The Glassworld Stadium is not the ideal place to go when looking to avoid a third successive defeat, but this is the challenge which awaits United on Sunday, as they prepare for the first A14 derby of the season against Histon (KO 2pm).
By the standards they have set in recent years, it has not been a great start to the campaign for the Stutes, but they have returned to form recently, recording three wins in four games to climb away from the relegation zone.
Following Tuesday's 2-0 win over Eastbourne Borough, manager Steve Fallon praised the contribution of striker Danny Wright, who is fast emerging as the key player for Histon this season.
Fallon told the Cambridge News: "Danny was magnificent and that was the best performance I've seen from a centre forward since we've been in this league.
"We were very disappointed with Saturday (a 4-0 defeat at AFC Wimbledon) as we let ourselves down, even though we played well in patches. But the players bounced back and showed they could play - it was a great night for us," he said.
The story of Histon's rise through the divisions is one that will be familiar to many United fans. Promoted from the Ridgeons League in 2000, they spent five seasons in the Southern League, reaching the FA Cup first round proper for the first time and 2003, but going down 3-1 at Woking.
The following year they went one better, dispatching League Two side Shrewsbury Town but bowing out in the second round at the hands of Yeovil. However, their league form was impressive, and they picked up the Southern League title on the final day of the season to move into the Conference South.
By now legendary ex-United manager John Beck had teamed up with Fallon, and the team's direct, physical, style saw them take the Conference South by storm. They made the play-offs in their first season, finishing 5th, but were beaten in the final by St Albans.
But a few experienced additions saw them run away with the division the following season, and though they didn't have the best of times in the FA Cup, Fallon's men enjoyed a modicum of success in the FA Trophy. Indeed, it was in the Trophy that Histon and United met for their first competitive match of the modern era, and the less said about the 5-0 final score the better if you ask me.
The teams found themselves in the same division for the first time in 2007/08, and the Stutes more than held their own in their debut season in national football, finishing seventh and missing the play-offs by nine points. They also managed two wins over United, 1-0 at the Glassworld in the league, and 2-0 in the Trophy, although they lost the league game at the Abbey 1-0, with Mark Albrighton scoring the only goal.
Last season was the best in the club's history, as they spent the majority of the season in and around the top five, eventually finishing third. But they couldn't quite get over the final hurdle, losing in the play-off semi finals to Torquay, 2-1 on aggregate.
Meanwhile in the FA Cup, the Stutes proved themselves to be accomplished giant killers, dumping League One Swindon Town out in the first round before slaying once-mighty Leeds United in round two courtesy of a Matt Langston goal. They succumbed to Championship high flyers Swansea in round three.
It was always going to be difficult to replicate that success, especially after key players Patrick Ada, Matt Mitchell-King, Antonio Murray, and top scorer Jack Midson left for pastures new in the summer.
With the credit crunch and the demise of Setanta hitting teams at our level hard, Histon have replaced the departed quartet with unproven alternatives, and time will tell whether they have the strength to mount another promotion push.
The mysterious departure of Beck, who was put on gardening leave last month for reasons unknown, has also hindered the Stutes, and it seems unlikely the highly influential coach will be returning to the Glassworld Stadium in the near future.
Meanwhile chairman Gareth Baldwin continues to seek fresh investment, with crowds at the Glassworld rarely topping 800. Local businessman Tony Roach joined the club's board in the summer, but a much heralded potential link up with Indian tycoon Raj Chodankar appears to have stalled.
The Squad
In goal for Histon will be Danny Naisbett, signed three seasons ago from Cambridge City. The experienced keeper, who has seen service with the likes of Barnet and AFC Wimbledon, splits time between training and his full time profession, relocating professional footballers. Youngster Joe Welch provides back up.
With last season's regular right back Lanre Oyebanjo currently on the sidelines with a knee injury, Craig Pope has made the full back position his own. Pope, another ex-Cambridge City man, went into a short-lived retirement last season after being found guilty of aiming racial abuse at United striker Leo Fortune-West in a match in 2007.
Left back for Histon is Gareth Gwillim, whose wicked dead ball deliveries are the source of many Histon goals.
In the centre, Matt Langston usually partners former U's player Adam Tann. However, Tann is suspended for Sunday's match after being sent off against Eastbourne, so his place is likely to go to youngster Adam Bygrave, a £5,000 signing from Weymouth last season.
Midfield lynchpin for the Stutes is Josh Simpson, who is well qualified for Histon having previously plied his trade at both United and City. Josh was a popular figure at the Abbey, and his ability to score goals from midfield has attracted envious glances from bigger clubs in recent months.
Alongside him in a five man midfield could be the combative John Kennedy, back in the side after spending most of last year on the sidelines, and Erkan Okay, recently re-signed from Chelmsford. Peterborough loanee Billy Crooks could also come into the reckoning, but club stalwart Neil Andrews is on the injured list.
In the wide positions, powerful wingers Jamie Barker and Nathaniel Knight-Percival are both a threat in the air, and both are back in their natural positions after spells up front this season.
Filling the gap left by the departed Midson has been a problem for Fallon, with new strikers Craig Hammond and Bradley Hudson-Odoi picking up injuries, and two other new men, Kieron Leabon and Michael Frew, failing to make much impact. Much rests on the shoulders of Wright, who returned to the side last weekend at Wimbledon, but Fallon has signed ex-United trialist Pierre-Joseph Dubois on non-contract terms, and he is likely to be on the bench come Sunday.
This season
Histon got off to a great start, dispatching newly promoted Gateshead 3-0 on the opening day. But since then it's been up and down for the Stutes. A 4-3 defeat to early pace setters Oxford saw them embark on a run of six defeats in seven games, with only a 2-0 win over Salisbury to brighten the mood at the Glassworld Stadium.
However, results have picked up in recent weeks, with three wins, a draw, and a solitary defeat (at AFC Wimbledon) in their last five. Wins over Hayes and Yeading, Ebbsfleet, and Tuesday night's triumph against Eastbourne have moved the Stutes up to 14th, and they will be looking to continue to climb the table with a win on Sunday.
Last time
Last season United and Histon were evenly matched, with draws in both league games, and United winning the now annual FA Trophy clash 3-2.
Our encounter at the Glassworld took place on a Monday night to accommodate Setanta cameras, and they were treated to a hard fought encounter. Chances were at a premium in the first half, with debutant Lee Phillips going closest for United, deflecting a Scott Rendell effort into the hands of Danny Naisbett.
United came out for the second half and took control of the game, with Phillips going close and Phil Bolland heading against the bar. When the deadlock was broken, it was done so with a special goal from Wayne Hatswell, who seized upon a half cleared corner and volleyed a tremendous 30-yard effort over the stranded Naisbett.
At that stage Histon looked down and out, but their trademark resilience saw them come back into the match, and Antonio Murray should have scored, but hit the post from close range. When a goal did come, it stemmed from a rare error from Danny Potter, who spooned Matt Langston's header onto the bar, and allowed Jack Midson to sneak in and poach the equaliser.
Matt Gooding
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