Cambridge United seemed set to secure their first win of the 2010/2011 campaign before a moment of sloppy defending cost Martin Ling's side two points.
Rangy striker Danny Wright had given the U's the lead part way through the second period, rising well to nod home Simon Russell's deft centre. But United were pegged back on 83 minutes as the back four failed to deal with an innocuous long ball from the back as Daniel Bradley latched onto the bouncing ball to rifle it low past Simon Brown.
The match started with an even tempo, both sides moving the ball neatly, but neither threatening to score.
The first real chance of note came for the Lambs, as Kyle Perry out-jumped the United back four but could only head onto the roof of the net. It wasn't until the 25th minute that United came close to breaking the deadlock as first Brian Saah and then Dave Partridge won headers from a corner, but neither of the U's defender could divert their efforts goalwards.
Two mintues later both sides had their best opportunity to take the lead. The hosts saw the ball pinball around the United penalty area before the ball was scrambled away. From this break, United fashioned a classic counter attack as Danny Wright got in behind the Tamworth defence only to be denied by an excellent stop from the outstretched right foot of the Lambs' 'keeper Ross Atkins.
Ten minutes before half time, the home side had the best chance of the first half. Tamworth played the ball neatly down the right-hand flank before a deep cross was met powerfully by the head of Daniel Bradley who arrowed his header towards the top corner from six yards out. U's veteran stopper Simon Brown showed both reflexes and agility in equal measure to turn the ball away for a corner.
With the home side looking the more likely to score, stand-in left back Dave Partridge went close five minutes before the break for the U's. The Welshman met Robbie Willmott's corner at the far post but failed to make a telling connection on the ball with his header as the Tamworth 'keeper bravely smothered the ball.
United ascended into the second half, and had another half chance as Conal Platt's dangerous cross was nearly met by messrs Danny Wright and Robbie Willmott as the home side just managed to scramble the ball to safety.
Simon Russell grew into the second half, and his hard work down the left-hand side saw him lay the ball back to Partridge on 51 minutes, his left footed cross was just too high for Adam Miller to direct on target as the U's continued their strong start to the second half.
Nine minutes after the restart the U's turned their increasing impetus into something tangible as Danny Wright scored his first goal in the amber and black of United. Paul Carden showed patience and control as he nudged a perfectly weighted ball inside the Tamworth full back for Simon Russell, who was forced to dink the ball across with his left foot on the dead ball line having appeared to let the ball run too wide.
Danny Wright showed his awareness and strength to intercept Russell's speculative centre to head home in front of the jubilant travelling support.
Martin Ling's charges responded well to going ahead, relaxing into the lead and easing the ball around well. The home side could only generate one or two half chances as Wylde and Barrow both saw their efforts fail to test U's stopper Simon Brown.
As United seemed to be closing in on a valuable hard-fought win, the home side pulled level after poor defending from the U's with a little over five minutes remaining.
Collectively, United's men can share the responsibility for the hosts' equaliser as they contrived to allow a bouncing ball through to Daniel Bradley who gratefully accepted the gift, latching onto the ball before coolly firing it home low to Simon Brown's left-hand side. It was a frustrating moment for Ling's men, who seemed to have taken to the task of shutting down the game adeptly.
Adam Marriott was introduced in place of the impressive Danny Wright as Martin Ling made his last roll of the dice with a couple of minutes remaining. The young CRC product was unable to turn the game in the favour of the visitors, as neither side seemed likely to add a winner and the referee called time on an entertaining but ultimately frustrating tie for the U's.
Although the game was evenly contested, the U's boss will have been disappointed by his side's inability to capitalise on their advantage and secure a much-needed away win leaving his side without a win in the 2010/2011 campaign.
Man of the match: Danny Wright. The powerful frontman opened his United account this evening to compliment his typically hard-working and energetic display. Honourable mentions must go out to Simon Russell who put himself about well and showed great determination in providing the cross for the opening goal.
Reporting by Matthew Caspell
21:39 - FULL TIME Tamworth 1-1 CAMBRIDGE UNITED
21:37 - Neither side has been able to create a last chance. But as I say that, United win a free kick forty yards from goal and on go the centre halves. Free kick is taken long, and taken very well in the air by home 'keeper Ross Atkins.
21:35 - Four minutes of stoppage time to be played here, come on United!
21:31 - A change for both sides here, United introduce Adam Marriott for Danny Wright. The home side swap captain Jay Smith for Stefan Oakes.
21:29 - YELLOW CARD - Jay Smith in the book as he concedes a free kick forty yards from goal. Resulting free kick is headed clear by the home side.
