RANDALL BUTT reports from the Abbey where title rivals United and Cardiff cancel each other out.

PITY the poor TV technician with the task of distilling the highlights from this match of the day in the third division. Blink at the wrong times and you would have missed the moment of mayhem in the Cambridge United box, and the couple of split-seconds of drama in the Cardiff City goalmouth.

As so often when top teams meet at this stage of a campaign, it was an afternoon crackling with nervous tension, full of sound and fury in the packed stadium producing little really worth shouting about. It was not a bad game, but it was a coaches' game. The professionals appreciated the midfield chess match and the quality of the defending.

But when each side's 20-goal top scorer -- Martin Butler and Kevin Nugent -- is denied a single shot on target, it is not an encounter to linger long in the memory of a supporter.

Both managers made the comment the day before the match that they did not think it would decide the championship, maybe hoping to free their men of that kind of mental burden. But if that was their intention they failed to convince their teams, the scarcity of flair and adventure in attack suggesting an undercurrent of trepidation.

Players study the League tables as keenly as fans, and although both sides knew victory would make them clear championship favourites, the thought seemed outweighed by the fear that defeat might drop them back into the promotion dogfight.

It was 61 minutes before anybody got a shot on target, and that was from a set piece, Cardiff goalkeeper Jon Hallworth diving to tip Ian Ashbee's 20-yard blaster around the post. For thrills produced from running play, the Abbey Stadium's biggest League crowd for seven years had to wait until 16 minutes from time when John Taylor headed down a Jamie Campbell cross and Butler was inches away from a close-range goal.

Six minutes later it was the turn of the 2,200 Welsh fans to scream "Yeahhh . . . ohhh," twice within 60 seconds as the day was saved for United, and a chance to soar away at the top of the table squandered by the Bluebirds.

Scott Eustace, rightly described by Taylor as "magnificent" in the heart of the defence, crowned a great performance with a terrific tackle. Goalkeeper Shaun Marshall, caught off balance, could only block a gentle Jason Fowler shot with his leg. Jason Bowen looked sure to get to the rebound first for a tap-in goal until Eustace slid in, stuck out a leg and nudged the ball to safety.

"I was determined we were going to keep a clean sheet," he said. "We hadn't given Cardiff a sniff up to then, and we didn't deserve to lose the game."

But that was what even manager Roy McFarland believed was going to happen just after Eustace had come to Marshall's rescue.

Said the United boss: "If their No 13 had hit the target he was sure to score, but I think we played with enough character to earn that bit of luck."

The substitute was Abbey old boy Craig Middleton, who sliced into the United box, but with Marshall at his mercy, hit an angled drive from 12 yards two feet wide of the near post.

Taylor described the top-of-the-table clash as a game of "spells." United starting brightly, with new midfielder Neil MacKenzie demonstrating some encouraging skill on the ball, Cardiff gaining control, United wresting it away from them early in the second half, but soon losing the initiative again.

After the double scare, United looked like the first of the teams to settle for the draw, and it would have been rough justice on the visitors if Paul Wanless had hit the target with his injury-time header when he had a clear sight of the City goal at the far post.

"Bluebirds' moral victory," shouted the supporter who thrust his head into the Press box at the final whistle to helpfully share his thoughts with us.

On the day, maybe. But as far as the campaign is concerned United, two points behind with two games in hand, and Trevor Benjamin as well as Alex Russell soon to return, could argue it was they who came out on top.

It wasn't the most inspiring match of football to entertain the largest league crowd for seven years. The nervous tension created by the knowledge that victory for either team would be a huge step, not only to promotion but the championship, made for a strange and somewhat surreal atmosphere at the Abbey Stadium as the top teams in the Division ground out a goal-less draw.

Both sides had chances to win the game, but Cardiff will be able to look back on the match and say with a higher degree of confidence, "we should have won that." During the first half, and indeed the whole match, they controlled the game's tempo and looked the most likely to break the deadlock. The 2,000 Welshmen packed into the South Stand were treated to some delightful one touch passing football, but also had to endure the agony of watching their side spurn chance after chance to secure all the points. They played like a championship boxer...who couldn't punch.

United would have been delighted to have been presented with half the opportunities the Welshmen created, but with Trevor Benjamin suspended and still lacking the play making skills of Alex Russell, chances were few and very far between. The tall frame of Benjamin wasn't just missed, it was almost craved by the rest of the team. The experienced Cardiff defence were never pushed to the limit and the frustration this created both on the terraces and in the team was there for all to see. Butler was being knocked off the ball, and all United's attacking moves were as predictable and laboured as they were one-dimensional.

Perhaps Roy McFarland and his team have been spoiling us this season, as many people in the crowd appeared to view the 4-4-2 formation as un-ambitious. The midfield was overloaded, but never once looked cluttered. Mustoe and Ashbee were brave and committed in the tackle, but showed little of the surging energy necessary to take the ball forward into the opposing half. The Cardiff middle men were spreading the play wonderfully, and to be honest most of the team looked as though they had inner springs which had been wound up before the game, they were buzzing all over the pitch with a seemingly tireless devotion to the cause.

