RANDALL BUTT reports as United pocket three more points in their promotion push.

FORTUNE favoured the brave as Cambridge United showed the midweek FA Cup heroes how it feels to be on the wrong side of a fightback. Darlington posed a dilemma when Roy McFarland's men started the second half a goal down, despite dominating the play.

A solid, well-organised back four had put the block on the prolific partnership of Martin Butler and Trevor Benjamin. And a cleverly-worked counter-attack 10 minutes before the interval showed how dangerous the northerners could be on the break.

United needed to keep on pressing forward, but would the memory of the move which sliced open their inexperienced defence prevent their applying enough pressure? McFarland issued the order, however, to keep on pumping the ball into the box, John Taylor led the charge, and the Quakers crumbled.

Said the United boss: "Whenever we beat the first man and got the ball in there, we caused them problems. It was no surprise to me after our games against Darlington last year that they were dangerous on the break, but we had to go for it."

And visiting manager Dave Hodgson admitted: "Although Cambridge weren't hurting us that much -- I thought we defended very well -- the ball kept on coming back. It was relentless. And when you can't win enough possession in midfield to relieve the pressure, there is always the chance of something like an own goal going in."

United's 33-year-old player-coach was one threat too many for Darlington as they worked so hard to bottle up his younger partners. It took great saves by goalkeeper David Preece to stop him in the first half, a reflex block of a point- blank blaster in the 16th minute, and a finger-tip deflection of a 20-yarder in the 43rd.

But when Taylor gave a master class in getting across the full-back at the near post to power in a 57th minute header, the keeper was left clutching air as the ball whistled past him. Hodgson quickly changed two of his midfielders in an effort to push United back, but they were rolling over his team by then.

Butler and Benjamin, could not quite find their best form in front of goal, but while some of the quality was lacking, the sheer number of United attacks, shown by the goal attempt totals -- 18-5 in their favour -- gave the hope of victory to the fans behind the goal their team was besieging.

Butler fired into the side netting after a flowing Alex Russell-Benjamin move in the 71st minute. Three minutes later Taylor had what looked like a clear penalty disallowed by rookie referee Peter Walton. He was hauled down by what appeared to be a foot or two inside the box, only for the official to award a free kick on the 18-yard line.

But it was only a brief reprieve for Darlington. With 10 minutes to go, Taylor somehow found the stamina to run at the defence again, this time whipping in a fierce cross and forcing a thunderous header from full-back Adam Reed, which would have sailed into the car park had it not flown straight and true under his own crossbar.

Naylor gave United a late scare when he hit a 20-yarder inches wide, but there were far too few attempts, even from that range, to justify Hodgson's claim that his battered team deserved a point.

DARLINGTON recalled Hope for his first game since the defeat at Brentford in September. He came in at left back with Barnard, who scored the dramatic winner against Burnley in midweek, moving into midfield. Roberts was relegated to the bench at the Abbey Stadium.

On five minutes Taylor volleyed high over the bar from a tight angle after a fine cross from Benjamin, who had burst down the left flank past Liddle. Then Russell hit a 20-yard drive at Preece after skipping past two challenges. When Darlington tried to move forward, Naylor over-hit a pass to Gabbiadini down the inside left channel. But a lively and fluent United were soon back and Liddle had to hack the ball clear after a knock-down from Benjamin, who towered above Reed.

With 15 minutes gone, it was all hands to the pump in the Darlington defence and Preece did well to block Taylor's close-range shot after a good deep cross from Campbell. It was all Cambridge and Quakers were glad of a break when Tutill needed treatment for a cut face.

On 21 minutes Preece had to go down to clutch a close-range drive from Benjamin. On 24 minutes Gaughan forced the game’s first corner and United struggled to clear Barnard's kick. However, United were soon back for Russell to win a corner which led to a scramble before Gaughan cleared following a miss-hit shot from Wanless eight yards out. But on 35 minutes it was Darlington who took the lead with a stunning goal from GLENN NAYLOR, his fifth of the season.

He picked the ball up just inside the United half and surged forward as the defence backed off before firing a left foot shot from around 25 yards which flew over the stranded Marshall and just under the bar. The goal came totally against the run of play and stunned Cambridge, whose pace, power and passing had stretched Darlington for the majority of the half.

Darlington were never given the time and space to get their passing game together and were fortunate to be leading at the break. HALF-TIME Cambridge 0 Darlington 1

Darlington won a corner in the opening minute of the half, but Cambridge were soon moving forward again and Taylor sent a far post header narrowly wide. The pattern of the opening period soon resumed with the home side making the running.

