United stay unbeaten in the Blue Square Premier this year after a hard fought draw at Cambridge tonight. Another goal from Adam Murray had raised hopes of a sixth straight win, but a superb equaliser from the home side's assistant manager Paul Carden left it honours even.
Inside three minutes United had had strong penalty shouts waved away after Haldane was sandwiched, and then saw an Adam Murray shot spilled by home keeper Danny Potter. Luke Foster then fired over from two yards, Murray lobbed a twenty yarder a foot the wrong side of the right hand post and United had started like a house on fire. A goal had never been more certain of coming and on ten minutes it was captain Murray who provided it. Haldane did superbly to slip his man and sprint down the right, and his cross was deflected straight to Constable inside the box. He continued to run to the right with his man, then reversed a cross into the space he had vacated, to find Murray arriving with perfect timing to rifle home his second goal in consecutive games.
Murray is relishing the free role he has been given in the side and looks full of invention, as well as goals, and was the fulcrum of most of United's attacks.
The other U's had started extremely hesitantly and had hardly had a look in when they suddenly created and then wasted the easiest chance of the night. A deflected shot from Carden span off an outstretched boot and with Turley helpless went straight to Danny Crow who somehow rolled the ball against the post rather than the more obvious empty net. They certainly rallied after that for twenty minutes and the boys in blue neded to demonstrate the defensive strength that they have aquired, with Foster and Willmott both doing well at the heart of the defence.
Having withstood that United then started to press again. It was an ex-Oxford defender who made the most telling challenge of the half as Phil Bolland made a magnificent sliding tackle to take the ball off of Constable's boot just as he prepared to finish a fine move which had ended with Craig Nelthorpe's great through ball. There were then three more very clear chances as United got on top to end the half. Constable was denied by a last ditch block by Anthony Topkin just before half time, Adam Chapman planted a free header straight at Potter from six yards, Potter saved well as Nelthorpe ran clear, and Crow's miss aside the chances had all been at one end.
Nelthorpe whistled a left footed effort wide on 49 minutes as the blues started well again, and when Constable put another effort just wide of the other upright on 56 it was clear that United were going to search for a killer second goal rather than try and hold what they already had.
Cambridge started to get closer after the hour and Turley made two excellent saves on 70 to keep them out, then showed the Setanta viewers what we all know, that he is brilliant but mad, by heading a corner clear!
However he can only do so much and on 73 minutes was finally beaten as Carden took possession on the left, drifted inside then rattled an unstoppable effort past the flying keeper from twenty yards plus. A magnificent goal that would have beaten any goalkeeper in the world.
The home side now started to apply concerted pressure, Turley made another good save from the elusive Robbie Willmott as he charged through with ten minutes to go, and it needed plenty of heart to keep hold of a point that could so easily have been three.
Sub Yemi Odubade might even have won it as he raced on to a Murray pass on 86 but touched it too close to the keeper but over 90 minutes a draw was probably fair for both sides in an entertaining game.
Four useful points gathered in from trips to Crawley and Cambridge, and now United return home on Sunday as they take on Lewes. Call 01865 337533 to book your place.
Att: 3,774
Away: 259
Report by Chris Williams
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