. 15 minutes or so left for United to salvage something here.

16.34: I think the technical term for that is handbags. An almighty scuffle ensues after Reason is fouled by Mackin, who clips the United midfielder with his arm. The U's have a free kick, and Mr Drysdale, probably sensibly, decides not to issue any cards.

16.32: Martin Foyle's decides to withdraw the frustrated looking Brodie, who trudges off at the speed of a geriatric tortoise. Richard Pacquette, who once scored a goal at Anfield you know, is his replacement.

16.31: Brodie lucky to escape a booking for diving there, going down very easily on the edge of the box and not getting the decision from the ref. Hatswell slams a shot wide from 30 yards as United push forward on the counter.

16.30: Rankine dives to meet a wicked cross from Carruthers but Potter saves at full stretch. United break and Phillips heads straight at Ingham from McAuley's cross. United's lack of bite in the final third could be costly today.

16.27: Martin Ling's first change sees Andy Parkinson enter the fray in place of Sam Ives. This will presumably facilitate change of shape to 4-4-2.

16.25: Nice pass from Reason, who has had a solid game for the U's. It finds Willmott who whips a shot into Ingham's arms from a tight angle.

16.24: Interesting free kick from Reason this time, low to the edge of the area and easily cleared. United look like a side running out of ideas, and Crow shows his frustration with a late tackle on Carruthers that gives York a free kick.

16.22: Brodie crumples again under challenge, this time from Palmer. York toss the free kick into the box but Rankine's turn and shot goes high over the bar.

16.19: Audacious from Reason, who spots Ingham off his line and tries to lob him from 40-yards. Needless to say, it isn't successful.

16.17: Confidence must be really low in the United ranks, and the crowd show their frustration as a couple of passes drift out of play.

16.16: Phillips tries to bulldoze his way through but is blocked at the last, and Danny Potter gives the United fans kittens at the other end, racing out of his box and chesting down a long ball under pressure before finding touch.

16.14: York much better since the goal, and Brodie turns away from Hatswell and delivers a teasing cross which evades Rankine.

16.12: Chaos in the York area as Ives tries to wriggle through after retrieving Reason's free kick. However, the Minstermen clear and United have to start again.

16.11: Harsh on United, but a side of York's quality are always going to be capable of doing that to you. Rankine blocks McAuley to give United a free kick near the right touchline, 40 yards from goal.

16.08: GOAL - United 0 - 1 York City: Blast. Good play from Chris Carruthers on the left sees him get a cross over which is headed away as far as Neil Barratt, who thunders a 20-yard half-volley past Potter into the top corner.

16.06: Good move from United as they look to make the breakthrough. Reason and Crow combine to find McAuley, but his cross floats over everyone and behind for a goal kick.

16.04: Here we go again, the teams are back.

HALF TIME: Cambridge United 0 - 0 York City

15.48: Yellow card. To the amusement of the home crowd, Brodie receives a booking for a lunging challenge on Willmott. York's top scorer then almost talks himself off the pitch with an ill-advised rant at the referee. Silly boy. Reason's free kick is cleared, and that's half time. Good 45-minutes from United, shame we haven't scored though. We may live to rue the missed chances in the second half.

15.47: Hatswell and Brodie tussle near half way, and the striker goes crashing to the turf, winning a free kick. It's fair to say he's not the most popular man in the Abbey Stadium. York waste the set piece, with Carden clearing the danger and leading a break involving Willmott, who is eventually crowded out before he can get a shot in.

15.45: Big Brian Saah strides, Beckenbauer style, out of defence, eventually finding himself in the box with the ball at his feet after a good play from Ives and Crow. However his cross come shot is cleared to Crow, who fires over.

15.44: Brodie's legs look a little bit too long for the rest of his body. It doesn't seem to hinder his play though, and a great turn and pass put Meredith in on the left, but his cross is blocked by McAuley and the ball goes out for a throw.

15.42: Phillips climbs to meet a McAuley cross but heads just over. Good spell of pressure from Ling's men.

15.41: Rory McAuley is the next to try his luck, arrowing a low shot straight into the ample chest of Ingham.

15.40: Oooh, screamer from United skipper Paul Carden, who blasts a trademark 25-yarder inches wide. United claim a deflection, but the ref is adament it's a goal kick.

15.38: Reason threads a through ball into the feet of Crow, whose shot is blocked by Meredith. United's number 10 stays down after taking a knock from the York left back, but is soon on his feet again.

15.35: Hatswell, again looking for that farewell goal, heads a Reason free kick just wide but the whistle had already been blown after the ref spotted some pushing.