Strikers Butler and Benjamin have 21 goals between them this season and both were looking menacing again. Taylor burst down the left but crossed just too far in front of Benjamin. However after good work by Gabbiadini, Barnard burst through the United defence only to be stopped by a last-ditch tackle.

Darlington were looking to hit on the break in a match being played at a tremendous pace. On 57 minutes Cambridge equalised when Campbell crossed from the left and TAYLOR stole in to head powerfully into the net from close range. It was no less than Cambridge deserved, but the goal came just as Darlington were beginning to look more comfortable.

Cambridge United moved back up into third place in Division Three as they demolished a Darlington side with 90 minutes of consistent football, which until ten minutes from the end looked as though it might go unrewarded. Indeed the final score could have been far more flattering had just a few of the many chances created during the match been put away by the usually clinical United front men.

The game began in bitter conditions yet it was the neat passing football adopted by a United team brimming with confidence and creation in the opening 15 minutes which left the visitors numb. As early as the fifth minute John Taylor found himself with a fine opportunity to put the U's into the lead. A strong run from teenage sensation Trevor Benjamin ended with a powerful cross Taylor was unable to control sufficiently as he finished the move with a shot over and wide of the far post. Benjamin's overall game though was his fourth in a row where he has looked lacking and generally ineffective.

Taylor once again found himself free at the far post on 17 minutes. Instead of heading the ball he chose to bring it down allowing Darlington goalkeeper David Preece to narrow the angle sufficiently to block his powerful low shot and clear the danger. Darlington were playing a dangerous game, giving United the time and space they needed to create attacking opportunities. In the 25 minute Alex Russell had a fine shot deflected wide for a corner, the first in a succession as Cambridge attempted to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. In reality though despite the overwhelming possession many of the promising attacking moves fell flat as on numerous occasions delayed crosses lacking in quality and accuracy were easily cleared by the solid and accomplished Darlington defence.

On 35 minutes after a rare venture into the United half Darlington turned the game on its head and scored a spectacular goal. Teenage centre-back Martin McNeil was caught cold from a throw in allowing Glen Naylor to race through the middle of the United defence and curl a dipping shot over the advancing Marshall from 19 yards. This left United in the rather surprising predicament of being a goal down after they not just dominated, but monopolised the possession, passing and goal scoring opportunities in the opening half hour.

They did not react well to this setback though, and lapsed into a rather worrying 10 minute spell at the end of the half which despite ending just before half time with a fine John Taylor shot being tipped over, left a rather bitter taste in the mouth of the United faithful. United were very unlucky though to go in at the break trailing a team that were happy to sit back and defend in numbers. They showed why they were top of the division at early stages of the season as their front line had the pace to break with the counter attacking speed so often the undoing of United in their home fixtures.

The second half was very similar to that of the first, with United continuing to dominate possession and the chances. Strong penalty appeals for handball were turned down before John Taylor started and then executed a sweeping move leading to the United equaliser.

A quick free kick from Wanless found Taylor on the edge of the box. He slipped a fine ball to Benjamin who turned on a sixpence and fed the ball to Jamie Campbell on the left wing. His fist time cross was met by the firm head of Taylor who watched in joy as the fluorescent yellow ball nearly broke the roof of the Darlington net, and raised the roof off the Abbey Stadium. Shortly after his goal another jinxing run by the United legend was cruelly ended when Craig Little felled him on the 18 yard line. The resulting free kick was struck into the wall and fed back to Ashbee who drilled a shot wide of the near post.

It would not be long however before the United fans were celebrating the winning goal, and it came from perhaps the most unlikely of sources. A clever cross from the sensational Taylor skipped past defenders and attackers alike before connecting neatly on the head of Darlington defender Adam Reed. He watched in horror as the ball thundered into the top of the net to give United a deserved lead on 80 minutes.

Just two minutes later the same player connected with another United cross but this time struck the ball just wide of his own goal. Chants of 'Sign him up!' reverberated around the Abbey as the poor defender began to resign himself to the fact he will be in many of next years Christmas Stockings, in video form of course.

United played out the final minutes in a cool and dignified manor, never allowing Darlington to impose themselves into the final third of the pitch. The midfield battle was won hands down by Ashbee and Wanless who both had better games, yet there was worrying lack of attacking ability displayed from both Chenery and Campbell. This having been said it was a very good cross by Campbell for the first United goal but we simply can't rely on one out of ten crosses finding their target.

