Berry's goal gives U's the points
Luke Berry's first-half goal helped Cambridge United claim a third win in four Skrill Conference Premier matches against Lincoln City at the R Costings Abbey Stadium.
Berry finished well from eight yards after good approach work from Delano Sam-Yorke and Adam Cunnington. Ryan Donaldson and Berry again went close for the U's in the second, while Lincoln's one effort on target saw Chris Maxwell make a good save to deny Danny Rowe. Imps skipper Alan Power saw red late on for a poor challenge on Greg Taylor.
Boss Richard Money made two changes to the starting line-up, bringing in Liam Hughes and Adam Cunnington for Rory McAuley and Taylor.
And it was clear from the off that the visitors favoured a direct approach, with United themselves not afraid to get the ball up to the mobile front pair of Cunnington and Sam-Yorke.
Sam-Yorke saw one shot blocked, and skied another high over the bar after fine approach play down the United right. But the breakthrough came in the 41st minute, with Sam-York and Cunnington breaking into the box from the right flank. Eventually the ball spun to Berry eight yards out, and he made no mistake with a shot high into the net.
In the second period Ryan Donaldson could have increased United's lead, but shot just wide after arriving late in the box to meet a left-wing cross. But it was Lincoln who threatened next, with Luke Foster seeing a shot blocked and Rowe shooting over the bar from near the penalty spot after a corner dropped nicely at his feet.
The former Stockport striker went even closer when the dangerous Sean Newton picked him out on the edge of the area, but Maxwell got down well at the foot of his post to make a sprawling save.
United then played out time fairly comfortably, helped by the late dismissal of Power, who jumped in on substitute Greg Taylor with a poor challenge that left referee Kinsley with little option but to show the red card.
So a second successive 1-0 win will leave United full of confidence going into Monday's derby at Luton Town.
Cambridge United: Maxwell, Tait, Dunk (Austin 75), Hughes, Miller, Arnold, Donaldson, Champion, Berry, Cunnington (Spillane 82), Sam-Yorke (Taylor 45). Subs not used: Coulson, Norris.
Lincoln City: Farman, Miller, Newton, Jordan (Dixon 71), Boyce, Power, Sheridan (Rowe 71), Nolan, Brown, Foster, Tomlinson. Subs not used: Fofana, Gray, Preece.
FULL TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 LINCOLN CITY
16.52: There's the full time whistle, that's three wins out of four for United, who deserve the three points today after what was a physically tough game against a combative Lincoln City side.
16.49: RED CARD. Lincoln will finish the game with ten men, poor tackle from skipper Alan Power, studs up on Greg Taylor who had already cleared. A bit of handbags ensues, and eventually the referee shows the red card to Power. Luke Berry named man of the match, great performance from the midfielder.
16.46: Four minutes added time, United attempting to run the clock down by the left corner. And they might do better here, Austin's cross finds Berry, who turns and shoots over.
16.43: United with a corner, which they kind of bodge up by taking short, and get pushed back to half way. They turn it round though, and Spillane in space 30 yards out fires a shot just over.
16.37: Austin involved with a great through ball to Arnold, who dallies as he's about to shoot and goes down under tackle in the box. No penalty says the ref. Then Austin tries to instigate another break but is cleaned out by Miller. That'll be a booking for the right back. As the free kick is about to be taken, Mickey Spillane emerges from the dug out to make his Cambridge United dug out. Cunnington replaced, Donaldson will join Arnold up front as Spillane slots in at centre-mid and Berry goes out onto the right.
16.34: Great save from Maxwell, Rowe's powerful shot from the edge of the box is heading for the bottom corner but Maxwell throws himself across to palm it away at the expense of a corner. Maxwell has to dive in from the resulting corner to palm away a cross, and picks up a head injury for his troubles.
16.31: Dunk has conceded defeat in his battle to run off that injury. Mitch Austin will replace him.
16.29: Arnold with the ball in the next for United, but he's offside.
16.27: Dunk absolutely flattened by a Lincoln player there. Referee waves play on and Lincoln win a corner on their left. Before its taken a double change will be made for the visitors. Dunk is receiving treatment as Dixon and Rowe comes on for Sheridan and Jordan. Maxwell fists the first away at the expense of a second corner. In it comes again from Newton, great delivery, Maxwell gets a punch but only as far as Rowe, who thankfully shoots over.
16.15: Two Lincoln corners, the second of which causes mild panic, but Foster's shot is blocked. Lincoln then get a free kick on half-way as Cunnington is penalised. It looked to me as if Sheridan was standing on Cunnington, stopping him from getting up, but somehow the Lincoln man got the decision.