15.34: Nice passing from United, it's a bit like watching Arsenal until Carden tries to put Crow in but overhits his pass and the ball goes out for a goal kick.

15.31: Hatswell stretches his ageing limbs to clear a Barrett free kick under pressure from Brodie. Good defending from the United stalwart. This match has flowed pretty well so far, nice to see two teams trying to play football rather than concentrating on the physical side of the game.

15.30: Willmott again in the thick of the action, volleying high over the bar after reaching McAuley's long cross. It's been mostly United thus far, but we need to make this territorial advantage count.

15.26: Real chance for Robbie Willmott after a mistake from McGurk leaves him clear on goal. But under pressure from a covering defender he places his shot too close to Ingham, who gets a hand to it and turns it behind for a corner. Ingham clutches the resulting flag kick, but that was the best opportunity of the match so far. 

15.24: Brodie is finding his range now, dragging a shot inches wide from the edge of the box. Potter seemed to have it covered.

15.23: Reason's cross is headed up in the air by Graham, but Ingham claims ahead of Phillips. The three man midfield has been quite effective for United thus far, with Palmer and McAuley giving the team width.

15.22: It's taken them a while to get going, but York are starting to play a bit. Barrett latches onto a flick from Rankine but can't get his shot on target.

15.19: Brodie earns the ire of the Habbin by falling theatrically but failing to get a free kick from the referee. Brian Saah then almosts gifts the York striker possession in the box, but recovers to clear his lines.

15.17: Richard Brodie shows that even 27-goal strikers don't get it right all the time by thrashing a shot high into the NRE. Then a quick free kick from Reason finds Willmott, but his shot is deflected and Ingham can fall on it comfortably.

15.15: Here goes Palmer again, the boy from Bishop's Stortford is full of attacking intent. Unfortunately Ives takes his cross away from Phillips and heads it behind for a goal kick.

15.14: Free header for Rankine, but the cross from Purkiss is slightly too high and the striker can only guide his effort into the Newmarket Road end.

15.13: Robbie Willmott picks Parslow's pocket on half way and races into the area. Sadly he gets the ball stuck under his feet before he can get a shot away. At the other end Brian Saah has to clear the danger with Brodie threatening.

15.10: Palmer has made an impressive start, and does well to win the ball off Rankine to thwart a York attack.

15.09: Phillips gets a nudge in the back to win the U's free kick in almost exactly the same place as a moment ago. This time Willmott goes for finesse rather than power, but his cross is headed away.

15.08: Hatswell is bound to be all over the free kicks today. His effort this time is blocked by the wall though.

15.07: United with a free kick on the corner of the area after Danny Crow takes a boot to the face. Doesn't seem to be any lasting damage.

15.05: Hatswell cuts out a Mackin cross as York mount their first attack.

15.04: York keeper Michael Ingham shanks a clearance out of play under pressure from Phillips. Good start from the U's.

15.03: United are 4-3-3 again, and an early shot from Sam Ives is blocked, while Aiden Palmer gets forward well to put in a cross which is headed clear.

15.02: Potter and Hatswell embrace before kick off. Bless their hearts. United attacking the South Stand as York kick off.

14.57: Minute's silence immaculately observed, and we're ready to do. Wayne Hatswell gets a warm round of applause from the fans before what is set to be his last game for the club.

14.55: The team's are out. We're going to have a minute's silence for the former Woking chairman Phil Ledger, who passed away recently.

14.53: York were last at the Abbey just before Christmas, winning 2-1 in the FA Cup second round. Rankine and Brodie the scorers for Martin Foyle's team, with Anthony Tonkin hitting a late reply for United.

14.50: Following the departures of Pitt and Holroyd United's squad looks painfully thin. If Harry Redknapp was U's boss he would undoubtedly be taking about being "down to the bare bones" by now.

14.40: I'm still in shock following yesterday's departure of Courtney Pitt to today's visitors. We'll miss you Courtney. But when he does pitch up at Kitkat Crescent, he will have a hair-cut buddy in the form of Minstermen winger Adam Smith, who is today sporting a dashing Pitt-esque mowhawk.

14.34: TEAM NEWS - Martin Ling has made two changes to the starting line up, with Aiden Palmer returning from injury and replacing Daryl Coakley, and Lee Phillips coming in up front for the Brighton-bound Chris Holroyd.

There's no place in the York squad for ex-U Michael Gash, but another former United player does start in the form of James Meredith, who had a brief, undistinguised, loan spell here in 2006.

14.30: Hello everyone, and welcome to this afternoon's Blue Square Premier match at the Abbey Stadium, where York City are the visitors. United haven't won in five games, and will have their work cut out if they to end that sequence, with York being one of the division's form teams.