Andy Duncan at the back helped McNeil along to another fine performance in which he looked composed and comfortable on the ball. In goal Marshall had little to do all afternoon, and shortly after the second United goal made his only real mistake of the game. He came for a cross, which he failed to claim and the ball broke free at the far post. A combination of Ashbee, Wanless and Duncan prevented Darlington pulling themselves level and obtaining an undeserved point from an encounter they did their best to destroy.

A fine 90 minutes of football in which the work rate of the whole team never dropped below excellent. Despite over-elaboration and perhaps one touch too many before delivering the ball into the box, United in patches looked an irresistible force despite still being without the experienced Joseph at the back and tireless Mustoe in minefield. Perhaps once again we are entering a vital stage of the season as after next Saturdays trip to Rochdale we face three of our fellow promotion candidates in successive games. Performances like this though will make sure our fine season continues well into the new year, a new year promising so much for future of Cambridge United Football Club.

Will Jones

A bitterly cold day meant that I officially announce winter is here, and thus wore thermal long johns under my jeans. (For the benefit of the "well hard" youngsters who read this, when you get old you too will feel the cold!). It wasn't 'effing cold otherwise I would have worn my furry hat with ear muffs. (Sad but warm bastard).

Another no-win day in the Supporters Club draw, Dave Brown choosing to exchange a third of his tickets with me to no avail. The team was as per programme again. This was the first chance to see the dayglo yellow football which must be used for the next few months, and very pretty it is too. We attacked the allotments end first half.

For the first 34 minutes we were superb, passing the ball around well with long and short passes, to feet or into space. As early as the 4th minute Benjamin got past his full back, his cross was a little too strong for Taylor to control at the far post though. Russell had a shot saved, Campbell had a shot deflected for a corner, then Taylor had a good chance with another cross to the far post, this time he controlled the ball and shot from around 6 yards, but this time the 'keeper was out quickly to smother and save.

Benjamin and Taylor swapped sides occasionally, Benjamin turning well on the edge of the penalty area but shooting just over, soon after he had another shot saved. Ashbee has taken over the long throws in the absence Joseph, from one of these we had a shot kicked off the line, then caused panic in their 6 yard box which they just managed to clear. Butler had a shot blocked by a defender laying on the floor, there were appeals for handball, and despite being at the other end of the ground I'm sure they were justified!

For the first half hour Marshall had little to do but stand and admire our play, we did concede a corner when a Gabbiadini cross was headed out. With all these chances going begging the pessimist in me thought we are bound to concede a goal, and so it proved when they took a quick throw in front of our dug-out, McNeil chose to follow the wrong man which left a gap through which Naylor ran and put a curling 20 yard shot round the helpless Marshall before any other defender could get to him. We couldn't get back into the game, although Taylor did have a shot deflected. The first half was over 48 minutes, a long stoppage when one of their defenders appeared to lose a contact lens.

The second half started and within a few minutes we were missing chances, Taylor heading wide from a Russell free kick, then Butler got away down the right wing but his cross was too strong for Benjamin to reach. Taylor took a free kick quickly to Butler, who laid the ball back for Ashbee to shoot wide.

56 minutes into the half Campbell got space on our left, his cross was ideal for Taylor who was running in at the near post to head in. This was one of a low number of good crosses that Campbell managed from a lot of chances! Benjamin showed his defensive heading abilities after 64 minutes when heading the ball away from goal when challenged, unfortunately he was on the edge of the Darlington 6 yard box, and would probably have scored if the ball had gone in the opposite direction! Marshall was still having a quiet day, but did have to be out smartly to take a couple of low crosses.

Chenery had a good run down the wing which came to nothing, then good play between Butler, Russell and Benjamin set up Butler for a shot which went wide. On 73 minutes Taylor went on a stumbling run which was stopped by a foul just (and only just) outside their penalty area. >From the resulting free kick Ashbee shot wide. 10 minutes from the end we took the lead, Taylor putting in a good cross from the left, the defender just getting in front of Wanless to head the ball powerfully into the roof of his own net. The pessimist in me suspects that if Wanless had got there first he would have headed powerfully into the Newmarket Road end! Little happened in the last few minutes, Darlington had a shot wide, as did Wanless.

On the radio Roy McFarland said he thought it was the best we have played this season. Certainly for 80 minutes or so there was only one team in the game. On another day we could have won by 7 or 8 goals if we had taken our chances. Russell is my MOM, he is a class player when he gets the ball. Taylor had a quiet first half, but livened up in the second, Butler was lively throughout. Benjamin did a few of his trademark powering past the full back, but was usually stopped by the second defender, being double marked is the downside of being featured on TV.

