Cambridge United came from behind to lead against Halifax with a first goal for Mark Beesley and another for Lee McEvilly, and held on for the last half hour after being reduced to ten men.

Jimmy Quinn made one enforced change to the side that draw at Aldershot on Tuesday, calling up Stephen Reed in place of the suspended Paul Carden.

Halifax manager Chris Wilder named the team that drew 2-2 here with York City on Tuesday, lining up in a 4-3-3 formation.

United started brightly and Lee McEvilly earned an early free kick that Courtney Pitt flashed across the area. Moments later the little midfielder went down clutching his head when he stooped to head a ball back to Danny Potter and got clipped by Mark Peters' boot, but fortunately, he was able to rejoin the action.

Halifax enjoyed a lot of the early possession but Rob Wolleaston alertly released Mark Beesley on the break and the former Forest Green man cleverly retained possession in the slippery left hand corner, eventually escaping from two defenders and setting Wolleaston to cross for a Lee McEvilly header that was cleared for a corner, Beesley firing wide following the set piece.

The home side's front three were lively and on 12 Nelthorpe found space on the left to cross for Heslop to nod a header wide. United's defence were caught out again when the same man capped a swift Halifax counterattack two minutes later, running onto a long goal-kick and calmly slotting the ball under the advancing Potter.

It was the turn of United's front three to cause problems in the 18th minute when Wolleaston sent McEvilly away. The big striker was quickly closed down but the loose ball was picked up by Beesley who fed Rendell, his ball across the area was met with a good low shot by Pitt on the left side of the area, but Legzdins got down well to save.

Halifax threatened again a minute later when Griffith seized upon hesitation in the United defence and tried to lift the ball over Potter from the edge of the area, but the U's keeper parried the ball into the air with a vital reflex save and Morrison mopped up the loose ball.

The defence was cut open again on 21 when Halifax leading scorer Jon Shaw found space on the edge of the area and again Potter stood up well to save, and with United still struggling to get to grips with the game Heslop cut inside from the left four minutes later and rifled a low 25-yard drive that Potter pushed behind at his near post.

United enjoyed a spell of good possession on the half hour when Gleeson, Wolleaston, Rendell and Beesley played neat football into the final third, but the move broke down and Halifax showed again how dangerous they were on the counterattack with another fast breakaway.

There were chances at both ends within moments as first Rendell chipped a 25-yard shot into Legzdins' hands on 31, at the other end Shaw's shot was deflected behind for another Shaymen corner, and then Pitt was flattened level with the edge of the Halifax area and Stephen Reed had a half-chance blocked at the free kick.

More neat approach play saw United work their way down the right flank on 39 but Gleeson's final cross spun behind for a goal kick. United were finishing the half the stronger of the two sides and went closer four minutes later, Beesley showing good footwork to earn a corner on the left and McEvilly's powerful header clutched on the line by Legzdins.

The Halifax keeper had to hoof the ball away from under Rendell's nose seconds later, then two minutes before half-time United were level as Legzdins booted the ball away under pressure from McEvilly, it fell to Mark Beesley five yards outside the area and he looked up and lifted a cool finish into the back of the empty net for the equaliser and his first goal for Cambridge United.

Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
" A satisfactory end to a half that started with plenty of worries, after Halifax took an early lead. A second goal looked a distinct possibility until United weathered the storm and struck an opportunist equaliser."

Second half:
The U's had the first chance of the second half when a quick break saw Pitt slide the ball down the left for McEvilly who muscled his way past a challenge into the area but fired into the side-netting with Rendell and Beesley in the middle. He was clearly furious with himself, and Halifax threatened at the other end when Heslop headed Nelthorpe's cross wide under pressure from Hatswell.

But in the 57th minute United capped a better spell with a well worked goal. A flowing move of one-touch passing involving Pitt, Wolleaston and Beesley ended with Rendell's clever ball down the right channel for Gleeson, and he made a pinpoint cross for Lee McEvilly to turn in from close range.

Controversy followed within two minutes when Nelthorpe cut inside past two challenges and threatened to break clear five yards outside the area, and Mark Peters slid in with a vital challenge that left both men in a painful heap on the ground. It was slightly debatable whether Peters was the last man, but as he regained his feet referee Waugh produced a red card.