21:27 - GOAL TAMWORTH 1-1 Cambridge United (Daniel Bradley) Poor defending from United as it's all too easy for the home side. A long ball played forward from the back is simply not dealt with by Martin Ling's men. Bradley pounces on the bouncing ball before firing home low to Simon Brown's left from 15 yards. United need a response, and quick, with just seven minutes to go.
21:24 - YELLOW CARD - Kyle Perry in the book for the home side for a firm challenge on Daryl Clare. I personally the Lambs' man won the ball, and Clare certainly made the most of it remaining on the turf for a prolonged period of time.
21:22 - Change for Tamworth as Neil Mackenzie is replaced by Jake Sheridan. Twelve minutes to go here, can Martin Ling's men see the game out for a good away win?
21:21 - Brian Saah climbing on his man concedes a free kick 25 yards from goal, just to the right of centre. It's a poor effort from Scott Barrow, as he curls the ball out of the ground behind Simon Brown's goal.
21:20 - Subdued here as United are just quietly going about shutting the game down. Danny Wright, already on a yellow card, gets involved in a bit of nudging with his man as the U's take an attacking throw and both he and the Tamworth man get a talking to from the referee.
21:15 - A little under twenty minutes to go here and United seem to be closing the game down well, moving the ball about with ease and probing for a second, and surely, decisive goal.
21:13 - You don't see that often. In their efforts to win the ball, Adam Miller and Robbie Willmott have caused each other injury, while the Tamworth man is unscathed. Sportingly, the home side's physio attends to Robbie Willmott. Both men jog to the sideline and are waved back into play.
21:11 - Simon Russell has really grown into this game, causing some real trouble on this left hand side. His work leading up to the goal was so typical of the man's industry and drive, and he continues to be a thorn in the side of the hosts.
21:08 - First change for the U's as Conal Platt makes way for Daryl Clare. Robbie Willmott drops back into right midfield with Clare joining goalscorer Danny Wright.
21:07 - Brian Saah blasts the ball behind for a corner on the far side as the home side send a teasing ball in behind the U's back four. The referee awards United a free kick for some illegal climbing which Simon Brown fires long upfield.
21:03 - Kevin Roberts is forced to head an dangerous cross away behind for a corner. From the resulting centre, the home side should have done better as Wylde leaps but can only tamely connect sending a looping header into the hands of Brown.
21:01 - GOAL Tamworth 0-1 CAMBRIDGE UNITED (Danny Wright) United take the lead as Paul Carden plays an incisive ball into Simon Russell on the left. Russell seems to have taken it too wide, but dinks the ball across with his left foot. Danny Wright shows his aerial prowess, climbing above his man to head United into the lead.
21:00 - United win a corner after Robbie Willmott is just beaten to the ball as he bares down on goal. Corner taken right footed by Willmott inswinging is headed clear by the hosts.
20:58 - YELLOW CARD - Dave Partridge becomes the third U's player in the book, as he cynically brings his man down having been beaten all ends up.
20:56 - Simon Russell working hard down the left hand flank before pulling the ball back to Dave Partridge, whose cross is just too high for Miller, who can only guide a header onto the roof of the net. Half a chance for United.
20:54 - Neat football from the home side, as they work an opportunity to cross from the right, the ball eventually falls to Danny Thomas, who fires the ball high, wide and not very handsome.
20:52 - Great chance for the U's as Conal Platt gets the ball right into the corridor of uncertainty. As both Danny Wright and Robbie Willmott try to connect the Tamworth 'keeper does well to smother the ball and the home side eventually clear.
20:50 - The second half commences, United kicking off attacking their noisy travelling support.
20:49 - Out come the home side followed by United a full three minutes later. A bit more imagination needed going forward for the visitors this half if they are to break the deadlock and secure their first win of the season. Tonight's attendance is 863, I'm informed.
20:35 - Reasonable stuff from the U's, big striker Danny Wright coming closest when denied by a very good save from the home 'keeper. All square at half time from the Lamb Ground.
20:34 - HALF TIME - Tamworth 0-0 CAMBRIDGE UNITED
20:32 - Half chance for the U's, Danny Wright receiving the throw from the left before turning and striking low into the 'keeper's hands. 2 minutes of added on time to be played.
20:30 - Great touch from Danny Thomas as Tamworth make good progress down the left. He feeds the ball in but Brian Saah is able to clear behind for a corner. Corner taken is confidently headed clear by youngster Josh Coulson.
20:29 - Brave stuff from Tamworth 'keeper Ross Atkins who pounces on United's corner which is headed goalwards by Dave Partridge amongst a crowded scene with boots flying everywhere. The referee relents and award the home side a free kick.
20:28 - Conal Platt wins a free kick for United cutting in from the right and having his shirt pulled. Free kick taken from thirty yards out by the left foot of Platt swings deep to the far post where it is headed behind for a corner.