Ashbee and Wanless did a lot of running in the middle, although the passing by Ashbee is not yet up to his standard of before the injury. The defence had not much to do, and when there was a threat then usually Duncan got across for a covering tackle. Both full backs didn't make enough of the chances they had for runs down their wings and crosses. Marshall made one mistake, dropping a corner which was defended by others. The Abbey swirl did mean that one of his goal kicks went straight into touch in the first half, this was repeated by their 'keeper in the second!

I had hoped Preece would come on and score, their 'keeper is also David Preece!

The crowd was 3,395 which is not really good enough for a team near the top, although I suppose Xmas shopping causes a few not to go. Incidentally although there were lots of people in Cambridge city centre, the traffic was relatively light for both journeys.

Ratings:
Marshall 6, Chenery 7, Ashbee 6, Duncan 8, McNeil 6, Campbell 6, Wanless 7, Taylor 8, Butler 8, Benjamin 7, Russell 9

John Taylor began the day by singing in the club offices that he was the 'King of the Abbey' (result not yet known) and by the end of the afternoon there were not many in the ground who would disagree with him. The big striker moved a step closer to his own personal piece of Cambridge United history by scoring the equaliser and setting up the winning own goal, and in the process drew level with Alan Biley as United's leading goalscorer in all competitions.

There was one change to both starting line-ups today, with John Taylor replacing Michael Kyd for United and defender Richard Hope replacing striker Darren Roberts for the visitors.

For the spectators trying to keep warm in the bitterly cold weather United got off to a pleasingly good start, taking the game to Darlington who had obviously come to defend in numbers. In the fifth minute Trevor Benjamin's familiar all-action style came to the fore when he charged down a Hope clearance and scampered down the left before crossing into the box. John Taylor connected with the cross but he was always stretching to reach it and the new 'yellow' ball flew out of play.

In the 13th minute Benjamin headed Ben Chenery's cross on to Paul Wanless but the ball went straight to the 'keeper. Three minutes later, after a short free kick, Alex Russell found Taylor at the far post but his first time shot was saved point-blank by the goalkeeper's right foot. United continued to exert pressure and in the 26th minute Campbell's long throw fell to Butler in the area, he passed to Russell whose shot was deflected over.

As we have seen before at the Abbey this season, teams that come to defend can soak up the pressure and then hit United on the break, and Darlington scored with practically their first attack of the half. Glenn Naylor took possession just inside United's half and as the defence parted in front of him, diverted by Marco Gabbiadini's run, he curled the ball into the top corner from about 20 yards. It was a costly error by the defence as they had played well up to that point.

Leading scorers Benjamin and Butler were finding space hard to come by, but United could have equalised shortly before half-time when John Taylor's 20 yard shot was tipped over by David Preece (the other one!) at full stretch in the 43rd minute. United finished the half rueing the one defensive lapse as they had dominated the half and been denied by numbers in defence and good goalkeeping.(Half-time 0-1)

Cambridge were clearly fired up for the second half although the first chance fell to the visitors. Mark Barnard's 25 yard snap shot deflected off Ashbee, thankfully the resulting corner was wasted, and then chance after chance arrived for United's three man front line. In the 50th minute Russell's free-kick was headed wide by Taylor, in the 54th minute Martin McNeil headed out to Taylor who flicked the ball on to Butler, but the striker's cross was just in front of Benjamin. Seconds later Barnard was played in Gabbiadini, jinked past Chenery but was denied by a brilliant tackle from young McNeil who slid the ball out for a corner.

In the 55th minute, from Taylor's quick free kick, Martin Butler's shot from the edge of the area was flying wide until it deflected off Ian Ashbee and flew just wide. But then two minutes later came a well-crafted equaliser from a sweeping move, when Jamie Campbell's cross was met with a soaring near post header from John Taylor.

It was a classic goal from the 33-year-old player-coach, bringing his 'all-competitions' tally for United to 81, and he was denied a penalty later when he jinked into the box in the 74th minute and was brought down. To United's players and fans it looked suspiciously like a penalty but the referee only gave a free kick on the line. Three minutes earlier Alex Russell had fed the ball to Benjamin who held the ball up well before finding Butler, but his shot went narrowly wide.

Then United deservedly took the lead in the 80th minute, although the goal came from a unexpected source! John Taylor's speculative cross from deep missed all the United players but Adam Reed connected with a full-length diving header that thundered past his own keeper. The final real chance of the game fell to Darlington in the 85th minute when Naylor's 20 yard shot was fractionally wide.

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match: John Taylor - "ageing legs an inspiration to younger heads".