Andrew Bennett reviews last season, continuing with the month of April 2009.

April 2009: "Cambridge have gone tally-ho up the pitch"

Lifelong supporter and founder member of CFU, Gary Atyes, was appointed United's Business Development Manager.

Gary Brabin issued a rallying cry before the promotion run-in: "The lads have been different class and I always felt we had it in us to have this sort of run. We're in good form and I just hope we can keep it going. The whole squad has pleased me, the whole team is working hard to keep clean sheets and the whole team is working hard to score goals at the other end.

"And it's not just the starting eleven; the players on the fringe are working really hard too with a great attitude and looking good day in, day out, and they're putting a lot of pressure on the lads in the team to keep looking over the shoulder and maintaining their standards. They know they have to perform in each game because there's someone chomping at the bit to take their place."

Saturday 4th April 2009: Cambridge United 0-1 Forest Green Rovers (BSP)

Scorer: Mangan 14 | Att. 3,245 (away 52) | League position: 2nd

Points behind Burton Albion: 9

Forest Green were one of the BSP's form teams, having pulled away from the relegation zone with one defeat in fourteen, and boasting up front the man who would go on to become the league's top scorer, wager-loving Andy Mangan. And they were also about to host the final of that most coveted of all trophies, the Setanta Shield; tickets were still available. Lots of tickets.

Gary Brabin made two changes to the team which had scraped that unconvincing win at Woking, handing Simon Ainge his debut at right-back in place of Challinor, and giving Parkinson the first start since his comeback, dropping Pitt and switching Willmott to wide left. There had also been a change to the Abbey dugouts, with home and away now side by side halfway along the pitch as they had been before the third dugout had been constructed under John Beck's orders in the early 1990s.

Rovers were positive and confident from the off, even leaving three men upfield when defending corners, and they took the lead when a simple diagonal ball down the middle from David Brown took Mangan away from Bolland, Potter advanced then hesitated, and Mangan knocked it across the keeper and it bounced gently into the far corner of the net.

The visitors were a yard faster, sharper and stronger, although Holroyd looked very unlucky to be booked for a dive in the box on 27 when he appeared to have been upended by Lee Ayres, and United's cause was not helped when Bolland was forced off on 35, Ainge moving across and Challinor filling in at right-back.

Ironically the halt in play caused by Bolland's injury seemed to benefit United more and after half an hour of being under the cosh they finished the half the stronger, with keeper Terry Burton producing a fine save to deny Hatswell from a free-kick.

The U's remained in the ascendant after the break and Hatswell came agonisingly close to levelling the score when his diving power header on 57 from Holroyd's cross crashed off the bar. Rovers still looked dangerous on the break, but United dominated for the rest of the game and were denied time and again by Burton and his defence. Near the end Rendell's overhead lob had the keeper beaten, but Mark Preece headed off the line. It was not United's day.

To compound the hosts' frustration, Histon lost 2-1 to Oxford, Stevenage's 24-unbeaten run ended in a 4-2 defeat at in-form Kidderminster, and most dramatically of all, Burton were slaughtered 4-0 at Crawley. Torquay had sneaked into third place and could now overtake United if they won their game in hand; the U's would have to overcome their tendency to start games slowly if their promotion push was not to pull up short. Five matches to go.

Brabin was as disappointed as the fans: "It was a completely different game from what we've had of late. A good side has come here, left one up front and put everyone behind the ball, and it frustrates us but we've got to be patient as a team and as a whole club... It is disappointing - the more games you win, the harder defeats become - and I'm absolutely gutted because I felt we were going to continue this run and take it to the wire."

Rovers boss Jim Harvey was as gracious as ever: "The pattern of the game broke up in the second half. Cambridge have gone tally-ho up the pitch, desperate to get back into the game, throwing bodies forward, cheating, leaving people up the field. It destroys the pattern and then it was just a case of us looking to pick them off with a counter attack, which we should have done.

"We got nothing from the officials... We were put under severe pressure and the referee didn't deal with it and we end up with 4 or 5 players booked in a game that hasn't warranted that. I thought he had a poor game today... I thought we were unfairly fouled." Sorry, Jim, we'll take care to foul you fairly next time...

Brabin reflected: "The lads looked a bit tired and we didn't reach our usual standards. It wasn't from lack of effort, the lads gave everything they could, but it was a hot day and there's a lot of pressure on them now to keep that winning mentality and catch Burton, and I thought the whole occasion sapped us of a bit of our energy. But the good thing is we've got some good players on the fringe at the moment who are chomping at the bit to play."

