Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Josh Coulson, Mark Albrighton, Gavin Hoyte; Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Danny Brown (c), Michael Hyem (Courtney Pitt 54'), Stephen Reed (Leo Fortune-West 84'); Robbie Willmott (Lee Boylan 54'), Scott Rendell.
Subs not used: Mark Convery, Michael Morrison.
Rushden & Diamonds:
Paul Bastock, Curtis Osano, Phil Gulliver, Wayne Hatswell (c), Abdou El Kholti (Dean Howell 46'); Tom Shaw (Jon Challinor 84'), Lee Hales, Curtis Woodhouse, Marcus Kelly; Lee Tomlin, Craig McAllister (Michael Rankine 46').
Subs not used: Martyn Margarson, Simeon Jackson.
Booked: Tomlin 86 time-wasting
A below-par United side never really got going and after falling behind on the half hour rarely looked like getting back into the match.
Jimmy Quinn made six changes to the side that won 5-0 against King's Lynn last weekend, handing full debuts to two youngsters, including 17-year-old Robbie Willmott who signed his first professional contract this afternoon.
Willmott and fellow teenager Michael Hyem came into the side in place of Lee Boylan and Mark Convery, Stephen Reed returned from suspension to replace Courtney Pitt, Mark Albrighton made a welcome comeback at the heart of the defence in place of Mark Peters (ill), Rob Wolleaston returned in place of Paul Carden, recalled from his loan by Accrington Stanley, and Scott Rendell returned in place of Leo Fortune-West.
Diamonds manager Garry Hill made six changes to the side that won 3-2 at Bamber Bridge last weekend in the FA Trophy, leaving 16-goal striker Simeon Jackson on the bench, and the game got off to a scrappy start with United attacking the Newmarket Road end.
United made an uncharacteristically lethargic start and Rushden were first to threaten when Curtis Woodhouse's effort was charged down in the second minute, but two minutes later Josh Coulson's long throw led to a corner as the youngster's header was knocked behind, and some uncertain defending by Rushden led to a few moments of danger.
Coulson again impressed in the sixth minute when confidently heading away a dangerous cross from Tomlin, while Danny Brown played a good pass out to the left to release Stephen Reed but the wide man's cross was just too far ahead of Scott Rendell.
In freezing cold conditions, the game continued to be scrappy as neither side got to grips with the action. Tom Shaw poked a shot well over the bar in the ninth minute but his side went closer two minutes later with a corner that Hoyte half-cleared and Coulson eventually dived to head away.
A move down the left saw a moment of danger in the 13th minute as Paul Bastock spilled Reed's cross but managed to smother the ball at the second attempt with U's men closing in, and two minutes later Rob Wolleaston tried to play a one-two with Reed but couldn't take the return ball in his stride on the edge of the area.
Despite the freezing temperature, Danny Potter was alert to a Rushden counterattack on 16 and pushed a shot round the post, and when another chance fell to El Kholti his optimistic 30-yarder failed to test Potter.
With Rushden well on top at this stage, Mark Albrighton was getting a good workout on his return to the team and calmly marshalled his two young colleagues, while at the other end Rendell and Willmott were feeding off scraps and finding it hard to get the better of Rushden's experienced skipper Wayne Hatswell.
West Ham loanee Hales tried his luck from just outside the area on 25 but the U's keeper made a calm one-handed save, and moments later Hales slid the ball to Kelly as he broke into the area but his tame shot was straight at the U's keeper.
United fans behind the goal were trying hard to inject some atmosphere as mist rolled in and Danny Brown responded with a shot on the turn that dipped just over the bar, then Willmott almost squeezed the ball across the area to the lurking Rendell but Bastock got a hand to it.
But on the half hour Rushden scored the goal their possession had threatened when the U's defence opened up and Tom Shaw capped a good move by curling the ball inches beyond the diving Potter and in off the post from 22 yards.
Three minutes later Willmott drew a good save from Bastock when he latched onto Gleeson's cross but was denied by the quickly advancing keeper as he charged the ball down, and two minutes later Potter berated the United defence when another long-range Rushden shot flew over his bar.
