A second half strike from Lee Phillips secured a point for ten-man United in a breathless encounter with AFC Wimbledon,
United had led through Danny Crow, but a brace from Lewis Taylor put the Dons in command, and when Antonio Murray was sent off for a bad tackle on Kedwell, it looked as if the visitors would be taking home three points.
But United, led by the tireless left-sided duo of Aiden Palmer and Simon Russell, showed great resolve, and were rewarded when Phillips flicked in the leveller.
Martin Ling made five changes to the starting line up, and his new look side put in a cracking first half performance. Rory McAuley drew two good saves from James Pullen, while Lee Phillips also went close before Crow nodded United in front from close range. Pullen came a long way and couldn't deal with Jai Reason's corner, Dave Partridge nodded the ball back across the box and Crow was on hand to touch the ball in.
However Wimbledon grew in confidence as the half progressed, and their pressure told on the stroke of half time when Danny Kedwell and Will Hendry worked an opening on the left and rolled the ball across for Lewis Taylor to shoot past debutant keeper Simon Brown.
Buoyed by the goal, Wimbledon started the second half strongly, and Taylor notched his second after good play from Kedwell on the U's right.
And United's task was rendered even more difficult by the sending off of Antonio Murray, who lunged in on Kedwell and was shown a straight red card.
However, after Phillips cleared Lorraine's header off the goal line, it was United who dominated in the closing stages, and they were rewarded when the big striker flicked in his first goal of the season, getting the faintest of touches to a Palmer cross.
And in the last few minutes the ten men could have snatched victory, but Crow shot straight at the keeper when well placed, and Russell dragged a shot across goal and wide from close range.
But overall this was a positive performance from Martin Ling's side, and one which will hopefully be a catalyst for an upturn in results in the coming weeks.
Man of the Match: Simon Russell - Energetic performance both running with the ball and tracking back. He and Palmer caused the Dons no end of problems down the left with a series of accurate crosses.
Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Dan Gleeson, Aiden Palmer, Josh Coulson, Dave Partridge, Simon Russell, Jai Reason (Willmott 65), Rory McAuley, Antonio Murray, Danny Crow (Ives 82), Lee Phillips. Subs not used: Laurie Walker, Mark Beesley, Adam Marriott.
Bookings: None
Sent off: Murray 63 (foul)
AFC Wimbledon: James Pullen, Sam Hatton, Danny Blanchett, Ben Judge, Paul Lorraine, Ricky Wellard, Stephen Gregory (Parker 83) , Lewis Taylor, Will Hendry (Poole 69), Nathan Elder (Main 75), Danny Kedwell. Subs not used: Jay Conroy, Seb Brown.
Bookings: None
Referee: Mr S.Martin
Attendance: 3087 (Away: 769)
Matthew Gooding
AS IT HAPPENED
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 2 - 2 AFC WIMBLEDON
16.53: One last pass into the box which Brown snaffles ahead of Kedwell, and the final whistle goes. Great entertainment for the crowd of 3,087, with ten man United picking up a richly deserved point. It was a very good performance from Ling's men, one which will hopefully be a catalyst for an improvement in results.
16.52: Experienced play from Gleeson, who shepherds the ball out of play with Parker in close attention.
16.50: Partridge clears at full stretch, and when the ball comes back in Russell gets a nudge from Taylor and wins a free kick.
16.49: Four minutes to be added as Russell crosses and the ball just eludes Phillips. Breathless stuff.
16.47: Oh my word, Phillips bowls Blanchett out the way like an oversized weeble and pulls it back for Russell, who slides a shot inches wide. That could and should have been 3-2.
16.45: Wimbledon spreading the play well from side to side, but United are working hard to close them down and Willmott's persistance wins a free kick when he's blocked off 40 yards out. Partridge gets free to win a header from Robbie's cross, but Wimbledon clear.
16.42: Russell wins a free kick on half way as Josh Parker comes on for Wimbledon, replacing Gregory. Palmer's free kick isn't the best and the Dons clear at the expense of a throw.
16.40: Crow goes off after another hard working performance, he'll rue that chance that went begging a few minutes ago though. Sam Ives is his replacement, Ling presumably happy to take a point.
16.39: Taylor rides a couple of challenges and scoops a shot inches wide. He's been their danger man throughout.
16.37: Panic stations in the Wimbledon defence as Russell crosses for Phillips, then Crow, but Pullen volleys clear.
16.35: Crow harshly penalised after appearing to win the ball from Gregory. Wimbledon free kick finds Blanchett, but his cross is headed away. Crow and Palmer clear but Phillips has wandered offside.