16.06: Ooft, close to a second for United as Berry and Arnold feed the ball through to Dunk. His cross finds Donaldson arriving but his low shot is just the wrong side of the post.
16.04: Good pressure from Lincoln, a couple of crosses come in from their left. Ball breaks to Newton, whose initial shot is blocked before the left back slams another effort over the bar. United up the other end straight away with Cunnington and Arnold combining and the ball runs to Dun
16.02: Back underway here at the R Costings Abbey Stadium. United have made a change, with Greg Taylor on for Delano Sam-Yorke. Assume that's injury related, as DSY and Cunnington were causing the Imps defence all sorts of problems. Taylor in a left-back. Dunk up into midfield and Arnold pushing up to support Cunnington.
HALF TIME: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 LINCOLN CITY
15.46: Cunnington and DSY almost instigate a final break, but can't work the ball through, and the half-time whistle sounds shortly afterwards. A good half from the U's, Lincoln's direct style means they are always a threat around the box, but United have had more chances than the visitors and lead through Berry's first of the season.
15.44: Two minutes to be added, and Lincoln almost level, Tomlinson in to Newton, who fizzes a beauty across the six yard box but the diving Sheridan can't get a touch and it goes out on the far side for a U's throw.
15.39: GOAL CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1-0 LINCOLN CITY United lead and it's LUKE BERRY with the goal. Sam-Yorke breaks into the box, his attempted pass inside spins up off a defender, Cunnington helps it on and the ball breaks to Berry who thumps his shot high into the net.
15.37: Lincoln with their first corner now as Newton's cross is blocked behind by Tait. It goes short to Power, who hasn't been picked up, but his cross-cum-shot is hacked away by Tait, and United can break. Berry and Champion finding DSY, who moves it on to Dunk, and he wins a corner for the U's. Great countering there. Unfortunately Arnold's cross from the resulting corner flies over everyone and out for an Imps' goal kick.
15.35: Cunnington down in the Lincoln box now, receiving treatment for a facial injury. He's soon back on his feet though and play will continue.
15.29: Berry seizes on a poor pass from Lincoln, strides forward and chips the ball into the box. DSY latches onto it but sees his shot blocked by the advancing Farman. The offside flag was up in any case, Sam-Yorke had strayed past the last defender.
15.22: Long clearance from Maxwell, Cunnington wins the flick and finds Sam-Yorke in the box. His initial control is excellent, but as he tries to shoot he can't get power in his effort and a defender and the keeper snuff out the danger.
15.19: Lincoln with a chance to launch the ball into the box here, free kick just inside U's territory. In it goes, spins out to the edge of the area to Brown, who swings his boot, connects, but sees his shot fly harmlessly wide. Maxwell watched that one comfortably go by.
15.16: Tait gets to the byline on the right, reaching Arnold's pass, but DSY's shot from the ensuing low cross flies high over the bar.
15.12: Sam-Yorke with a shot blocked for United, then at the other end Tomlinson cuts in from the United right but his shot is all along the ground and into the hands of Maxwell. Then Sheridan and Tomlinson work the ball back to Alan Power, but his powerful shot is always rising and always flying wide of the post.
15.10: Donaldson brought down in full flight and the U's have a free kick. Donaldson plays it down the side to Dunk, whose cross is nodded up in the air a couple of times before it falls to Hughes, who slices his shot wide.
15.06: Good work from Berry to win the ball back for the U's and find Arnold. His chipped cross picks out Donaldson arriving at the back post, but his header is wide.
15.05: End-to-end stuff so far, both sides going pretty direct. Couple of efforts from the U's - Arnold shooting over from just inside the box and Berry thundering a volley over.
14.59: Referee is very punctual today, we're already underway.
Cambridge United: Maxwell, Tait, Dunk, Hughes, Miller, Arnold, Donaldson, Champion, Berry, Cunnington, Sam-Yorke. Subs: Taylor, Coulson, Norris, Austin, Spillane.
Lincoln City: Farman, Miller, Newton, Jordan (Dixon 71), Boyce, Power, Sheridan (Rowe 71), Nolan, Brown, Foster, Tomlinson. Subs: Fofana, Rowe, Gray, Dixon, Preece.
14.40: TEAM NEWS. United make two changes, with Greg Taylor and Rory McAuley dropping out, and Liam Hughes and Adam Cunnington coming into the starting line-up. I imagine this will mean a bit of a reshuffle, with Dunk going to left-back, Hughes at centre-back, Arnold and Donaldson on the flanks, and Cunnington joining Delano Sam-Yorke up front. New signing Michael Spillane is on the bench.