Cambridge United returned to winning ways with this 2-1 win against Eastbourne Borough but they did it the hard way.

With Gary Brabin resting some of the regulars while giving an opportunity to some of the players who have been on the fringes, the U's had to come from behind after Wayne Hatswell gave away a penalty and Paul Armstrong put the part-timers ahead in the 58th minute.

Danny Crow was knocked unconscious and had to be stretchered off soon afterwards, but substitutes Courtney Pitt and Chris Holroyd helped to turn the game as first Pitt delivered a corner for Lee Phillips to head home his first U's goal on his home debut, then Holroyd won and converted a penalty to clinch the win.

Brabin was delighted with the win that lifts United back into second place above Torquay - beaten 2-0 at home by Crawley - but was disgusted with comments he heard from the Main Stand while Danny Crow lay injured on the pitch.

"I'm not sure of the extent of Danny's injury yet but we hope he's all right. I'm absolutely gutted about it and there were a few comments when it happened that I wasn't happy about," he told the media.

"I thought the game today was a good time to put the lads on who have been on the fringe of things. It's an important stage of the season now, a lot of the lads are tired at this time of the season and we're going to be calling on a few of the players on the fringe of things.

"We started with a few of them today and I thought we were dominating the game and had a few great chances. We carved them open a few times but we weren't putting the ball in the back of the net, and I can understand that at nil-nil people get frustrated.

"But when Danny Crow went down and I heard a few comments from people behind me: 'I hope he gets stretchered off and goes to hospital', that sickened me. The fans here are absolutely fantastic and they've been immense all season, and I know it's only a mindless few but that did turn my stomach.

"I just hope that Danny Crow's all right because we don't know the outcome at the moment; I've only seen him coming off with oxygen on at the moment and I felt a bit sick when that happened."

Returning to the overall game, Brabin continued, "The lads battled hard and we had a little gameplan up our sleeve, which thankfully worked. We're second in the league with three games to go so that's not a bad outcome. Of course we don't want to concede goals and we didn't want to go behind but it happened, but we had an attacking change in mind and it worked.

"We've got to save bodies," he stressed. "We have a day's rest and then another game on Monday so it was important to give some people a rest and use the lads sparingly, so there was a reason for the things we've done today. Thankfully it's worked and we're second in the league so we're delighted.

"No matter what league you're in, at this stage of the season there are teams fighting for promotion, fighting to get a play-off spot or fighting to stay in the league. And then there are teams who have got nothing to play for and have an air of confidence about them, their season is over and they can go out and enjoy their football, they can gamble and play on the front foot a bit, and today we've played a team who have done fantastically well this season.

"They got behind the ball and they know that's frustrated us because that's happened to us a lot this season, but luckily we broke it down in the end and I'm delighted to have won and be second in the league with three games to go.

Courtney Pitt was clearly keen to make an impression when he came off the bench and Brabin was pleased with his impact after two games out of the starting line-up.

"That's the Courtney Pitt that I re-signed for this club. He's a fantastic player, he's a real threat and I knew he had the bit between his teeth. And we've got other great players who need to be playing games to get sharp," he added.

"We're building up Courtney's fitness and Andy Parkinson's, Danny Crow hasn't played a lot of games this season, Daryl McMahon, Josh Coulson, Jon Challinor - there are a few people who needed games because we're going to need those people. When we've hopefully nailed down a play-off spot they'll be vital players for us and it's important that they get minutes under their belt."

United are next in action at Kettering Town on Easter Monday (3pm). This match is all-ticket for U's fans and if you do not already have a ticket you are advised not to travel.

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

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