16.34: AFC sub number two, with Main replacing Elder. McAuley wants a free kick, and gets one after surging forward and being pulled back by a defender. Willmott to take wide on the left, inswinging, It's better than his last attempt, but Phillips gets under the ball and heads over.
16.31: Glorious chance for Crow after a good run from Phillips who cuts the ball back for DC, who can only strike a shot straight at Pullen. Should've been 3-2 there, At the other end Gleeson has to clear and Hatton rifles a shot over the bar.
16.29: This should be a good last 20 minutes. Blanchett climbs all over Crow and the U's have a free kick 35 yards out, but Robbie WIllmott's cross is easily cleared.
16.26: GOAL Cambridge United 2 - 2 Wimbledon: Woohoo, where did that come from. Palmer floats in the cross, and Lee Phillips peels away to get a faint touch to the ball which takes it past Pullen. In the aftermath Wimbledon introduce Glen Poole for Hendry.
16.24: Brown punches a swirling Hendry cross over for a corner. Lorraine meets the corner, beats Brown, but Phillips is on hand to head off the line via the bar. First substitution from United, with Robbie Willmott replacing Jai Reason.
16.22: RED CARD. Oh dear, it's all going badly wrong for United. Antonio Murray lunges in on Kedwell, who crumples in a heap, and referee Martin has no hesitation in showing him a straight red card.
16.19: The U's look despondant now, and Gleeson's pass intended for Murray flies straight out of play. They do win a throw near the corner but Gleeson can't control and punches the corner flag in frustration as the ball rolls out.
16.16: United make a mess of an attack and WImbledon count,er they get bodies forward really well do the Dons. Elder holds it up and finds Wellard, who tiptoes across the area and is tripped by Murray. Free kick from Hatton parried by Brown, who recovers well to stop the goalbound second effort from Elder. That could've been curtains for the U's. The corner curls straight onto the roof of the net.
16.14: GOAL Cambridge United 1 - 2 AFC Wimbledon. Kedwell scampers down the right channel and cuts the ball back between a plethora of United defenders, and the inrushing Taylor sidefoots into the corner. Calamity.
16.13: Gleeson back on as Phillips picked the pocket of a defender but is crowded out
16.12: Gleeson is down holding his face after a challenge from the muscular Kedwell. The U's right back is off the pitch so play continues.
16.10: Quick feet from Wellard who rides a couple of challenges and slides the ball wide.
16.09: Gleeson wins United a corner, and plays it immediately short to Reason, but his cross is cleared. Wimbledon counter and Coulson volleys into touch.
16.08: Four on four as Wimbledon break, but Brown claims Taylor's cross.
16.07: McAuley fouled just inside the Wimbledon half but Reason's free kick only finds the hands of Pullen.
16.05: The ball finds its way through to Elder in the area, but his shot is weak and Brown easily saves.
16.04: Here we go again. You feel this could be a big half for United. Taylor immediatelty receives the ball, and gets the boos of the Habbin for his OTT goal celebration.
15.53: A penalty shoot out between Marvin the Moose and departing secretary Wayne Purser has just finished. I'm not sure who won. Wayne, who has been a terrific servant to the club over the last few years, is presented with a signed shirt by U's director of football Jez George.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 - 1 AFC WIMBLEDON
15.46: Half time then. Encouraging from United, but Wimbledon will go in with their tails up. This could go either way in the second half.
15.45: United's confidence has visibly drained, and suddenly they look like a team that has lost six on the spin. Kedwell finds space again and drives in a shot which is blocked by Brown. One minute to be added.
15.42: GOAL: Cambridge United 1 - 1 AFC Wimbledon: United carved open down the left, with Hendry then Kedwell finding space and working their way into the area. The latter rolls the ball across the six yard box for Lewis Taylor to tap in at the far post. Harsh on United overall but its been coming in the last few minutes.
15.39: A fortuitous corner for Wimbledon, with the ball hitting Taylor, then Russell, and spinning behind. Brown punches away and Hendry falls under the challenge of Gleeson to win a soft free kick just outside the box near the touchline. Wimbledon's free kick is short to Taylor, who tries to weave his way through and is crowded out. Let off for United.
15.37: The Dons press again and Palmer has to thwack the ball out near the corner flag under pressu from Kedwell. The resulting throw finds Taylor, who can't keep the ball in and it goes out for a goal kick.
15.35: Wow, that was a good hit from Taylor, striking across goal from 20 yards and whistling a shot just over the angle of post and bar. A yard lower and that would've been a goal of the season contender.
15.34: Gleeson sends a pass into Russell, but he chests it down and can't prevent it from going out for a goal kick.