Tuesday 7th April 2009: Stevenage Borough 2-1 Cambridge United (BSP)

Scorers: Mendes 4, Boylan 32, Willmott 17 | Att. 3,408 (away 1,622) | League position: 3rd

Points behind Burton Albion: 9

On the Monday night the Setanta cameras had turned up at Burton's Pirelli Stadium expecting to record the leaders' promotion-clinching party; instead, they slumped to a 1-0 defeat by Torquay and had top scorer Pearson sent off. United's derby match the following evening took on even more significance.

A fit-again Gleeson replaced Ainge, Coulson came in for the injured Bolland, and Daryl McMahon got a start wide left in place of Parkinson; Pitt did not even make the bench. Of the hosts' ex-U's contingent, Boylan started, Albrighton was on the bench having lost his place in February, and Bridges was, as one would expect, injured.

Of all United's fixtures at this level, it is this one which produces the best atmosphere; other local derbies simply do not generate support worthy of the name for the opposition. Stevenage began creating problems for the U's almost immediately with two touchline-hugging wingmen in Mendes and Cole, and hardly had they started when the hosts took the lead, Tonkin offering Mendes too much room and his shot catching Potter asleep at the near post. Shoddy start.

Boro proceeded to tear United to pieces down the flanks, both full-backs having off-days and receiving precious little help from Willmott and McMahon, and Steve Morison missed two fairly easy close-range chances in the next ten minutes which could have killed the game off all too soon.

A fine move, however, drew United level when Willmott sprinted down the right, laid it off to Holroyd and kept on running to nod the return cross into the net. An atrocious attempted pass from Carden, though, put his side back into trouble; Scott Laird easily intercepted, played a one-two with Cole, skipped around Gleeson and pulled it back for Boylan to lash home unchallenged.

The U's had looked slipshod and sluggish, with the honourable exceptions of Coulson, Hatswell and Holroyd, and they were thankful to get to half-time only one down. They showed some improvement after the break, although Boylan fired a simple chance wide, and their hopes of a revival were boosted just before the hour when Mark Roberts was dismissed for a second yellow, foolishly kicking the ball away after his side had conceded a free-kick.

Albrighton was introduced as Boro went to 4-3-2 and the anonymous McMahon was withdrawn in favour of Parkinson; then Phillips replaced Willmott, but although United were having more of the play, they could not find that killer ball, with the creative hub of Reason and Carden still looking below-par.

In fact it was Stevenage who went closest to scoring again when Jon Ashton beat Potter to a free-kick on 73 and Coulson had to head brilliantly off the line. The visitors continued to huff and puff but they lacked inspiration and failed to create a decent chance, sinking to a lacklustre defeat which their vociferous followers did not deserve. They were beginning to run out of games.

Brabin waved goodbye to the title: "We're really devastated. We've put so much into the last few months and we were so close, but for me that's just put to bed our chances of winning the league. But we're trying to look at that as a plus - it was getting a bit nervy and there was a lot of tension... We were up against a team on their own turf who want to bounce back and that's the best we've seen them play for a while, but I thought we were the better side."

As if timed to cheer us up, it was announced that Dion Dublin would be bringing a team of former colleague 'Legends' at the end of the month to play the youth team as a finale to the successful Walk For Equality campaign, saying "I still have great affection for Cambridge and my time at the club was special for me and my team-mates."

Demand was high for the Easter Monday game at Kettering, and the Poppies allocated an additional terrace to the U's, sending them another 556 tickets in addition to the original 1,236.

Saturday 11th April 2009: Cambridge United 2-1 Eastbourne Borough (BSP)

Scorers: Phillips 65, Holroyd 71(pen), Armstrong 59(pen) | Att. 3,391 (away 59) | League position: 2nd

Points behind Burton Albion: 9

Long-serving Eastbourne boss Garry Wilson deserved to be a contender for Manager of the Season after guiding his little club to mid-table comfort in their first season at Level 5. United's equivalent hadn't done so badly himself, but he had to wield the axe after two unsatisfactory performances. Front men Rendell and Holroyd were replaced by a new pairing of Phillips and Crow, Reason and Willmott were also benched in favour of Parkinson and Challinor, and the team lined up in a 4-3-1-2 formation with Parky in a free role behind the front two.

