Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: Chilly
Goals:
United: Rendell 80'
United returned to winning ways with a goal ten minutes from time by sub Scott Rendell, taking three points from a poor game in the driving rain.
Jimmy Quinn made three changes to the side that drew 2-2 at home to Halifax. Captain Mark Albrighton returned to the defence after suspension, Leo Fortune-West was restored to the front line to face his previous club after bring rested on Saturday, replacing Scott Rendell, and Mark Convery returned to midfield in place of Stephen Reed.
Rushden & Diamonds made one change to the side that won 2-1 at Altrincham at the weekend, midfielder Simon Rusk returning from suspension in place of Andy Burgess.
United kicked off toward the Newmarket Road end and started well, Courtney Pitt and Darren Quinton both getting forward to deliver early crosses and Mark Convery skimming a fourth minute free kick wide of the far post.
Rushden keeper Paul Nicholls was called into action two minutes later when he punched away another cross from Pitt with Quinton and Convery closing in, Pitt crossed the ball in again and it was hacked as far as Dan Gleeson who crossed first time from the right to Marvin Robinson, who headed across the face of goal under pressure from Nicholls.
Pitt was enjoying success down the left and tested the visiting defence with a series of crosses, and Fortune-West and Robinson kept Hatswell and Hope fully occupied, while at the other end Michael Rankine's shot was safely collected by Danny Potter.
In the 15th minute Mark Peters met Convery's deep corner with a powerful header but nodded wide of the near post, and two minutes later Gleeson picked out Robinson's run with a cross-field pass but the striker was deemed narrowly offside as he broke into the area.
Simon Rusk, freshly back from suspension, received the first booking for scything into the back of Fortune-West in the 21st minute, and the resulting free kick was cleared to Michael Morrison whose rising shot crashed against the hoarding above the Newmarket Road end.
United's set pieces into the area were causing problems and when Quinton's cross was cleared for a corner the resulting flagkick was only partially cleared, falling for Morrison whose cross was punched away by Nicholls, colliding with Mark Peters' shoulder in the process and staying down briefly for physio's attention.
The Cambridge area suffered heavy rain earlier in the day and drizzle had started again, making the surface slippery, and with it the pace of the game dropped. Rushden were forcing United back and restricting their movement through midfield, and the U's had to resort to long balls forward, most of which were dealt with by the visiting defence.
Another corner was earned but wasted on the half hour as United enjoyed more of the possession and pressure but failed to find a telling final ball. However Wolleaston, Pitt and Robinson were linking well down the left flank and Hatswell had to clear another Pitt cross on 34.
The pace and the atmosphere dropped as the teams continued to cancel each other out, and four minutes before half-time Mark Convery's free kick was far too deep for the gaggle of players in the area and ran out of play.
The half ended on a better note as a spell of concerted pressure down the left involving Quinton and Pitt saw the ball worked into the area and cleared to Convery 30 yards out, whose first time was blocked. And a minute later another tricky run by Pitt resulted in a corner that was punched away by Nicholls, United's follow-up crosses were scrambled away, and finally the ball was again punched away by Nicholls.
Half-time summary by match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Interesting rather than thrilling, United started well but faded out in an increasingly scrappy half. A flourish at the end perhaps promises more excitement after the break."
Second half:
The second half kicked off in heavy rain and a good early run and through ball from Quinton picked out Robinson's pacy burst into the area, but the loanee striker was flagged offside as Nicholls raced off his line to tangle with him .
At the other end Gleeson fouled Jackson out on the left and Kelly's free kick was imperiously headed away by Peters, but the visitors were fired up in these opening minutes and both Jackson and strike partner Rankine had shots from outside the area blocked by defenders.
Rushden's pressure almost told in the 54th minute when Rusk pounced upon a cross and his 30-yard shot bounced off the back of Challinor as he turned away, changing the direction of the shot and drawing a superb reflex save from Potter to prevent the diverted ball flying past him inside the far post.
Wayne Hatswell was fortunate not to be booked two minutes later when he tipped Robinson over as he threatened to get away from him on the right. Fortune-West heading Convery's free kick past the far post, but the visitors were still dictating the play and Jackson broke away twice in the next few minutes, first having a shot blocked by Albrighton then firing wide on 62 under pressure from Morrison.
United won a rare corner on 64 but Fortune-West was harshly penalised for getting in Nicholls' way, and at the other end Kelly headed Osano's cross over the bar. Jimmy Quinn opted to refresh a moribund game by bringing on Stephen Reed for Convery in the 66th minute, leading scorer Scott Rendell for Fortune-West five minutes later, and Lee Boylan for Robinson in the 77th minute.
The changes paid off in the 80th minute when Potter's long goalkick was nodded on and then pulled back from near the corner flag by Boylan to Gleeson, he drove a cross into the area and Scott Rendell leapt to power a header through Nicholls' clutching fingers and into the net.
Rushden threw men forward to seek an equaliser and two minutes later Jackson bustled his way into the area, but the striker was closely-marshalled by Albrighton and slid the shot wide of the near post.
Garry Hill responded with two like-for-like changes, sending on striker Lee Tomlin for Rankine and midfielder Andy Burgess for Kelly, and United almost extended their lead in the 85th minute when Pitt delivered a superb first time cross from the left and Rendell turned the ball inches wide.
Moments later Reed's low shot was clutched gratefully by Nicholls in the slippery conditions, and with four minutes left Hill sent on youngster Tom Shaw for Rusk, but United were the side in the ascendancy and could have scored again in the 90th minute. Boylan's off-target effort was kept in play by Rendell whose crossed was parried by Nicholls and the ball ran for Reed on the right of the area, his powerful shot flying wide of the far post.
There was time for Potter to collect a cross-shot from Burgess in stoppage time before the final whistle confirmed United's return to winning ways and Rushden's first defeat on their travels this season..
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Mark Albrighton (c), Mark Peters, Michael Morrison; Dan Gleeson, Darren Quinton, Rob Wolleaston, Mark Convery (Stephen Reed 66'), Courtney Pitt; Leo Fortune-West (Scott Rendell 72'), Marvin Robinson (Lee Boylan 77').
Subs not used: Gavin Hoyte, Stephen Smith.
Rushden & Diamonds:
Paul Nicholls, Curtis Osano, Chris Hope (c), Wayne Hatswell, Dean Howell; John Challinor, Martin Foster, Simon Rusk (Tom Shaw 86'), Marcus Kelly (Andy Burgess 84'); Simeon Jackson, Michael Rankine (Lee Tomlin 84').
Subs not used: Paul Bastock, Phil Gulliver.
Booked: Rusk foul 21'
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Cambridge United got back on track with a scrappy 1-0 win against Rushden. The match was a tale of two keepers, with Danny Potter making a breathtaking save to deny Rushden before Scott Rendell came off the bench to claim the points with an 80th minute header that visiting keeper Paul Nicholls got both hands to and should have saved. Nicholls had been shaky in the first half but disappointingly was not tested after the break, until Rendell's late intervention. Not a classic, but a vital three points for the U's."
Mark Johnson's Man of the Match:
"Mark Peters - seemed to win everything in the air with a Colossus-like performance at centre-half. Honourable mention for Mark Albrighton who made a welcome return and a solid showing, and Dan Gleeson who was always a willing raider down the right and set up the goal."
Ref: Mr Russell Fletcher - "His whistle was prevalent throughout, but it was that kind of match. No really obvious wrong decisions. 7/10"
Att: 3,005 (away 263)
Now talk about the match with fellow U's on our lively and friendly message board!
AT071009
