Date: Tuesday 23rd January, 2007
Competition: Nationwide Conference
Referee: Mr. D. Cann
Att: 2,239 (away 511)
Weather at kick-off: chilly

More misery for the U's as they crashed 3-1 to a resurgent Rushden outfit, Graham Westley's Diamonds condemning United to their seventh straight defeat.

Westley kept faith with the same eleven that had defeated Stafford four days earlier, only the fit again Dave Savage taking the place of Paul Watson on the bench. Jimmy Quinn reinstated left back Jordan Collins for Josh Simpson, opting to play skipper Andy Duncan in a defensive midfield holding berth. Quinn opted for the experience of Paul Crichton in goal, who replaced young understudy Shane Herbert.

Referee Darren Cann started the game with the U's defending their own fans, and had to blow for a free kick within seconds of the start, Andy Duncan unceremoniously bundling over Chris Beardsley. United held possession well for the first few minutes, but looked stiff when Rushden had the ball.

The first real moment of excitement came after four minutes, Courtney Pitt dribbling into the area before falling under a Wayne Hatswell challenge, the referee deeming Hatswell's tackle to be fair and above board. Despite the bright start, United found themselves a goal behind in the 6th minute, Simeon Jackson notching his 11th goal of the campaign. A neat passing move led to Glenn Wilson skinning Jordan Collins and firing a firm cross from the byline, Crichton parrying straight into the path of the alert Jackson, who bundled home with ease.

United seemed stunned by this and spent the remainder of the half on the back foot. Only the slack finishing of the Rushden frontline stopped the Diamonds from furthering the score. Collins, still smarting from the goal, was cautioned in the 8th minute for a desperate lunge on Wilson. The resulting free kick caught the United back four cold as Beardsley sprung the offside trap, but the Mansfield loanee couldn't beat Crichton, who saved well diving low to his right. Minutes later Beardsley again wrestled himself free from the shackles of Morrison and let fly with a long range effort, only to see his shot disappear into the sea of Cambridge fans behind the goal.

The next ten minutes settled for Cambridge, some neat passing and interplay which never seriously threatened Rushden, much to the frustration of some U's fans. Midway through the first half, rangy winger Jamie Cook had two good chances to score, firing wide both times.

The United defence was dropping deep and allowing the Diamonds midfield to stroke the ball about, Cook almost taking an age to choose when to shoot. On 23 minutes Crichton needed the attention of the physio after a clash with Beardsley, the youngster nicking Crichton's hand with his studs after a 50/50 clash for the ball. The referee chose to book Simeon Jackson after the initial challenge, although it was clearly Beardsley who challenged the Cambridge stopper.

It took 28 minutes for United to have their first real chance to work Rushden 'keeper Scott Tynan, and then followed it up with another good chance to score. From a Pitt corner, Morrison's header was cleared from the line and Hooper headed straight into the arms of a grateful Tynan. Moments later Pitt crossed again from the left, Dean Holdsworth nodding back to Andy Duncan, whose scuffed shot was palmed away by Tynan, Brady's follow up drive being deflected for a corner.

Despite these inroads, Cambridge fell back into their shell and the midfield allowed Rushden to dominate proceedings for the rest of the half. Andy Duncan was booked for a rash foul on Mark Albrighton, and Cook again fired just over the bar from 20 yards. Dean Holdsworth became the third United player cautioned on 39 minutes, Albrighton the victim yet again, the ageing striker chopping him down while in possession of the ball.

Three minutes before half time, the pacy Jackson had a glorious chance to further Rushden's lead. Morrison let a pass slip under his foot and Jackson was quick to race onto the ball, clean through on goal. Just as Jackson shaped to shoot, Morrison sped back to make a good recovery tackle, the ball spinning out for a corner, which resulted in Gary Mills firing high and wide.

Half time - 1-0 - Summary: The worst possible start for the U's, Jackson profiting from a shaky Cambridge defence. It took United a while to get any sort of grip on the game, and even after a couple of chances on the half hour mark, they let Rushden comfortably boss the half. The sight of the Rushden 'keeper warming up for most of the first 45 on the edge of his area tells its own story. Much more improvement and urgency needed in the second half. Was the half time team talk to be the most important in Jimmy Quinn's career?