United enjoyed the better of the possession against energetic opposition with Parkinson looking useful, but they struggled to create in the final third. Parky had the ball in the net, although he was judged a narrow offside, but it took the hosts 35 minutes to gain their first corner and inspiration eluded them, although not for lack of effort.

They looked even more uninspired in the second half and when Hatswell clumsily brought down Allan Tait, Paul Armstrong fired the penalty past Potter on the keeper's 100th United appearance.

It looked like another misery day for the U's on the hour when Crow was knocked unconscious in a clash with Matt Crabb, and when he was carried off to be replaced by Holroyd, Brabin also introduced Pitt for Challinor as the team reverted to 4-4-2.

Ironically the change was an almost immediate turning point for United. Phillips forced a corner, and with his first touch, Pitt whipped a corner to the far post where Phillips rampaged in unmarked to ram a header triumphantly home for the equaliser.

All of a sudden it was all United, inspired by Pitt, and when Holroyd motored in to follow up a half-cleared Tonkin cross he was bundled to the ground. It was the hosts' turn for a penalty, and Holroyd hammered it in down the middle to complete the turnaround.

From there on in Eastbourne continued to resist gallantly, but United hung on for a win that was just about deserved on their display in the last thirty minutes. They could have done with a favour from Histon, who had been playing at the Pirelli Stadium, but Burton disposed of them 3-1 to get one hand on the championship trophy. Crow was thankfully discharged from Addenbrooke's a few hours later after being treated for concussion.

Brabin settled for the points: "The lads battled hard and we had a little game plan up our sleeve, which thankfully worked. We're second in the league with three games to go so that's not a bad outcome... That's the Courtney Pitt 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."

Eastbourne's Danny Brown commented on his return to his old stamping ground: "I'm thankful of the reception I got from the fans. I've heard it's a better reception than they gave Lee Boylan the other night!... But it was Courtney Pitt coming on that changed it for United, despite me giving him a kick..."

Monday 13th April 2009: Kettering Town 1-2 Cambridge United (BSP)

Scorers: Seddon 90, Holroyd 14(pen), Willmott 74 | Att. 2,340 (away 1,305) | League position: 2nd

Points behind Burton Albion: 6

Kettering were another club who had enjoyed a most creditable first season in the Conference, although they had been fixtures at this level until 2001. Their Rockingham Road ground was now known as the A-Line Arena, but little else had changed at this dilapidated old venue since Town and United were Southern League rivals in the 1960s.

A top ten placing and a fine FA Cup run had made their season a success, but since they had not been deemed eligible for promotion because of the leasing arrangement with their landlords, their late-season form had fallen away somewhat.

Brabin made wholesale changes to his starting line-up for the second consecutive match, restoring strikers Rendell and Holroyd and wingers Willmott and Pitt to the side, plus Reason in midfield, and they made a dominant start against a tired-looking host side which was a pale shadow of the one which shocked the U's by bullying their way to three points at the Abbey in August.

It was no surprise when fluid United took an early lead, Guy Branston handling to concede a penalty which Holroyd converted with ease. Kettering were unable to cope with the pace and movement of United's front four, and after a fantastic one-touch passing move between Willmott, Holroyd and Rendell, Carden volleyed narrowly over when a finish would have produced goal of the season.

Willmott had a long-range power drive scooped off the line by keeper Harper, then Coulson headed a Reason cross against the bar, and somehow United went into the interval only one up after probably their most one-sided half of the season.

Kettering could not have been any worse in part two, and they weren't, making much more of a fight of it without really threatening to equalise. But United sealed the points when Rendell's pass set up Willmott to fire low past Harper for number two.

The hosts went to 4-3-3, but the stuffing appeared to have been knocked out of them, and the U's held on comfortably... until the seventh minute of added time, when Gareth Seddon volleyed a consolation: too little, too late.

United's 100% Easter weekend had all but sealed a playoff place, but they still harboured mathematical hopes of catching Burton, who lost again, 2-1 at Kidderminster, although they would need the Brewers to lose their last two matches while winning their own, and managing a seven-goal turnaround in the process. And next weekend's fixtures would have been labelled 'Supersensational Saturday' if Sky were showing them, with the four teams below the U's (Torquay, Kidderminster, Stevenage and Histon) all playing each other.

Brabin was a happy man: "I thought the first half, apart from the last 12 minutes, was the most perfect first half performance I've seen from us. We were fantastic."