Former Welsh international Andy Legg began to find joy down the right side of the pitch as his pedigree began to shine through. Cardiff had two glorious opportunities to take the lead on 24 and 27 minutes respectively. Jason Bowen burst through into the penalty area but Andy Duncan was on hand to deliver a well timed saving tackle just as it looked as though the former Welsh international was going to give the visitors the lead. The same player broke free of Jamie Campbell minutes later and had Kevin Nugant screaming for the ball in the middle. He carelessly allowed the ball to run out of play much to the annoyance of his teamates but Cardiff continued to look the better and more creative team.

The first half was, on reflection, far more one sided than I originally thought. I can't remember one clear chance for United to take the lead. Martin Butler was as ever busy and creative on the ball, but he seemed to be lacking any real support and most of the United attacks fell flat before they got to within 50 yards of the goal. John Taylor looked tired, and despite some neat touches Neil McKenzie never looked capable of filling the hole left by Trevor Benjamin. I think it is when Trevor doesn't play we realise just how valuable he is to this team, his very presence seems to unsettle the defence of the opposition and create space for others. The rather defensively minded formation allowed Cardiff to snuggle neatly into a rhythm which as time wore on looked increasingly unlikely to break down.

The second period was a slightly more entertaining affair, but the story was the same. Cardiff had the best chances, but lost their monopoly of possession and creation. Ian Ashbee and Neil Mustoe began to run at the City defence, yet still we failed to test veteran Jon Hallworth in the Cardiff goal. When we eventually did test him, the flying colours with which he passed might have very well blinded those behind the goal. A free kick on the edge of the penalty area was struck low and hard to the bottom right hand corner and with the fans already celebrating the 'goal' the former Oldham player stuck out a hand to deflect the attempt wide for a corner.

This near miss seemed to re-light the fire in the Cardiff team. Their fans were almost sucking the ball into the back of the net, and how it didn't eventually end up there is a mystery. Eustace hauled a Cardiff player to the deck on the edge of the penalty area on 70 minutes, and was lucky to escape with just a yellow card. Had he been sent off then with him would have gone our chances of a point as minutes later he produced an astonishing tackle to deny Bowen. Jason Fowler had hit a tame shot towards goal that seemed to catch Shaun Marshall napping and he could only parry the ball out with his feet. Bowen looked odds on to ram the rebound home but Eustace appeared from nowhere to crunch the ball to safety to cap a truly superb performance.

United were sitting back, apparently satisfied with soaking up the pressure and taking a point. This was a dangerous game to play, but remarkably it nearly earned them all three points. John Taylor watched a header skim across the goal line, and Martin Butler was inches away from connecting to score his 21st goal of the season just before and after the hour mark.

Cardiff though can to another guilt-edged opportunity to wrap up the points. Former United player Craig Middelton entered the play, and it didn't take him long before he found himself on an angled one on one with Marshall. He lost his head, and struck the attempt wide of the near post. This was to be Cardiff's last real attempt on goal, as they seemed to accept that luck just wasn't on their side. The match was hardly a spectacular top of the table clash, with United undoubtedly being outplayed for most of it, something which I can't remember saying this season.

It is now nearly half a year since Cambridge United have lost at the Abbey Stadium. During this time we have only dropped six points and with four home games left this bodes well for our automatic promotion push. Promotion and the Championship remain firmly within our own hands and as the games draw on the gleaming shelf on which they reside is almost burning our fingers...

Man of the match: Scott Eustace produced a faultless performance to earn United a point they barely deserved. His defensive brilliance was even, at times, surpassed by the awareness and competence he showed on the ball. He also played the percentages like a true professional during what I suspect was one of the most complete performances of his career.

Recent loan signing Neil MacKenzie was chosen to replace Trevor Benjamin in a forward lying left-sided midfield role, while Ian Ashbee replaced Paul Bruce to add some bite to midfield. John Taylor played in a withdrawn role on the right, leaving the ever-willing Martin Butler to plough a lone furrow up front.

MacKenzie made a bright start and showed some neat touches throughout, linking well with the likes of Ian Ashbee, but on balance Cardiff probably had just the better of the game with some neat passing. Cambridge on the other hand clearly missed the presence of Trevor Benjamin and the outlet his strength and pace gives the attack, and despite their best efforts there was no one in midfield to replace the thoughtful creativity of the sorely missed Alex Russell.

Both sides seemed reluctant to commit to attack in a finely balanced game and with United playing a 4-5-1 formation the nearest either side came to scoring was from a slip by the other team. Scott Eustace rescued Shaun Marshall with a last ditch tackle on Jason Bowen ten minutes from time, and at the other end captain Paul Wanless placed a header narrowly wide in stoppage time.

My man of the match: Scott Eustace for a solid, mature display in defence and that vital challenge.