The free kick was charged down and Jimmy Quinn made an immediate change, withdrawing goalscorer Beesley to send on defender Mark Albrighton, and Chris Wilder's first change followed on 65 as Lewis Killeen replaced right-back Tom Harban.

The game went through a subdued spell, with Rendell dropping deeper for United and both sides apparently adjusting after the dismissal and substitutions, and Wilder responded with an attacking substitution. Striker Andy Campbell replaced defender Simon Ainge as the home side changed to a three man defence and went for goals with 20 minutes remaining.

Soon afterwards Dan Gleeson stayed down for treatment near the corner flag and rose to his feet holding his head, and the resulting free kick whipped across the face of goal just inches away from McEvilly's outstretched boot.

Halifax made their final change on 75, Mark Whitehouse replacing Nelthorpe, and with the atmosphere becoming tetchy and the home fans growing impatient, Campbell had a shot charged down and as the ball pinballed around the United area Nathan Joynes scooped the ball over the bar from the edge of the area.

Jimmy Quinn made his second change on 78, bringing on defender Josh Coulson for Rendell to shore up the defence as Halifax threw extra men forward in search of the equaliser, and on 82 a corner was cleared by Albrighton and fell for Heslop whose ambitious 30-yard shot flew over the bar onto the home terrace.

United now had five men across the back, with Hatswell on the left and Morrison on the right, and McEvilly was a lone, hard-working figure up front for United. The big striker never stopped moving and he scooped a shot wide moments later, but it was all Halifax in the closing stages.

In an electric atmosphere, and with everyone apart from goalkeeper Legzdins in the United area, Albrighton had to hack another ball behind for an 88th minute corner, which Pitt volleyed away, but again Halifax came back and Killeen's shot on the turn was smothered by Potter.

There was yet more danger when Griffith broke forward and his shot spun behind off the covering Reed, and when Potter came for the resulting corner he missed but Mark Albrighton and Josh Coulson combined to scramble the ball off the line.

Four added minutes were indicated and it was agonising for all United onlookers, but the players defended heroically, throwing boots and bodies in the way of the ball while Potter scooped a teasing cross from the air, and McEvilly was a willing runner as Morrison released him in the closing seconds, taking the ball into the corner and killing vital seconds.

With the home fans streaming for the exits the long-awaited final whistle confirmed United's first win here for 31 years, and the players and staff flocked to the away end for mutual appreciation and celebrations with the travelling fans.

The win lifted the U's into third place above Stevenage, who play leaders Aldershot on Sunday, and Burton, who lost today at Salisbury.

Adam Thrussell

Halifax Town:
Adam Legzdins, Tom Harban (Lewis Killeen 65'), Simon Ainge (Andy Campbell 69'), Adam Quinn, Matt Doughty; Simon Heslop, Anthony Griffith, Tom Kearney (c); Jon Shaw, Nathan Joynes, Craig Nelthorpe (Mark Whitehouse 75').
Subs not used: Darryn Stamp, Jake Wright.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter (c), Michael Morrison, Mark Peters, Wayne Hatswell; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Mark Beesley (Mark Albrighton 61'), Stephen Reed, Courtney Pitt; Scott Rendell (Josh Coulson 78'), Lee McEvilly.
Subs not used: Lee Boylan, Jordan Collins, Robbie Willmott.

Sent off: Peters professional foul 60'

Referee: Mr J. Waugh

Att: 1,402 (away 316)

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Cambridge United claimed their first win at Halifax since 1976 but boy, did they have to do it the hard way! Down to ten men for the last half hour after Mark Peters was red-carded, it looked like being the same old story when Halifax took an early lead but Mark Beesley scored an opportunist equaliser on the stroke of half-time and Lee McEvilly applied the finishing touch to a flowing move twelve minutes after the re-start. The face of the game was changed three minutes later when Peters saw red, but the ten men defended heroically to claim three deserved points."

Mark's Man of the Match:
"Michael Morrison - a colossal effort in an heroic defensive action. Honourable mentions for Josh Coulson, who came on to make a valuable contribution, Courtney Pitt who held the ball up and caused problems on the left, and Lee McEvilly who ploughed a lone furrow up front."

Ref: Mr Waugh - didn't seem to get too much wrong, including the red card, for which there weren't too many arguments. 8 /10."

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