The following Friday, the 17th, Setanta turned up at the Pirelli Stadium again, expecting once more to witness Burton clinch the championship by gaining the one point they needed. And, to their supporters' agony, they slumped to the occasion with their fourth defeat in five games, going down 1-0 to Oxford. Shaun Harrad was sent off and the evening ended in a mass shoving match. As the saying goes, it's the hope I can't stand...

Saturday 18th April 2009: Salisbury City 1-2 Cambridge United (BSP)

Scorers: Griffin 32, Rendell 19, Parkinson 45 | Att. 1,831 (away 755) | League position: 2nd

Points behind Burton Albion: 3

Salisbury were yet another club which had performed admirably to gain mid-table respectability despite money problems which had led to it being put up for sale for the princely sum of £1. But another impressive U's following was setting its sights higher, knowing that victory today would definitely clinch a playoff place and, tantalisingly, take the race for automatic promotion to the last day.

Bolland returned from injury in place of Coulson, and Parkinson started at wide left instead of the unfit Pitt, while Crow made a welcome return to the bench after his head injury.

The hosts were no easy touch, unbeaten at home since a 4-0 St Valentine's Day massacre by Histon, and in a fast and furious encounter Rendell had a far-post header blocked superbly by keeper James Bittner on 17 and nodded the rebound over. Next minute, however, Holroyd sprinted onto Parkinson's through ball then picked out Rendell who this time rammed home to give United the lead. Hope sprung eternal.

Salisbury's leading scorer, Charlie Griffin, headed home a soft free-kick unmarked to bring the Amber Army back to Earth, but in added time the U's were somewhat fortuitously back in front when Reason's perfect through ball sent Parkinson through and his cross-shot was spooned obligingly into his own net by Neil Martin.

In an equally hard-fought second half, United began to drop gradually deeper as the afternoon wore on, but they almost grabbed a third ten minutes from time when the ever-alert Holroyd intercepted a Cox back-pass, rounded Bittner but saw a sliding Fowler clear off the line. But there was no real sense of chasing a cricket score to close the goal gap on the leaders; all that seemed to matter was securing the three points.

United held on efficiently for their third consecutive 2-1 win, but celebrations were restrained; a greater prize was still glowing teasingly in the distance. Super Sunday awaited.

Brabin was circumspect: "It sounds easy, 'all you've got to do is win 4-0!', but that wasn't the case and it was a tough game... It's not been an easy season. It's been a great season but there have been a lot of ups and downs, so I'm proud of all the lads for taking it to the last game."

On the following Tuesday the CRC team went down gallantly 1-0 to Cambridge City in the Cambs Invitation Cup Final at the Abbey, but by way of consolation were well on their way to securing a superb runners-up spot in the Ridgeons League to justify all that Jez George had said about the youth set-up.

The Friday saw the last day of the initial early purchase discount period for season tickets for 2009-10, and a tremendous 1,474 had been sold by 5pm on the Thursday.

Sunday 26th April 2009: Cambridge United 0-0 Altrincham (BSP)

Att. 7,090 (away 166) | League position: 2nd

Points behind Burton Albion: 2

On the last day of the regular season it was all so simple: United had to beat mid-table Altrincham, wobbling Burton had to lose away to playoff-seeking Torquay, and with a four-goal turnaround between the two matches, the U's would be crowned triumphant champions on goal difference. No problem…

The highest crowd of the season at the Abbey gathered, most in hope, an optimistic few in expectation, and Brabin named an unchanged side. But Altrincham were in party-pooping mood and lined up in a spoiling defensive formation with a lone striker, although they had the grace to leave it a good ten minutes after kick-off before they started timewasting.

United duly laid siege to the Alty goal from the off, and on 10 Willmott's wickedly curling corner found Rendell leaping almost under the crossbar, but somehow he managed to guide his header over the top to almost deafening groans from all four sides of a tense Abbey.

Burton's game at Torquay had, mysteriously, kicked off several minutes later than United, and when the news came through that Marc Goodfellow had given the Brewers the lead in the eighth minute there, a conspiracy of silence throughout the ground ensured that the bad tidings did not reach the players.

United continued to pound the Alty goal, Holroyd crossing for Rendell who saw his shot booted off the line, then what could only be described as a Mexican roar spread swiftly through the crowd, heralding the fact that dear old Chris Hargreaves had equalised for Torquay. Come on! You can DO this!

The visitors reminded us that this was still a two-team match when Warren Peyton forced a tip over from Potter from long range, and slowly but surely United's attack began to founder against their hard-working and resolute guests. The hosts' formation looked a little lopsided, right-footed left-winger Parkinson regularly drifting inside lost-sheepishly, and Alty's blanket defence held firm.

