Competition: Blue Square Premier
Weather at kick-off: overcast, humid
Goals:
Exeter: Mackie 11'
United: Rendell 55'
After a poor first half, Cambridge United came from behind again to extend the unbeaten run to eight games, thanks to Scott Rendell's fourth goal in four games.
Jimmy Quinn named the same starting eleven that were on duty for Tuesday's 1-0 home win against Grays Athletic, and with no change to the injury list the same five were on the bench too.
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale made two changes to the side that drew at Oxford on Tuesday, calling up Richard Logan and Frankie Artus for Steve Basham and Bertran Cozic.
United won two early corners in the opening exchanges but looked sluggish and Exeter's Jamie Mackie flashed a shot wide before the home side took a tenth minute lead.
Former Wimbledon trainee Mackie got round the back of the U's defence and into the area, and although the initial shot was blocked and rebounded to Logan, and his follow-up was also blocked, the ball fell kindly for Mackie to drive a low shot across the face of the goal and into the bottom far corner, giving Potter no chance.
Two minutes later Rob Wolleaston forced a save from Marriott at a free kick, but after that goalmouth action was rare in a low key first half.
Leo Fortune-West and Grecians defender Matt Taylor were competing in their own private battle of a competitive match, and Blue Square Premier player of the month Fortune-West was the first player in the book on 23 for a handball.
The action was interrupted by a series of free kicks but neither keeper was called into action, and despite a flurry of late corners for both sides the defences proved equal to any danger, with Michael Morrison outstanding in United's back three.
The half-time whistle came as a relief for United supporters after watching their below-par team in the first 45 minutes, but as the second half kicked off it was obvious that a different United team was on the pitch.
Playing the game at a much higher tempo, the U's forced Exeter back in their own half and equalised within ten minutes after good work down the right to force another corner. Reed floated the ball into the box and Scott Rendell stole in to power a header into the net for his fourth goal in four games.
Exeter made their first change four minutes later to bring on striker Steve Basham for Richard Logan, and on the hour Jimmy Quinn withdrew Darren Quinton, who by his own recent standards had a subdued afternoon, and sent on Mark Convery.
Tempers flared in the 62nd minute when first Cambridge-born Matthew Gill fouled Stephen Reed, then as play resumed Dan Gleeson fouled Gill and some pushing and shoving ensued involving several players from both sides, with Stephen Reed shown the yellow card for his involvement.
Moments later Rendell was hauled down when chasing a loose ball into the area but the incident was completely ignored by the referee.
Further substitutions followed as Exeter's Lee Elam replaced Artus on 65 then Stephen Smith came on for Reed, and with 20 minutes remaining Jimmy Quinn was forced into his final change when Gavin Hoyte lined up to take a throw in but then folded to the ground holding the back of his leg. He was immediately replaced by Mark Peters and later reports suggested that the young defender's problem was a tight calf muscle.
United were finishing the game strongly and on 72 could have taken the lead after a spell of good possession, Pitt lifting the cross in and Rendell peeling away from his marker but heading wide. Exeter looked rattled and ten minutes from time United had further unsuccessful appeals for a penalty when Gleeson went down under a challenge in area, the home side seizing possession and counterattacking at pace, but Mark Convery covered back well to end the move.
There was a scare two minutes later when a deep Exeter corner was missed by Potter under pressure but Mark Peters headed the ball away and then cleared off the line from under his own bar, and from the resulting corner Lee Elam was allowed space to run along the edge of the area before lifting a shot high and wide.
Stephen Smith collected United's third booking on 87, and as play entered stoppage time United again went close to taking all three points. First Peters ghosted in to meet Convery's floated free kick but Marriott tipped the header over at full-stretch. Peters again got his head to Convery's flagkick but it was blocked, as was Rendell's follow-up, and Exeter broke away at pace.
Gleeson ended the breakaway by tugging the Exeter player's shirt at the cost of a free kick, and Elam's quickly taken free kick flashed wide of the far post.
United's grandstand finish continued into the fourth minute of stoppage time when Rendell was sent away on goal by Fortune-West's great ball. He tried to place the shot with Wolleaston racing up in support but the ball was cleared off the line for a corner, which Fortune-West headed against the bar but a free kick given anyway for the striker's push on Marriott, and that was the final chance of a breathless second half
Exeter City:
Andy Marriott, Matt Taylor, Rob Edwards, Jon Richardson; Steve Tully, Frankie Artus (Lee Elam 66'), Matthew Gill (c), Dean Moxey; Adam Stansfield, Richard Logan (Steve Basham 58'), Jamie Mackie.
Subs not used: Paul Jones, George Friend, Liam Sercombe.
Cambridge Utd:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton, Gavin Hoyte (Mark Peters 70'); Dan Gleeson, Rob Wolleaston, Stephen Reed (Stephen Smith 69'), Darren Quinton (Mark Convery 60'), Courtney Pitt; Scott Rendell, Leo Fortune-West.
Subs not used: Michael Hyem, Robbie Willmott.
Booked: Fortune-West handball 23', Reed unsporting behaviour 63', Smith foul 87'
Att: 3,197 (away 147)
Referee: Mr D. Sheldrake
Match summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Cambridge United's bandwagon rolls on with an eighth unbeaten game at the start of an increasingly promising campaign. Although the U's will be pleased to keep their run going, they will be disappointed not to have won. Following Jamie Mackie's 11th minute goal United were poor before the break but, not for the first time, they were transformed by the interval and levelled ten minutes after the restart as Scott Rendell maintained his rich vein of form. United finished stronger but squandered late opportunities and had to settle for the point, which, over the 90 minutes, was just about right."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Michael Morrison - this was one of his more assured performances with solid defending and pace to boot. Honourable mention to Scott Rendell for another great goal."
Ref: Mr Sheldrake - "He had a reasonable game but struggled at times to keep a lid on it. 5/10"
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