Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: Overcast, chilly
Goals:
United: Robinson 24', Wolleaston 55'
Halifax: Shaw 18' (pen), Belle 83'

Cambridge United had to come from behind again and were leading with seven minutes remaining, goals from Marvin Robinson on his full debut and midfielder Rob Wolleaston putting United in the driving seat, but slack defending allowed ten man Halifax to snatch a point near the end.

Jimmy Quinn made four changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Forest Green Rovers last weekend. Out went Mark Albrighton (suspended), Leo Fortune-West, Stephen Smith and Mark Convery, and in came Mark Peters, recent loan signing Marvin Robinson, Stephen Reed and Darren Quinton. With both Danny Brown and Albrighton unavailable, goalkeeper Danny Potter wore the captain's armband.

Halifax boss Chris Wilder also made four changes to the team that drew 2-2 at home to Burton, calling up Lewis Killeen, Alex Bailey, Cortez Belle and Matt Doughty in place of Danny Forrest, Steve Torpey, Jake Wright and Toulson.

The home fans were already in full voice before the game kicked off and United responded with a good early move, working the ball down the right via Dan Gleeson and then Darren Quinton, whose 25-yard drive seemed to be deflected by a defender's hand but the referee waved play on and Gleeson's follow-up cross was snatched from the air by Legzdins.

The Halifax keeper also proved equal to crosses from Michael Morrison and Stephen Reed and at the other end towering defender Greg Young wasted a free header at a corner, but the early pace soon gave way to a spell where United were too casual in possession.

They were giving the ball away too often, and in the 17th minute Michael Morrison found himself under pressure from Jon Shaw and pulled the former Burton striker to the ground for a clear penalty. Shaw himself stepped up to power an unstoppable penalty past Danny Potter and give his side the lead.

The U's have come from behind several times already this season and the goal sparked a response in United's performance. Courtney Pitt made a good block as Halifax wingback Doughty got forward to cross and at the other end new boy Robinson, showing himself to be a strong, pacy runner, saw his cross headed away by Quinn.

On 21 Quinton played a through ball for Robinson who was just beaten to the ball by Legzdins who was smartly off his line to claim the ball, but three minutes later United were level..

Scott Rendell's perfectly-placed header sent Pitt away to the byline, and although his cross was too high for Rendell it was perfect for Marvin Robinson as he arrived at the far post with a well-timed run to turn the ball home from close-range on his full debut.

The home crowd erupted into full voice again but United had to stay alert and Danny Potter made a good save on 28 when when Darryl Taylor burst forward, playing a good one-two with Shaw on the edge of the area, but Potter saved well with his feet.

Griffiths played a good ball five minutes later to pick out Taylor's run into the area but he couldn't make contact before it ran out of play and there followed a spell when it was all United, a U's corner cleared and crosses by both Pitt, Reed and Quinton causing problems in the Halifax back line.

The referee had given few decisions in United's favour throughout a bruising first half, so there were ironic cheers from the home fans two minutes before half-time when Jon Shaw was penalised for a foul and then booked for his protests. He failed to heed the warning though, and within two minutes the Halifax goalscorer flattened Michael Morrison and Mr Halliday had little hesitation in producing a straight red card for violent conduct. Half-time United 1-1 Halifax

Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"An eventful half, with United starting slowly and going behind to a definite penalty but fighting back and ending the half with a man advantage as Shaw had a half he won't forget."

Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged and it was Halifax who started the strongest, earning a corner when Taylor's cross was cleared behind by Gleeson, then Quinn heading over the bar following a Halifax free kick.

At the other end there were penalty claims as Robinson went down in the area off the ball but play continued, much to Jimmy Quinn's displeasure, and on 53 Reed crossed from the right of the area but Robinson nodded narrowly wide under close attention from a defender.

The Oxford loanee was involved again two minutes later when United took the lead, winning the ball and beating his marker before teeing up Rob Wolleaston whose brilliant first time shot flew into the top corner, giving the big Halifax keeper no chance at all.

Within two minutes most people in the ground thought United had extended the lead. Quinton danced past a challenge into the area but his shot was blocked by Quinn, the ball rebounded to Stephen Reed whose low 25-yarder bounced off the keeper, and as Robinson pounced to tuck the loose ball home he was denied by a very close offside decision.

United were cutting through the visitors at will during this purple patch and Dan Gleeson cut in from the right and tried his luck with a shot that flew wide of the near post when he might have pulled it back for one of the supporting players to take a shot, while at the other end Peters forced Taylor wide to drive a shot wide of the far post.