15.32: Brown comes a long way to claim a Wellard free kick at the second attempt.
15.31: Wimbledon press through Hatton and Taylor, but Murray and McAuley mop up the danger. The Wombles are enjoying their best spell of possession so far, but haven't tested Brown as yet.
15.28: Corner to Wimbledon on the right. Brown gets a big fist to the ball and clears as far as Hendry, whose first time volley only troubles the drivers on Newmarket Road.
15.26: Great passing between Russell and Reason puts Crow in on the left but his cross is blocked. Ling will be pleased with his new look side so far, though Wimbledon are getting more dangerous now.
15.23: Crow, running around like a little bull in a china shop, wins a throw off Lorraine. DC is looking good today. Murray hasn't been on the ball much yet, and a pass intended for Phillips is off target, and runs through to Pullen.
15.21: Determined play from Palmer wins a corner on the left. This time United go short to Russell, and Pullen comes to successfully punch clear. The goal doesn't seem to have dented the Wimbledon stoppers confidence.
15.20: Wimbledon corner now after Coulson heads behind under pressure from Kedwell. It goes short to Hatton, who whips in a good cross but Wellard can only head the ball straight into the grateful arms of Brown.
15.18: GOAL Cambridge United 1 - 0 Wimbledon. The pressure pays off. Russell holds the ball up well and wins a corner on the left. Pullen comes a long way to reach Reason's flag kick and can only get a hand to the corner, Partridge heads it back across and Danny Crow heads it in from close range. Back of the net.
15.16: Good chance for Phillips, with Russell again the architect, finding space on the left and crossing for the big striker, who controls well in the box but sees his shot blocked by Pullen. Big Phill can't reach the rebound, and the Dons clear. United need to take one of these chances.
15.15: United have started really well, and Crow finds space this time but can't link up with Phillips.
15.13: Pullen grabs Reason's corner, and Wimbledon can breathe again.
15.12: Poor pass from Blanchett sends the ball straight out of play. From the throw United break with Russell finding Palmer, whose cross is cleared to McAuley who gets a shot on target which Pullen turns away. Reason's corner finds United's number 12, who puts in a powerful header which is heading for the top corner until Pullen leaps and turns it over the bar, great save.
15.11: Phillips gets a head on Palmer's cross, but can't direct it towards goal. Wimbledon break, and a long ball finds Kedwell, who has the ball nicked off his toe by Dave Partridge as he's about to pull the trigger. Good recovery from the centre half to stop a certain goal.
15.10: First touch for new keeper Simon Brown, who makes a confident claim from Gregory's cross. He's a big unit is our new keeper.
15.08: Crow and Palmer fashion a crossing chance for Russell, whoses cross is headed behind by Taylor for a corner. Reason's driven cross is cleared back to the taker, who this time loops in a cross which the keeper claims under pressure from Coulson.
15.06: Good play from Crow, who has cut off his flowing locks, wins United a throw. The ball finds Russell, who sends in a cross which is just too high for the leaping Phillips. Bright start from the U's.
15.05: United win a free kick when Crow is flattened 30 yards from goal. However Reason's powerful drive is straight at the keeper.
15.02: Kedwell is closed down by Coulson in the corner and can't get a cross in after a good Wimbledon break.
15.01: And we're off. United 4-4-2, Russell wide left and Murray wide right.
15.00: Glove watch: Danny Crow isn't wearing his, but Jai Reason has acquired a pair to keep his fingers toasty warm. The Wimbledon players all have bare hands, but Nathan Elder does have a natty pair of sweatbands.
14.58: Here come the teams, it's freeeeeeeezing.
14.55: The rain is bucketing down now, one suspects this won't be a game for the faint hearted.
14.52: Not sure what formation we'll be playing today, could be 4-4-2 or 4-3-3. I'd probably plump for the former, seeing as Wimbledon have two dangerous wingers in Taylor and Hendry who could do some damage if afforded too much space. Good to see Rory McAuley given a chance in midfield, he should add a bit of physical presence which has been lacking lately.
14.43: TEAM NEWS: Martin Ling makes five changes, handing debuts to Antonio Murray and Simon Brown, and restoring Aiden Palmer, Rory McAuley, and Lee Phillips to the starting line up. Wimbledon make one change from the team that beat Forest Green on Tuesday, with Ben Judge replacing the injured Brett Johnson.
14.40: Hello everyone and welcome to the Abbey Stadium for today's match against AFC Wimbledon. And a chilly Abbey Stadium it is too after the recent snow showers - let's hope United can raise the temperature on the pitch by picking up some much needed points.
