Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off:
Goals:
United: Rendell 40', 79'
Northwich: Steele 46'
Scott Rendell netted twice in a close encounter at the Abbey to secure a fourth successive win for United, but the U's were made to work hard by a side yet to collect a point on their travels this season.
Jimmy Quinn made two enforced changes to the side that beat Aldershot 2-1 at the Abbey last weekend, calling up Gavin Hoyte and the fit-again Mark Convery in place of Mark Albrighton (injured) and Dan Gleeson (suspended).
Northwich player-boss Dino Maamria also made two changes to the side beaten 3-1 at Oxford last time out, calling up defender Greg Strong and midfielder Brad Maylett in place of Michael Carr (suspended) and Dominic Taylor.
After a minute's silence in memory of long-serving steward Dave McCann, who died recently, United threatened when Lee Boylan showed electric pace to escape down the flank, forcing Welch into a lunging challenge to concede the first corner of the game.
Courtney Pitt tested Vics captain Richard Battersby at regular intervals but a lax moment in United's defence in the fourth minute allowed Wilson to break through and shoot from the right of the area, but Danny Potter caught an effort that the Northwich man ought to have done more with.
Rob Wolleaston released Darryl Knights down the wing and when his cross was headed away at full stretch no United player was able to connect and make the chance tell, and moments later Scott Rendell headed Stephen Reed's cross back across goal but again no one was able to make the right connection.
Pitt again teased the visitors with two crosses but the first was headed away and the second plucked from the air by Scott Tynan, and the visitors threatened again with Brad Maylett's 12th minute run and shot that was charged down by Mark Peters.
Scott Rendell made a good run in the 20th minute before picking out Wolleaston but the midfielder sliced a long-range shot well wide, and chances were proving hard to come by with five men strung across the Northwich midfield.
The home crowd were subdued at the lack of goalmouth action and again it was Northwich who threatened in the 23rd minute when Strong fired wide from inside the area, but two minutes later better play from United saw Pitt jink his way down the left and set up Knights, whose ball into the area was headed over the bar by a defender.
Convery and then Boylan put tempting balls into the area but Strong and Welch were strong in the air and they were supported by the rest of their team as they sat deep and mopped up the danger, stifling any attacking play from United.
On 29 Convery slipped the ball to Knights and he curled a 30-yarder inches wide of the far post, and a minute later Wolleaston carved his way down the right and set up Boylan who drew a fine save from Tynan, and the ball was hacked behind before Wolleaston could connect with the rebound.
Simon Rusk earned a free kick for his side when he made an extravagant meal of a 34th minute challenge by Gavin Hoyte, and was roundly booed by the home supporters for his antics next time he touched the ball after Hoyte had cleared the free kick. Three minutes later the crowd took great pleasure as as he lashed a cross well off target and out of play.
The home side continued to threaten on the break and when Mark Peters threw himself in the way of a Lee Steele advance the visitors appealed long and loud for a free kick and Northwich manager Dino Maamria raced several yards onto the pitch to protest.
While the visiting players were still complaining about the lack of a free kick, United broke away and took the lead. Rob Wolleaston made a strong run down the right and his first time cross was steered into the bottom of the net from close range by Scott Rendell at the far post.
Danny Williams was booked for dissent as he continued his protests in the wake of the goal, and after a rare Northwich corner was cleared by Convery the visitors struggled to contain the U's. On 44 Knights' clever ball over the top found Boylan as he beat two and had a shot parried by Tynan and then smothered at the second attempt.
And in stoppage time Wolleaston got down the right again and crossed to Rendell who was arriving at the same time as the goalkeeper and a defender, but as he tried to lift the ball over Tynan he put the ball over bar from one yard.
A great run by Pitt in stoppage time lifted the crowd again and ensured that a frustrating half ended on a high.
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"A frustrating half alleviated by Rendell's goal as United have struggled to break down a determined Northwich side. Now behind, Northwich will surely have to open the game up a bit and that could bode well for more goals from the U's."
