RANDALL BUTT reports on the game which gave United promotion

IT was hardly "the Venue of Legends," but it was just as well Cambridge United took theirs with them. Whether the sandpit of a pitch or the Rochdale jinx was responsible, another exasperating draw, delaying promotion, seemed certain.

Until John Taylor, like Dame Judy Dench (without the wig), showed how much a class act can cram into a short spell of "quality time." The actress picked up an Oscar for eight minutes, which was all the United player-coach needed in last night's thriller to get the goals which took his team into the second division.

If the story of the match had been submitted as a possible screenplay, it would have made Sylvester Stallone's accidentally hilarious wartime soccer epic Escape to Victory, look almost credible. With time running out and his young strikers unable to get the vital goal, the manager turns to his 34-year-old coach and says: "It looks like it's down to you old boy."

Club record scorer, hero of two previous promotions, voted the greatest "legend" in the club's history by the fans, John "Shaggy" Taylor gets off the substitutes' bench in the 82nd minute, immediately sets up a penalty which he hammers home, then makes sure of victory with the 19th goal of his extraordinary season, in the 89th minute.

The last time United clambered out of the bottom division was amid the splendour of Wembley Stadium in the play-off final. There is hardly a greater contrast in the sport than Rochdale's Spotland, where the turf is not so much sacred, as scarred and scarce.

But for Taylor last night's experience put the Twin Towers in the shade. "It was great to play at Wembley," he said, "but this was better because as well as getting the goals, I was out there when the final whistle went. John Beck brought me off at Wembley 25 minutes from the end, and somehow I didn't feel fully part of it when we won."

He had a long wait for the big moment in this game though, and an anxious one for a while, because although United took firm control in the second half they looked in danger of suffering the equivalent of a first round knockout. And they had to thank young goalkeeper Shaun Marshall, as much as Taylor, for their 10th away win of the season.

He made a point-blank block from giant striker Andy Morris in the second minute, followed by an astonishing reflex save from the same player 60 seconds later. Morris, strangely invisible to United's defence in the penalty area, despite being 6ft 4in, hit a volley with such force it almost knocked Marshall, a big strong Norfolk lad, off his feet and into his goal.

"It was certainly travelling," he said. "I don't think we knew what hit us at the start. Rochdale said they'd be up for the game and they proved that. I was just lucky with the first save."

United held on, their heads began to clear and they started to learn how to play on a surface that was more beach than pitch. Most of the first half was a scrappy battle, the only other highlight a tremendous 20-yard strike from Jamie Campbell in the 35th minute that produced a wonder save from Rochdale keeper and skipper Neil Edwards.

There is no real reason why some grounds should be luckier than others for clubs whose teams change completely in the space of two or three years, yet Spotland again seemed to be casting a spell over United. This was the 13th visit. The last win was in 1974, on a Tuesday afternoon during the three-day week in front of a crowd of 588. But United soon began to look like a top team after the break as the midfield line of Alex Russell, Paul Wanless and Ian Ashbee took charge.

Martin Butler, shaking off his shadow, Keith Hill, and Trevor Benjamin, aided by an encouraging display from Richard Walker were doing some damage, and it took another brilliant save from Edwards to stop a Butler blast on the hour.

The fans also played a crucial part as the pressure increased on the home defence. A total of 296 ecstatic fans made the long midweek trip, but they managed to sound like a thousand, especially during one rolling chant of "Yellow Army," and "Going Up," which they somehow kept going for 25 throat-threatening minutes.

Butler burst through again in the 66th minute, only for the keeper to smother the ball at his feet. With 20 minutes to go a huge cheer went up from the amber army that had nothing to do with the game, signalling the news that Scunthorpe were losing at Halifax. Now victory meant promotion.

The United dugout knew it, but kept it from the players so as not to screw the tension any tighter. And it was left to Taylor to pass on the good news after he rammed in the penalty.

With the United supporters celebrating like dervishes, and Roy McFarland's men rampant after the goal, Rochdale looked as though they would have preferred to follow some of their fans home early. There was little resistance as Taylor headed another goal before United were engulfed by their jubilant fans, who were sensibly allowed by sympathetic stewarding to celebrate on the pitch with their heroes.

Marshall spoke for everyone as the champagne flew and flowed when he said: "It was great. I've only seen it on TV before where the fans come on at the final whistle and everybody is celebrating; it's amazing to really be part of it."

"We want Shaggy!" begged the few hundred United fans after the news that both Orient and Scunthorpe were losing filtered its way through via various portable radios and mobile phones being clutched in the sweaty palms of many supporters. This meant, with the scores still level, United needed a win to clinch promotion. When he came on, with just 9 minutes remaining on the clock, the United legend did not let his believers down. He scored two goals -one with his second touch of the ball- to rocket Cambridge United all the way back to Division 2.

Football is an emotional game, but until tonight I don't think I realised exactly how powerful it can be. I am choking back the tears as I write this, but after I stood and watched John Taylor promote Cambridge United in front of my very eyes I don't think anything could have prevented me from having to wipe away the tears of joy running down my face.