Pitt replaced Parky for the second half, and first proper save came from Potter from Chris Denham, but on 52 came the news that Elliot Benyon had given Torquay the lead in Devon and the tidal roar rolled around the Abbey again. The miracle was still on... wasn't it?

A marvellous Holroyd run on 62 set up Reason with the goal at his mercy ten yards out, but he took too long to control and his eventual shot, although powerful, was tipped over by keeper Coburn.

Coburn also saved brilliantly from Hatswell on 68, who was then surprisingly withdrawn in favour of third striker Crow, but as their waves of attacks continued to crash upon the Robins' rocks, belief began to ebb slowly but surely away into the humid, buzzing air.

Reason was then replaced by Phillips to leave United with four strikers and two wingers on the pitch, but it was now apparent that there would be no miracle today, and the NRE subtly changed its chant from "We're going up with Gary Brabin" to the more prosaic old favourite "Wem-ber-lee."

Shots flew mostly wide and over with increasing wildness, and ultimately Alty had their point and Burton had their promotion, despite losing yet again. But disappointment should not have been the overriding emotion at the Abbey after a tremendous chase that had seen the leaders' lead cut from 21 points to 2; and who would have believed that the U's could have achieved a second consecutive runner-up placing after the tumultuous, traumatic close season of 2008? No time to look back; fresh challenges awaited. United would play Stevenage; Torquay would play Histon. Kidderminster's last-day defeat meant they were out of the game.

Brabin was philosophical: "Obviously we're disappointed because we've had a free shot at the title, and full credit to the lads for taking it this far. I'm proud of every one of them for taking it to this stage of the season but it was always a big ask, even at home against a mid-table side, to win 4-0. Altrincham weren't going to come here and lie down and you could see that in their performance. There were dogged from the first minute, they made no attempt to attack us, they just got everyone behind the ball and made it difficult for us. We tried, but it wasn't to be."

Alty skipper Robbie Lawton commented, wiping his brow, "The crowd was something else, and for the first 15 minutes it was like the Alamo for us."

Monday 27th April 2009: Cambridge United Youth 3-4 Dion Dublin's Legends (att. 1,703)

Next night it was time for some light relief with a fun-packed fundraising contest between United's bright young guns and a selection of much-loved names from the past, some instantly recognisable, others rather tubbier, greyer or balder than we remembered.

The Legends lined up in a radical 4-4-3 formation - yes, they started with twelve men - and all were regulars in the early Nineties: Vaughan, Fensome, Chapple, Daish, Kimble, O'Shea, Wilkins, Clayton, Leadbitter, Philpott, Dion and John 'Shaggy' Taylor. Some were noticeably fitter than others; 'Twinny' Kimble seemed to run out of puff after about five minutes while shiny-pated Lee Philpott looked as if he could still do a job for United now.

John 'The Legend' Vaughan still had his old reflexes, but he could not stop early goals from Adam Marriott and guest Max York, a thirty-yard blockbuster, and Daish soon cried off with an 'injury.' TV's own Max Rushden joined in the fun and Dion reverted to centre-back, then Chapple withdrew and our own Gary Brabin barged on like a bull in a china shop, tackling ferociously and running surprisingly quickly for a player with the gait of someone who had just filled his pants.

The scholars still had some important matches to play this season, so they were replaced by an even younger team in part two comprised of first-year scholars and trialists. Robbie Simpson came on to great acclaim and scored with his first touch, a tap-in created by Brabin's shot which cannoned off the bar.

Tom Moody made it 3-1 to the kids, then Simpson retaliated with a fantastic 35-yard bomb before CRC old boys Craig Bussens, Piers Wixon and Michael Hyem plus a couple of lucky supporters joined in the jollity to help out the old guys' aging legs. Bussens cut inside to wallop a superb equaliser for the Legends inside the far post, and as substitutions mounted without players being replaced - it was 17 against 13 in the end - it became a personal duel between Brabin, utterly determined to get on the scoresheet, and excellent new scholars' keeper Grant Wright.

Our Gary, inevitably, had the last word, turning home a shot from Simpson's assist in the last minute, and an evening of top entertainment was complete, with the Equality fund £10,000 the richer. We should do this every year.

Then it was time to concentrate on the serious business of the playoffs, with the first leg due a mere four days after the Altrincham match. Brabin assured us: "Everyone is fully prepared and the lads are all chomping at the bit..."

