MATCH REPORT: An opening day fixture at Wrexham was always going to be tough for Martin Ling's Cambridge United, and so it proved as the Welsh side won the game through a first half strike from Andy Morrell.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the opening stages and forced a couple of early corners which were both met by David Partridge, but neither effort managed to trouble the home goalkeeper.
As the half wore on the hosts began to pile the pressure on with summer signing Dean Keats involved in most of the attacks and it was only a matter of time before they were rewarded for their efforts, and that came in the 28th minute as Morrell capitalised on a defensive error and smashed his effort into the net, leaving Simon Brown with no chance.
Wrexham continued to dominate the remainder of the half and Cambridge United were releived to hear the half time whistle and they could be thankful that they went in with the scorline at only 1-0.
The second half started in similar fashion to the first with the away side starting the livliest, albeit with little end product in the final third, and Wrexham looking lively on the counter attack.
Half time substitute Josh Coulson, who replaced the injured Partridge will have done his chances of a place in the starting line up no harm as he made a couple of vital last ditch tackles to deny the constant threat of Andy Mangan.
The half didn't pass by without Cambridge having their chances of levelling the game up, and came closest when a clearence from former Chelsea star Frank Sinclair fell to Danny Wright, but the travelling fans could only hold their heads in their hands as the effort rebounded away from danger off the post.
Both managers made changes and Cambridge switched to a 4-4-2 formation which saw Marriott and Gray replacing Wright and Platt, but the changes didn't really manage to make any real difference and the game drew to a close with both sides looking as though they could score.
So an empty handed return to Cambridge for Martin Ling's men, but they will have little time to ponder on this defeat as they look to get their season up and running with two consecutive home games to come against big spending Crawley on Tuesday and newly promoted Southport on Saturday.
Man Of The Match: Simon Russell: Looked to get on the ball at every opputunity and linked up well with his team mates as well as looking to shoot at any given chance.
ATTENDENCE: 4,004. (away 386)
Cambridge United travel to Wrexham this afternoon in the first match of the 2010/11 campaign, cambridgeunited.com reporter Sam Line provides LIVE updates below:
Apologies for the delay in the second half updates but the server decided to crash. Please find below the full report up to the final whistle and I shall be uploading the Manager comments shortly.
FULL TIME: Wrexham 1-0 Cambridge United
16:56 It's all over and Cambridge unfortunately couldn't get back their one goal deficit. Not the start the team would have been looking for but there will be some positives that manager Martin Ling can take from the game as he looks to get things right in time for the visit of Crawley come Tuesday night.
16:55 Wrexham substitution with Andy Morrell being replaced by Kevin Gall.
16:52 A deep cross from Russell is met by Willmott but his header is blocked by a Wrexham defender and it's a corner for United. Willmott delivers a set piece but the Referee halts play due to some shirt pulling from United.
16:51 The fourth official has indicated 4 minutes of extra time.
16:50 I have just received information that CRC have finished up 2-0 winners against Wivenhoe this afternoon with Jordan Patrick adding to Liam Hughes's opener.
16:49 Cambridge are putting the pressure on and have a corner which is punched out by the Wrexham Goal-keeper. The pressure is good but is it too little to late?
16:48 Wrexham's David Brown is replaced by their number 18 Jamie Tolley.
16:42 Wrexham have another corner which is cleared away be Adam Miller.
16:36 Simon Brown is forced into action and gets a strong hand behind a David Brown strike.
16:34 Fantastic defending from Coulson again, who at full stretch manages to block a Mangan shot out for a corner.
16:30 Danny Wright gets the by-line and hits a low cross across the box but no-one is there to meet it and it goes out for a throw, and that is Wright's final contribution as he is replaced by Wayne Gray.
16:28 Another Mangan effort there but his attempt goes wide for a Goal kick.
16:25 Following a foul on Paul Carden, Robbie Willmott delivers a shot come cross which goes just wide of the goal; elsewhere CRC are now leading 1-0 with Liam Hughes scoring.
16:23 Following a blocked shot from Mangan, Dean Keats delivers a corner which evades everybody and goes out for a Goal kick.
16:22 A second substitution from Cambridge as Conal Platt is replaced by Adam Marriott.
16:19 Russell tries his luck with a powerful shot from 25 yards but Wrexham keeper Shearer saves easily low to his Right.
16:17 A clumsy challenge from Miller gives Wrexham a free kick half way inside the Cambridge half which Keats can only hit into the wall. Following the rebound, Miller dives in again and is booked.
16:15 Clever play between Knight-Percival and Keats sets up Morrell and his shot is well saved by Brown and the rebound is cleared away by Saah for a corner which leads to nothing.
16:13 United have their closest chance yet and after Adam Miller's header cleared off the line by Sinclair, it falls to Danny Wright who hammers the ball against the Wrexham post. United are looking a lot more dangerous now.
16:11 Great defending from substitute Coulson who is too strong for Knight-Percival and the Cambridge man puts the ball out for a throw.