20:24 - Excellent reflex save from Simon Brown. The home side charge down the right hand flank before whipping a deep ball to the far post, where the ball is met by the head of Daniel Bradley forcing Brown to acrobatically tip it wide. From the resulting corner, United can only scramble the ball behind for a second corner, on the opposite side. Corner dinked towards the near post but tamely headed wide.
20:19 - YELLOW CARD - Danny Wright this time in the book, as he tries to win the header but loses out, catching his man late in the process.
20:16 - Another good chance for the hosts as United fail to deal with a bouncing ball and it's only a desperate clearance that prevents the hosts taking the lead. United counter and very nearly take the lead themselves, Danny Wright surging through on goal and forcing a fantastic save out of Ross Atkins. The Tamworth 'keeper made himself big and got a foot to Wright's low goalbound effort from 12 yards, deflecting it away from the corner.
From Willmott's centre, the home side win the aerial battle and clear their lines.
20:13 - Corner for the U's taken inswinging by Robbie Willmott. Brian Saah rises well, but can only glance a header out towards the corner flag. Conal Platt hoiks the ball back across but Partridge emulates Saah in heading across goal and wide for a goal kick on the opposite side.
20:12 - Still no clear cut chance for United. They're moving the ball around well, but everything is happening in front of a densely packed Tamworth side.
20:09 - Good play from the hosts sets Scott Barrow marauding down the left hand side. His industry wins Tamworth a corner on this near side, taken right footed inswinging. The ball goes hopelessly deep and out of play for a throw on the far side.
20:06 - Brief pause in the game here as Tamworth centre half Michael Wylde is receiving treatment. After a minute or two with the physio, Wylde seems ready to continue.
20:04 - Conal Platt is causing the home side some trouble now operating on this right flank, with Russell now on the left side. Lively from United, but not one actual opportunity created yet.
20:00 - Really nice move from the home side, working the ball well down to the right-hand byline before firing a low ball across which Brian Saah plays out for a corner. Corner taken outswinging with the right foot, but Kevin Roberts clears for the U's.
19:56 - YELLOW CARD - Paul Carden is the first man to have his name taken by tonight's refree, as he crudely brings down the advancing Scott Barrow. No complaints there.
19:55 - As the match settles, United have lined up in a 4-4-2, with Simon Russell on the right, Conal Platt on the left and Robbie Willmott partnering Danny Wright up front.
19:54 - The U's are under a bit of pressure here as the home side continue to probe trying to find a killer ball.
19:52 - Corner for the hosts as the ball is volleyed from the edge of the box but blocked away in a crowd of U's defenders. Corner taken from the far side inswinging is won all too easily in the air by the hosts, but Kyle Perry can only nod the ball back across onto the roof of the net. Excellent chance wasted by the hosts.
19:50 - Fairly even start here, both sides moving the ball around well, but there's nothing too penetrating just yet.
19:47 - Slight delay to the start as the two sides swap ends, United seemingly winning the toss and electing to attack their own support in the second half. On the referee's whistle, we're off.
19:44 - Out come the two sides, Tamworth wearing their all red home strip as United are bedecked in their blue and black striped away kit.
19:40 - There's a healthy number of amber-clad visiting fans away to my left behind the goal under a very low roof. The home fans at the opposite end are uncovered and exposed to the elements, but thankfully it's quite a pleasant and mild evening here at the Lamb Ground.
19:35 - The United players head back into the dressing room having been put through their paces in the warm up. While this evening's game certainly couldn't be described as 'must win', the U's could really do with a win to get their season up and running.
19:17 - So Martin Ling makes the expected changes to his side, re-introducing the centre midfielder Adam Miller from injury with Dave Partridge deputising for the injured James Jennings at left back. Paul Carden has shaken off the knock that saw him removed part way through Saturday's tie with Southport. It seems the U's will line up in a 4-4-2, but it could be a 4-3-3 with Russell joining Carden and Miller in the middle and Willmott and Platt filling the wide berths around Danny Wright.
19:14 - Cambridge United: Simon Brown, Kevin Roberts, Josh Coulson, Brian Saah, Dave Partridge, Simon Russell, Adam Miller, Paul Carden (c), Conal Platt, Danny Wright, Robbie Willmott. Subs: Danny Naisbitt, Daryl Clare, Sam Ives, Daryl Coakley, Adam Marriott.
Tamworth: Ross Atkins, Richard Tait, Tom Marshall, Michael Wylde, Jay Smith (c), Neil Mackenzie, Alex Rodman, Danny Thomas, Daniel Bradley, Scott Barrow. Subs: Stefan Oakes, Aaron Mitchell, Jake Sheridan, Des Lyttle, Aaron Farrell.
19:10 - Good evening and welcome to the Lamb Ground for Tamworth vs. Cambridge United. Team news to follow.
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