Date: Monday 3rd August, 2009
Competition: Cambs Professional Cup Final
Weather: mild, warm
Goals:
United: Pitt 70'
Histon: Hammond 12', Simpson 81'

Line-ups:

Cambridge United:
Laurie Walker, Rory McAuley, Josh Coulson, Blaine Hudson, Darryl Coakley (Luke Berry 46'); Andy Parkinson (Chris Holroyd 46'), Paul Carden (c, Jai Reason 46'), Sam Ives, Courtney Pitt; Mark Beesley (Jordan Patrick 62'), Adam Marriott (Danny Crow 75').
Sub not used: Danny Potter.

Booked: Reason foul 63', Hudson 80'

Histon:
Danny Naisbitt (Joe Welch 59'), Lanre Oyebanjo (Craig Pope 59'), Adam Tann (Adam Bygrave 59'), Matt Langston (c), Gareth Gwillim; Jamie Barker, Josh Simpson, John Kennedy, Nathaniel Knight-Percival; Michael Frew (Lee Roache 20', Lee Smith 59'), Craig Hammond (Neil Andrews 56').

Booked: Kennedy foul 38'

As indicated in his pre-match interviews, Martin Ling selected a starting eleven comprising a mix of the brightest young talent along with first teamers who still need match time.

Towering second year scholar Blaine Hudson was handed a chance to impress in the centre of defence alongside Josh Coulson, first year pro Sam Ives partnered skipper Paul Carden in the centre of midfield, while Mark Beesley, Courtney Pitt and Andy Parkinson continued their return to full match fitness and goalkeeper Laurie Walker was handed his first start since the early stages of pre-season.

After a minute's applause to recognise the late Sir Bobby Robson, who died last week, the match got underway with United, wearing their away kit, attacking the South Stand.

The first action came after three minutes when Mark Beesley latched onto a long ball behind the defence but he was off balance and fired straight at the keeper. That was a rare attack for United and a minute later Knight-Percival flicked the ball on and Frew's shot was turned behind for a corner, and on 12 the visitors took the lead.

United struggled to deal with a through ball, Kennedy's shot was kicked off the line and Hammond met the rebound with a shot that looped up off Hudson and over the helpless Walker. It was almost 2-0 two minutes later when Frew got behind the United back line and slid a shot just wide of the far post, then soon afterwards the Histon striker came off worse as he and Josh Coulson wrestled for the ball, Coulson's raised boot striking Frew's head, and the striker was replaced by Lee Roache.

There was more danger for United on 24 when Gwillim's looping cross was met by Barker at the far post and his header was pawed behind by former MK Dons and Millwall keeper Walker.

In front of a sparse crowd, Histon were the side playing neat football through the middle while United were looking for the diagonal ball towards Pitt or the ball over the top for Beesley and Marriott to chase, but they were chasing in vain most of the time.

The visitors threatened again on 36 when Gwillim's long throw was back-headed on to Hammond who almost lobbed the ball over Walker, and United struggled to match a Histon side that was full-strength apart from the unwell Danny Wright and looked a more cohesive unit.

Half-time: 0-1

Martin Ling made three changes at the break, Jai Reason replacing Paul Carden in midfield, young midfielder Luke Berry replacing Coakley with Pitt moving to left back, and Chris Holroyd replacing Parkinson and forming a front three with Beesley and Marriott.

Histon started the second half brightly when Oyebanjo's strong run down the right was capped by a cross that caused havoc at the far post before United's defence smuggled it behind for a corner. The flagkick itself caused panic in the six yard box and Beesley somehow cleared the ball over his own crossbar in the face of three opponents.

A quieter spell followed, although Josh Simpson had the ball in the net on the hour after a good move but the flag was raised for offside, and on 62 Ling introduced the pacy Jordan Patrick in place of Beesley, the youngster taking up position on the right wing.

With United finding a little momentum midway through the half, Adam Marriott picked Pope's pocket and his dangerous cross was hacked behind for a corner, and the scores were level on 70.

Rory McAuley's marauding run down the right was brought to an abrupt end and Courtney Pitt stepped up to sweep a 25-yard free kick round the wall and the flat-footed keeper for his second scoring free kick in two games. It was a delicious goal and firmly staked his claim for a place in the side against Barrow on Saturday.

Danny Crow came on in the 75th minute to replace Marriott in a side fired up by the goal, and three minutes later scholar Luke Berry led the charge out of defence and used clever feet to thread his way through midfield before finding Chris Holroyd poised for a run on goal but the flag went up in a close offside decision.

But despite their possession and the best spell of the match, United couldn't find the crucial second goal and it went to Histon in the 81st minute. After some thunderous challenges in midfield, Josh Simpson came away with the ball but was dragged back by Blaine Hudson ten yards outside the area on the right, the resulting free kick by Gareth Gwillim was dropped by Walker, and former U Simpson lashed the ball home to spark exuberant celebrations in front of the Histon fans in the South Stand.

United weren't finished and on 86 the impressive Patrick went on a jinking run down the right and delivered a cross that hit Crow's chest but fell kindly for the keeper. Moments later Patrick was involved again with a lovely ball down the right to Berry whose cross was hacked behind for a corner, and two minutes from time 'JP' beat two defenders but again the ball was somehow smuggled clear.

For all United's late pressure Histon ended the match with the silverware and surprisingly jubilant celebrations in front of their fans at the south end of the ground. On the balance of play it was probably the right result against a youthful United side, but boss Martin Ling had made it clear he has Saturday's league at the top of his agenda.

Full-time: 1-2

Referee: Mr Chris Francis

Att: 886 (away 167)

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