Two Lee Boylan goals either side of half-time ensured Cambridge United's third consecutive win and completed a double over York City.

With half of the Main Stand closed because of overnight wind damage to the roof, and three first choice defenders ruled out by suspension, supporters and players alike shrugged off the changes and extended the unbeaten run to five games while closing the gap on second-placed Torquay to just two points.

Newly-named 'Manager of the Month' Jimmy Quinn was only able to name four players on the bench, but solid defending from a reshuffled back line and Boylan's first goals since mid-December sealed a 2-0 win.

"It's always the sign of a good team when you win a game and you don't play particularly well," he told the media.

"We were playing a team that have been winning recently and were confident - they went to Rushden last week and won and they've had some decent results of late - and in the first half I thought we didn't get to grips with it in midfield. We tidied that up at half time and having got our noses in front it was all about workrate.

"It was a great second goal from Lee (Boylan) and I'm delighted for him in particular to get a couple of goals because he deserves it. He works very hard for the team and he's been in and out of the team and had a few knocks this season, but he's a goal scorer and he'll definitely help us win a few games between now and the end of the season.

"But I thought the big man (Lee McEvilly) did well as well. He was ill yesterday and ill this morning and he was coughing his guts up at half-time, but he stayed on and did a great job for the team as well.

"At the back I thought we were excellent," he added. "Danny Potter never looked in any trouble apart from one deflection that I thought might have gone in, but overall we defended very well and it's all credit to the lads and the work they've put in.

"They're a bit tired now, and it's about being professional and doing the right things between now and Tuesday when we've got another big game at Oxford."

With Dan Gleeson, Mark Peters and Michael Morrison all completing suspensions today, Courtney Pitt was pressed into an unfamiliar role at right wingback and he performed extremely well, snuffing out the danger from York's wide men and earning praise from his manager.

"He did a tremendous job," said Quinn. "When Woolford went on that side, he doesn't track back too much so you've got to keep an eye on him when they break from their defence, and Courtney did a great job of nullifying him.

"You have to look at the opposition and if you can keep their best players quiet it goes a long way toward you getting three points, and there was some unselfish play out there today from our players. They were dogged and stuck to their task and did a great job for the team."

The win was United's third in a row and a fifth game without defeat, and Quinn wants his side to maintain their current momentum: "I've just heard that Torquay and Burton lost today so we just need to stay focused and not take our foot off the pedal.

"We've got great support here again and I can't thank the fans enough - the confidence they give the players has filtered through to the team all season and the manager of the Month award is definitely going to be shared with the fans because they deserve it.

"We've got two tough away games now at Oxford and then Farsley, and you've got to go to these places and grind out results so that when you come home again you've got something to build on. Oxford are a team that on their day are capable of beating any of the top teams in our league so we'll have to be focused.

"The good news is that we've got Dan Gleeson, Mark Peters and Michael Morrison back but it's going to be hard leaving anyone out after today. We'll probably have to be a bit tighter in midfield at Oxford but it's a nice problem to have."

United are next in action at Oxford United on Tuesday at 7.45pm.

[Match report] [Fixture list] [League table]

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