United threatened on 36 when first Gavin Hoyte picked out Scott Rendell in acres of space but the big striker was unable to direct his header down with Bastock stranded, and moments later Willmott crossed for Rendell at the far post but the striker was challenged by Hatswell and stayed down for treatment, resuming in gingerly fashion.
The pace and quality of play dropped even more in the remaining minutes and the half-time whistle can rarely have been more welcome to the frozen and disappointed U's fans.
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Five changes and a staccato half from the U's who are deservedly behind. They have made few chances while Potter has kept United in it with a consummate show."
Second half:
Rushden made two like-for-like changes at half-time, bringing on Dean Howell for El Kholti at left back and striker Michael Rankine for McAllister. Within seconds of the re-start, and with thick mist rolling over the ground, Willmott forced a corner but from the resulting passage of play Gavin Hoyte made an astonishing miss from five yards with the goal gaping in front of him.
United were still struggling to make an impression and after 54 minutes Jimmy Quinn withdrew the two youngsters making their first starts and brought on more experience as Lee Boylan and Courtney Pitt replaced Willmott and Hyem.
The changes lifted the pace a little and a Reed corner on 58 was headed just off target by Danny Brown, while good work down the right by Gleeson almost created an opening for Boylan soon afterwards, but moments later the U's defence failed to make a clearance and presented the ball to Rankine in acres of space, but fortunately he hooked a shot well wide.
The visitors rattled the woodwork soon afterwards but Boylan created a scare on 66 when his initial shot was blocked by Bastock, and although the striker tried to regain possession the veteran keeper did just enough to clear the danger. With United keeping the pressure on, Courtney Pitt tried his luck from distance but his snap shot was always rising over the bar.
Pitt tried another long-range shot on 74 but it was always rising and didn't trouble Bastock, good work by Boylan and Gleeson earned a corner soon afterwards but Rendell was unable to connect with Reed's flagkick, and on 77 Rendell sent Boylan scampering away but he was flagged offside as he threatened to leave the defence for dead.
More good link-up play by Boylan and Rendell saw United carve the visitors open but Bastock made a great save to deny Boylan at the end of the move, and three minutes later he cut out Gleeson's pass before Rendell could get there.
Pitt caused problems on 83 when his run and cross was blocked by a defender and went out of play off Pitt, and in the break in play both sides made further changes, Jimmy Quinn going for broke by sending on Leo Fortune-West for Reed and Challinor for goalscorer Shaw.
Lee Tomlin collected the first booking on 86 when he deliberately impeded Potter's goal kick, and the U's keeper was forced into another good save in the fog as time looked to be running out for United. Moments later Rankine rounded Hoyte and hit the ball goalwards, and as it was scrambled around the box it eventually crashed against the post and away.
In the final minute Pitt's corner was flicked on and partially cleared, and although it was lifted back into the area towards Rendell the ball was cleared by the sheer weight of Rushden numbers in their box. Four minutes were added
Pitt produced a fine cross that flashed across the area but evaded Boylan and although it reached Gleeson on the far side the ball was scrambled away, then Fortune-West went down just outside the area when his shirt was tugged but Hoyte drove the ball over the bar, and two minutes later the referee's whistle brought a poor performance to an end.
It was United's first home defeat of the season and the only saving grace was that this was not a league game.
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"A swift exit from the Setanta Shield as United put in their least convincing performance of the season so far. The U's made six changes to the side and it showed in a staccato show that never really got going. Tom Shaw won it for the visitors on the half hour, and but for the woodwork Rushden's victory would have been even more convincing, while Gavin Hoyte's missed sitter was the best United could offer. Disappointment on the night, but with plenty to play for on other fronts perhaps Setanta's competition wasn't that important after all."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Danny Potter - made a couple of good saves in the first half and avoided the worst of the general malaise affecting the team."
Ref: Mr Fletcher - didn't do a lot wrong and wasn't really noticed that much, which can only be a good thing. 7/10."
Referee: Mr Russell Fletcher
Att: 1,309 (away 102)
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