Second half:
Whatever Quinn had said at half time, it was instantly forgotten at the restart, as Rushden almost doubled their advantage within seconds of the kick off. An aimless long ball caused communication confusion between Peters and Crichton, the former having to launch the ball for a corner after Jackson almost nipped in to convert. Four minutes later the Diamonds fans expectantly awaited the inevitable second goal, Chris Beardsley wasting two chances when it seemed easier to score. Credit goes to Morrison though for throwing himself in front of both chances, putting Beardsley off slightly as he shaped to shoot.

United nearly made Rushden pay for their missed chances a minute later, Holdsworth coming close to doubling his season's tally of goals. Pitt was chopped down on the far right of the penalty box, around 20 yards from goal. After shooing Pitt away from the free kick, 'Deano' curled a lovely effort around the wall, Tynan palming away for a corner, diving full stretch to his left.

Unfortunately, after every decent foray forward, United sank deeper and allowed Rushden to attack, asserting no authority whatsoever in midfield. Gary Mills shot wide yet again, and that was the catalyst for Quinn to bring on Matt Bloomer for Dean Hooper, who had taken a knock. Courtney Pitt had a weak free kick easily saved, and moments later Stephen Smith replaced Jordan Collins. Smith, normally a midfielder, slotted into Collins' left back role.

On the hour mark Courtney Pitt began to impose his skill and was running more at the Rushden defence, who when pressured, didn't look overly confident. He had one mazy run past two players but his final ball to Purser was just a little too strong for the former Weymouth striker to race onto.

Just as Holdsworth and Purser were beginning to bother the Diamonds backline, Quinn introduced Robbie Simpson for Holdsworth, who left the pitch tenderly rubbing his hamstring. On 71 minutes Rushden sub Dave Savage was almost put clean through by Beardsley, but a timely intervention by Smith set up Robbie Simpson for a long range shot, which slowly drifted wide.

Two minutes later, some good counter attacking play caught young Smith out of position, Michael Rankine using his strength to power a shot towards the top left of the goal and Crichton tipping over for a corner. The set piece was immediately whipped in, and as Crichton came for the cross then hesitated, Chris Beardsley nodded into the back of the net, to the disbelief of the watching defenders.

Two goals down with less than twenty minutes left, any remaining Cambridge confidence disappeared with ten minutes to go, Michael Rankine topping off an impressive substitute cameo with a well-taken goal. Rushden were toying with Cambridge, passing it around the edge of the area, before Cook unleashed a shot that Crichton could only parry into the path of Rankine, who obliged with a low, hard shot from 10 yards, which Crichton could only help push into the side of the net. 3-0

The last ten minutes saw both clubs going through the motions, Rushden happy to stroke the ball about while a tired Cambridge failed to make any forward movement.

As the game moved into injury time, United gave the 500+ away support something to cheer when Michael Morrison scored a controversial goal. A Pitt corner was punched clear by Tynan and headed back into the area by Duncan, where Morrison and Peters appeared to be standing in an offside position. As Tynan flapped at the ball under pressure from Peters, Morrison grazed a header into an empty net from three yards. Shortly after the restart the referee blew for full time, confirming Cambridge United had lost their seventh successive game.

Match Summary:
Things go from bad to worse for United, as their seventh straight defeat saw Cambridge drop to 22nd in the league. The fans demanded fight, desire and passion, and they got little or none. Sections of the United crowd called for Quinn's head, many seeing tonight as the final straw. The game was easy for Rushden, as United rarely tested the Diamonds back four. When they did show glimpses of attacking enterprise, they too quickly fell onto the back foot and allowed the Diamonds to come at them with ease. At the final whistle, one fan threw his scarf onto the pitch in disgust, whilst most made their concerns known very vocally. It's an understatement, but nothing less than three points from Saturday's clash with Woking is required.

Man of the Match:
Not many to choose from but Mark Peters did his best again repelling the Rushden attacks, whilst Dean Holdsworth again showed his class with intelligent football and almost scoring an equaliser with a curling free kick.

Referee:
Mr Darren Cann (Norfolk) 9/10 - Probably the best referee to officiate United this season. Was consistent throughout and didn't let anything sway his decision making. Called the Pitt penalty appeal right and clamped down on some rough tackling early on.

Chris Vessey

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