| Cambridge United | 2-0 | Hartlepool United |
| Kyd 2' | ||
| Campbell 47' | ||
| Att: 2,513 |
United line-up: Barrett, Chenery, Wilson, Ashbee, Foster, Campbell, Wanless, Benjamin, Taylor, Kyd, Beall.
Subs Not Used: Butler, Marc Joseph, Rees.
Booked: Beall 61' (foul).
Ref: P Taylor (Cheshunt).
[Gareth Challis' match report] [Terry Wilby's match report] [Summary of media reports]
Gareth Challis' match report:
Not a great game, but finally a league win for United after two-and-a-half months without one. Cambridge dominated without really breaking sweat and two goals scored just two minutes into each half were enough to see off a lacklustre Hartlepool.
The first goal came when Benjamin's shot was palmed into Kyd's path in United's first attack of the match. Campbell grabbed the second after Hartlepool failed to clear a corner - his shot travelled through a defender's legs and under the 'keeper.
Comfortable, but not a real test.
Ratings : Barrett 6, Chenery 5, Wilson 6, Ashbee 7, Foster 6, Campbell 7, Wanless 6, Benjamin 7, Taylor 7, Kyd 5, Beall 8 *MoM*
G.
Terry Wilby's match report:
I've got a bad wrist so I'm down to 1 finger typing with my left hand, so only a brief report.
A 2-0 win, a goal early in each half, the first a tap-in by Kyd after a goalmouth scramble, the second a Campbell shot from around 12 yards through a whole bunch of players after Foster had headed down a corner.
Hartlepool looked quite a good footballing side, but lacked any penetration (not unlike us a few weeks ago). I can remember Barrett having to make only 1 save (pushing the ball past the post) in the game. They had quite a few corners but could do nothing with them. We looked solid throughout the team, and could have scored many more.
Taylor just gets my MoM from Beall, both did very well but Shaggy was again helping Benjamin, teaching him the trade.
Ratings: Barrett 6, Chenery 6, Wilson 7, Ashbee 7, Foster 6, Campbell 7, Wanless 7, Benjamin 8, Taylor 9, Kyd 7, Beall 8
My summary of media reports:
The long wait for a League win is over after this important 2-0 home victory, and instead of counting the sequence of games without a win we can now boast five games without defeat, and two successive wins!
Roy McFarland unsurprisingly retained the line-up that performed so well in the second half against Plymouth, playing three up front and giving Trevor Benjamin only his third League start. The revitalised 'Billy' Beall was back to his busy, buzzing best in midfield and big Trevor - who "arrived as a footballer" on Tuesday, according to John Taylor - was a hard-working menace in attack.
If you were late on to the terraces today, either after kick-off or following the interval, there is a good chance you missed the goals which arrived with perfect symmetry two minutes into each half. When Trevor Benjamin's shot was blocked one minute and fifty seconds into the game, Michael Kyd pounced for his first goal since his comeback from a knee operation, the fastest goal of the day. Hartlepool were shaken and always chasing the game from then.
United were buoyant after Tuesday's superb Cup fight-back and on a better day could have scored four or five, but Jamie Campbell - who has been an inspired free transfer signing from Barnet - made the points safe just two minutes into the second half. He swept a 20 yard shot home through a packed penalty area following a corner.
Referee Mr Taylor did well to keep control of a simmering second half and he only booked three players, two for Pools and 'Billy' Beall for a 61st minute foul. The visiting goalkeeper, Norwegian under-21 international Martin Hollund, produced some good saves to deny Kyd, John Taylor and Paul Wanless while Scott Barrett's first save came three minutes from time when he tipped a Richard Lucas header around the post.
United move up two places to 17th and this is just the result needed as a confidence booster before Tuesday's derby match at leaders Peterborough (7.45pm). If you are going to the match to support the team it is pay on the day for United fans.
Many thanks to Gareth and Terry for their reports and ratings.
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