Thursday 30th April 2009: Stevenage Borough 3-1 Cambridge United (BSP Playoff Semi-Final, First Leg)

Scorers: Roberts 47, Morison 61,85, Phillips 48 | Att. 4,446 (away 1,652)

United had a surprisingly poor record against their three fellow adventurers in the playoffs: two defeats, four draws, no wins. Shy, retiring Boro boss Graham Westley wrote inspirationally of passion, ambition and courage in his programme notes, while the United boss had a cunning plan: a total change of formation designed specifically to counteract the hosts. It was a radical and brave move, but also a hell of a gamble.

GB's strategy was wing-backs, bringing in Coulson as a third central defender, Challinor as third midfield man stationed just behind the strikers, and a new forward pairing of Phillips and Crow; former regulars Rendell, Holroyd, Willmott and Pitt were banished to the bench (Parkinson was ill) which meant for one thing that one of those four potential match winners would not get onto the pitch tonight.

In a truly electric atmosphere United started calmly and assuredly, dominating possession and their first good chance on 8 came when Bolland had a close-range header stopped by Chris Day. The U's masterplan was to draw Stevenage's sting by slowing the game down as much as possible and retaining possession to frustrate their opponents, and initially it worked a treat.

With troublesome winger Mitchell Cole banned from the semis due to a previous red card, the hosts tended to play narrower than they had in the clubs' previous encounter. The result was a rather turgid spectacle with precious little goal chances created at either end and the ball spent a lot of time flying around in the dense, thick air.

The energetic Phillips flashed a snap shot wide on 25, and Crow twisted to head a Reason cross wide on 43, but the key moment of the match occurred right at the end of the half. A corner was erroneously awarded to Stevenage in front of a packed away end, but as it was taken the ref sounded his whistle, unhappy with some aspect thereof; however he was too late to stop Challinor and Darren Murphy from throwing themselves at the ball at the near post and a clash of heads sent Challinor crashing to the floor, clutching his face.

Murphy received a straight red, the third dismissal in Boro's last three games against United, and it was only when one could see the replay on TV that it became apparent that the collision was entirely accidental and no foul at all had in fact been committed.

Both managers had jobs to do during the interval, Westley firing up his troops, Brabin considering whether to change his team's successful containing system for something more positive now that they had a man advantage. He decided to stick.

Stevenage came out pumped up for battle, adopting a 4-3-2 formation with the replacement of winger Mendes with midfielder Gary Mills, and stunningly they were in front within a couple of minutes of the restart. Drury lofted a free-kick to the far post, Morison easily outmuscled Gleeson to head across goal, and there was Roberts thundering in to nod powerfully home from close range.

Wake-up call for Cambridge. And their response was almost instant, Reason chipping to Crow whose lay-off fell perfectly for Phillips to lash a fantastic volley from the edge of the box which flew into the corner past Day before he could move. Cue amber bedlam.

One might reasonably, not to mention optimistically, have expected Boro's heads to drop; but they did not falter and continued to give as good as they were getting. And on the hour defensive calamity handed the hosts the lead. Drury hoisted a hopeful long ball towards Morison, Potter started to come off his line then hesitated, Morison easily outjumped Coulson and his intelligent looping header flew into the top corner over Potter's stranded head.

A stunned United seemed to have no answer, and on 69 Brabin at long last changed it, introducing Willmott for the underwhelming Challinor, then Pitt for Coulson: back to 4-4-2. Boro removed Boylan in favour of right-back Lawrie Wilson, making their intentions clear, but the U's looked rudderless and now could bring on only one of Rendell or Holroyd. It was the latter who got the nod to replace an exhausted-looking Crow.

United probed and prompted but could not trouble Day, and to cap off an horrendous second half they were caught out again by a long ball down the middle, Drury nodded on, and the somnolent U's defence allowed Morison all the time in the world to steer home as if faced by a line of bollards.

The visitors looked, and were, a beaten side, and worst of all, they had been beaten by a team which simply seemed to have wanted it more. This was not the way the season was supposed to end. They would need all the spirit in the world to reverse fortunes in the second leg.

Brabin sighed: "It's not over but we've made it hard for ourselves. I'm disappointed because I thought in the first half we were excellent. We had a game plan and it worked great in the first half, then the sending off caused a fracas that extended into the half-time. It seemed to unsettle us more than them and I'm disappointed that it's three individual errors that gave them their goals."

Andrew Bennett

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