Second half:
Both sides emerged unchanged and the visitors levelled within 34 seconds when the experienced Lee Steele beat Morrison to a through ball and buried it beyond the advancing Potter and into the bottom of the net.
On 54 Danny Potter launched a swift counterattack after a Northwich free kick and Rob Wolleaston's great shot drew an equally impressive diving save from Tynan, and two minutes later Pitt beat a lunging challenge to cross into the area but Boylan headed wide form three yards.
Northwich continued to frustrate and thwart United whilst threatening on the break and there was a collective sympathetic intake of breath from the home fans as Michael Morrison took the full force of Horrocks 18-yard shot in his midriff, staying down for a few moments afterwards.
A better passage of play saw Knights work his way down the flank and cross for Boylan whose header was too close to the keeper, Rob Wolleaston cut in from the left and had a 20-yarder blocked by Strong, and the same defender also cut out a cross from Pitt moments later.
In an increasingly scrappy game, the visitors still looked menacing on the break and moments after the lively Steele had been denied by the offside flag, he set up Brad Maylett on the right of the area to shoot wide of the far post.
Jimmy Quinn decided to shake things up with a double change in the 74th minute, bringing on Leo Fortune-West for Darryl Knights and pacy youngster Robbie Willmott for Mark Convery.
Willmott took up a role on the wide right and he made a difference within four minutes, racing to the by-line and beating his man before delivering an inch perfect cross to the far post for Scott Rendell to head home his 12th league goal of the season.
The visitors tried to bounce back immediately and United had to defend a corner within two minutes, but the lively Willmott lifted the home team and fans with his quick feet and confidence and on 82 Stephen Reed drove a powerful shot over the bar from 30 yards.
Play was edgy and finely balanced in the closing moments, interrupted by a series of free kicks, and as five minutes of stoppage time was indicated Courtney Pitt collected a booking for leaving his foot in on Maylett and was replaced for the final two minutes by teenager Michael Hyem.
Reed led a breakaway in the fourth minute of stoppage time and Willmott took the ball past Tynan but was challenged from behind and lifted a shot over the bar, and then Boylan burst through on goal but was denied by a tremendous save by Tynan just before the referee brought this tense game to a close.
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter (c), Michael Morrison, Mark Peters, Gavin Hoyte; Stephen Reed, Rob Wolleaston, Mark Convery (Robbie Willmott 74'), Darryl Knights (Leo Fortune-West 74'), Courtney Pitt (Michael Hyem 90'); Scott Rendell, Lee Boylan
Subs not used: Stephen Smith, Josh Coulson.
Booked: Pitt foul 90'
Northwich Victoria:
Scott Tynan, Richard Battersby, Greg Strong, Michael Welch, Ryan Brown; Danny Williams, Simon Rusk, Josh Wilson, Brad Maylett, Luke Horrocks; Lee Steele.
Subs not used: Ben Connett, Jake Johnson, Dominic Taylor, Danny Jarrett, Dino Maamria.
Booked: Williams dissent 41'
Referee: Mr Guy Stretton
Att: 4,046 (away 35)
Mark Johnson's Match Summary:
"Cambridge United collected a fourth straight win but the performance was less than convincing. Northwich arrived at the Abbey bottom of the table without an away point and that's exactly how they left it, thanks to a Scott Rendell goal late in each half. The visitors came to frustrate and in that at least they succeeded, smothering United's attacking ideas in a stultifying blanket. Even so chances went a-begging but when Northwich equalised seconds after half-time an unthinkable draw looked likely until youngster Robbie Willmott came off the bench to add impetus and set up Rendell's winner."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Mark Peters - much needed calmness and solidity in the back line on a day when midfield didn't impress and the front line were smothered. Honourable mention for Danny Potter who was calmness personified."
Ref: Mr Stretton - kept control of the match without recourse to numerous cards. 7/10."
Now talk about the match with fellow U's on our lively and friendly message board!
AT071117