Chris Wilder changed personnel and formation in the 62nd minute by sending on veteran midfielder Steve Bushell for defender Adam Quinn, and a minute later Scott Rendell stayed down after an aerial challenge and needed attention from physio Greg Reid before resuming.

Mark Peters collected United's first booking on 66 for a foul on Kearney, and two minutes later Jimmy Quinn made a defensive change to send on teenager Josh Coulson for his senior debut in place of Gavin Hoyte.

Halifax were working hard to bely their lack of numbers and United were unable to capitalise against the uncompromising Halifax defence. On 72 Griffiths was booked for a foul on Reed, who delivered an excellent free kick into area, but although Robinson made space with an astute run Rendell was off balance as he received the ball and could only scoop it wide.

Halifax counterattacked immediately and Taylor cut into the area and got past Coulson, but was denied by a superb save by U's captain Potter, and there were cheers from the home fans in the 76th minute as Lee Boylan came on for Scott Rendell, showing a rare stock of attacking resources.

There were more unsuccessful howls for a U's penalty with ten minutes remaining when Robinson raced onto a poor backpass and clashed with Legzdins as he raced out, falling over the keeper's outstretched arms, but the referee adjudged that he dived and booked him for simulation.

Halifax still looked far from a side reduced to ten men and with eight minutes left they took full advantage of slack defending to level the scores. United's defence failed to deal with a long throw into the area and defender Cortez Belle turned to thump the shot home, the Halifax players running to celebrate in front of their fans in the Marston's Smooth Stand.

The game was far from over though and two minutes later Wolleaston's cross was missed by Legzdins but although Pitt met the dropping ball he mis-hit it and blasted high and wide. Then on 87 Lee Boylan raced away and crossed for Pitt whose header forced a fantastic save from the Halifax keeper, Wolleaston flashing a header wide at the resulting corner.

Chris Wilder swapped left backs by sending on Jake Wright for Doughty with two minutes left and as play entered stoppage time United survived a massive scare. Potter and Peters got into a muddle as they left a ball for each other, the ball dropped between the advancing U's keeper on the edge of his area and the defender, and Darryl Taylor nipped in with the open goal at his mercy but somehow fired into the sidenetting.

Mark Convery came on for Quinton and it was one-way traffic for the last four minutes, with United men pouring forward, but Cortez Belle was like a one man wall in front of the Shaymen goal as he headed away a series of crosses. In United's final attack Boylan won the ball and strode forward, but his shot was charged down and Belle headed away the follow-up.

Cambridge United:
Danny Potter (c), Michael Morrison, Mark Peters, Gavin Hoyte (Josh Coulson 68'); Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Darren Quinton (Mark Convery 90'), Stephen Reed, Courtney Pitt; Scott Rendell (Lee Boylan 76'), Marvin Robinson.
Subs: Stephen Smith, Leo Fortune-West.

Booked: Peters foul 66', Robinson unsporting conduct 81'

Halifax Town:
Adam Legzdins, Cortez Belle, Greg Young, Adam Quinn (Steve Bushell 62'); Alex Bailey, Anthony Griffith, Lewis Killeen, Tom Kearney (c), Matt Doughty (Jake Wright 88'); Darryl Taylor, Jon Shaw.
Subs not used: Craig Mawson, Ryan Toulson, Steve Torpey.

Booked: Shaw dissent 44', Griffiths foul 72'
Sent off: Shaw violent conduct 45'

Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Two points dropped as the U's conceded a late equaliser to draw against ten man Halifax. It was an eventful first half, particularly for visiting striker Jon Shaw who won and converted an 18th minute penalty then was sent off for a wild lunge on the stroke of half-time. Between Shaw's moments, Marvin Robinson marked his first start for the U's with a well-taken goal. Things looked good for United at the break and it got better when a Rob Wolleaston thunderbolt made it 2-1, but the U's couldn't kill off the visitors and paid the price moments after Robinson had been booked for diving in the area, when Belle levelled, and it could have been even worse but Taylor missed an open goal in the final moments and United had to settle for the draw."

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match:
"Dan Gleeson - always carried a threat down the right hand side and showed the urgency needed. Honourable mention for Marvin Robinson who had an eventful afternoon with a well-taken goal, a disallowed effort, and a penalty with a question mark over it."

Ref: Mr Andrew Halliday - "As inconsistent as we've seen many times this season, with decisions given or not depending on the direction of the wind. 3/10"

Att: 3,027 (away 120)

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