16:08 The first attack of the half there and Wrexham forward is well off-side.
16:05 Both teams back out and second half is almost underway, one change for Cambridge as Josh Coulson comes on in the place David Partridge.
Latest from the R Costings Abbey Stadium: CRC 0 - 0 Wivenhoe
HALF-TIME Wrexham 1-0 Cambridge United.
15:50 Half-time Not the start Cambridge United would have been hoping for and after an encouraging start they found themselves under constant pressure from the home side and if anything will count themselves lucky to only be one down. On the occasions they have got forward, there have been signs that will give them plenty of hope that they can get back into this game.
15:48 A slip from Partridge sets Andy Mangan away but the forward is thwarted by good covering from Brian Saah.
15:45 Following a foul on Danny Wright, Cambridge United have a free kick 25 yards out which is drilled into the wall by the Right foot of Willmott and Wrexham clear their lines.
15:43 A rare Cambridge United attack sees Robbie Willmott beat Walker and deliver a good cross to the back post but unfortunately Platt can only direct his header high and wide.
15:42 After a good opening 10 minutes, Cambridge United have really failed to cause Wrexham any problems since and the away side will be desperate to hear the half-time whistle.
15:40 Following another moment of pressure from the home side, the ball is played back to Jay Harris who from 20 yards scuffs his shot wide of Brown's Right-hand post.
15:37 A penalty appeal there from Wrexham was waved away by the Referee and as Cambridge United look to counter attack, Robbie Willmott's ball over the top runs harmlessly to the Goalkeeper as Wright and Platt just stand and stare at each other. More movement from Cambridge's front men needed there.
15:35 Another Wrexham corner swung in by Keats is headered away be the diving Kevin Roberts. Cambridge United are struggling to get out of their own half at the moment.
15:31 Wrexham are well on top now and their pressure forces a corner which is met at the back post by ex-Histon man Knight-Percival and his header goes just wide.
15:27 GOAL Wrexham 1 - 0 Cambridge United A mistake from Partridge sees him beaten to the ball on the edge of the box by Andy Morrell and the experienced front man makes no mistake in putting the ball past Brown.
15:23 Wrexham attack down the Right and Andy Morrell fizzes the ball across the box which evades Brown and fortunately for Cambridge the oncoming Wrexham forwards.
15:22 A long ball out wide from Paul Carden finds Robbie Willmott who's first touch is impeccable and he beats Blackburn and delivers a good ball to the back post which find the out-stretching Danny Wright who can only steer the ball into the side netting.
15:19 Wrexham win their first corner after good defending from Kevin Roberts and it leads to nothing as the referee blows for a Cambridge United free kick.
15:16 A mistake from Brian Saah allows Andy Mangan to dart into Cambridge United's penalty area but Saah is quick to recover and makes a vital interception.
15:13 Clever through ball from Platt plays in Russell wide on the Left, who carries the ball into the box and his low cross is well blocked by Wrexham's defence.
15:10 Wrexham's first look at goal sees David Brown pull the ball back for Keats who's shot sails harmlessly over the bar.
15:08 A second corner for Cambridge following good work by Robbie Willmott is again met by Partridge but the former Welsh International can only watch his effort go wide again.
15:06 Cambridge have the first corner of the game taken by Jennings which ends in Dave Partridge's header going wide for a goal kick.
15:02 The first stoppage of the game, and this must be a first, is due to a dog running onto the pitch which has been carried off by Cambridge's Adam Miller. That was different!!
15:01 After a well respected minutes silence following the sad loss of Adam Stansfield we're underway. Cambridge United in their familiar Amber and Black are kicking from Right to Left while I watch.
15:00 KICK OFF.
14:55 So both sides are now back in the dressing rooms making their final preperations, the United fans are the ones making all the noise at the moment, and now after weeks of hype we are just minutes away from the big kick-off. I hope to be providing score updates for CRC this afternoon too.
14:35 Team News Wrexham: Scott Shearer, Neil Ashton, Chris Blackburn, Jay Harris, David Brown, Andy Mangan, Andy Morrell, Dean Keats (c), Frank Sinclair, Nat Knight-Percival, Declan Walker. Subs: Chris Maxwell, Gareth Taylor, Christian Smith, Jamie Tolley, Kevin Gall.
Cambridge: Simon Brown, Kevin Roberts, James Jennings, Brian Saah, David Partridge, Simon Russell, Adam Miller, Danny Wright, Robbie Willmott, Conal Platt, Paul Carden (c). Subs: Danny Naisbitt, Josh Coulson, Wayne Gray, Sam Ives, Adam Marriott.
14:20 Still no team sheets as yet, but the away end is starting to fill up nicely and so far I have only seen one Vuvuzela!
14:00: Good afternoon everybody and welcome to the first game of the new season, no sign of a team sheet just yet, however I am able to tell you that I know we will be starting with 4-3-3 and Simon Brown will be starting in goal.
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