We have been waiting for it since the opening day of the season, and if the truth be known a few years before that as well. Waiting, wishing hoping and some times even praying that this year would be the year we wave goodbye to the nightmare that is the Nationwide League Division Three. Now, months and months of consistent, reliable and at times pulsating football later it has been achieved. I think it will take some time before I allow myself to believe we have actually gone and done it... but you better believe it now.

Forget your religions, both major and minor, as this season Cambridge United have given me more insight into the meaning of life than any other experience during my time on this planet. We have our own god, and his name is John Taylor. He is alive and kicking in the concrete reality of today, and we should all hail the King of the Abbey. His skill and commitment to the cause during the whole season were personified when he took to the field and scored his 18th and 19th goals of the season. He followed the script both written and partially directed by the passionate and fanatic Cambridge supporters to the letter... come off the bench and score the goals that take us up.

The game was, until the arrival of the Holy One of course, a generally even and hard fought encounter during which both goalkeepers had to make exquisite saves to maintain the deadlock. Twice in the opening ten minutes Shaun Marshall pulled off breathtaking stops to astonish the Rochdale front line who probably thought the young 'keeper had erected an 8 foot brick wall on the goal line. First he made a brave point black save to deny Morris then just moments later he somehow managed to keep an 18-yard thunderbolt from Holt out of the net.

United then started to come into the game, which was being played on a surface that resembled a ploughed field. Neat play from Ian Ahsbee and Martin Butler sent Trevor Benjamin free on the left side of the filed but the young striker failed to control and under pressure from a 'Dale defender struck his attempt high over the crossbar.

The game then lapsed into a rather low key and midfield-dominated encounter with both Rochdale and United failing to carve out any clear chances to take the lead. Ten minutes before the end of the half however it looked as though a moment of brilliance would put the U's into the lead as Jamie Campbell met an Alex Russell corner with a 20 yard volley which from the moment it left his boot only appeared to be going in one place. Neil Edwards in the Rochdale goal had other ideas as he leaped across his line to palm the ball around his far post and deny the left back his 6th goal of the season.

The second half was similar to the first. United did however begin to assert their presence and power into the game with Wanless and Ashbee in midfield looking to be winning the battle for possession. Alex Russell struggled to use his passing game to the full on a poor surface, and Trevor Benjamin failed to find any joy down the left flank.

Andy Duncan and Scott Eustace were dealing with Rochdale at the back, and both Chenery and Campbell were finding a welcome degree of accuracy with their passes out of defence. The victory still didn't look like coming about however, as the well organised Rochdale defence - which frustrated United so effectively just two weeks earlier - was once again looking a formidable and difficult unit to break down. Ashbee and Duncan both watched speculative long range attempts fly wide, but the clearest opportunity fell to Martin Butler just before the hour mark. The leading scorer was set free by Russell but once again saw the 'Dale keeper save well when it looked as though he would give United the lead.

Had they not been singing so loudly most of the United's fans hearts would have been in their mouths shortly after this incident as Jamie Campbell conceded what should have been a penalty. He fouled a Rochdale player just inside the penalty area, but fortunately the referee only awarded a direct free kick which was wasted allowing Eustace to clear the ball from danger.

Then Roy McFarland answered the calls from the travailing supporters and sent on his weapon. I would call it a secret weapon, but I doubt any person in football is unaware of the standard of play John Taylor has been producing this season. Moments after his introduction he began the move from which United would earn a penalty. His lay off to Alex Russell was passed onto Trevor Benjamin who neatly turned inside the box before his legs were taken away. Taylor stepped up and tucked the ball between 'Keeper and post to give United the lead.

Just like Oliver Twist though ... the man just wanted more. As time drew on, and the news came through the final whistle had been blown in Halifax, he rose majestically to power home an Alex Russell corner to seal the points and promotion for United. The fans were literally jumping for joy, dancing around the terrace and even doing the conga!

The final whistle blew, and the delirious wild celebrations could begin. Roy Mcfarland shook the hands of fans, whilst they chanted his name and embraced their heroes in Amber and Black. Yes indeed, this is a night never to forget. Lock it in your hearts, and take out the key should you ever question your support the mighty U's. Once unlocked, the memories of this wonderful and emotional night will take all of two seconds to convince you football is the greatest game on earth, and remind you why you suffer the bad times, and stick by your team through thick and thin.

I don't think I could have dreamt it any better you know... and to be honest I keep having to pinch myself to make sure I didn't.

Man of the match: John Taylor rose from the bench, and propelled Cambridge United into Division Two within the space of 7 minutes. He scored with his second touch, then finished the job just before the end to ensure bedlam and joy could ensue. The 'Shaggy wonderland' we are all now living in is a place I very much want to stay in forever.

Rochdale - A night I'll never ever forget.

Despite having followed the U's all over the country for in excess of 22 years and having seen United sides of yesteryear clinch promotion and championships, I can honestly say that I have never witnessed such an emotional occasion as the one I was privileged along with hundreds of other jubilant and emotional United fans..

We all went to Spotlands in full knowledge that a U's victory and a Scunthorpe defeat would mean promotion on the night but although most were hopeful if not entirely confident of the former, the latter seemed unthinkable.

Things didn't start too promisingly as United struggled, as they did at Darlington ten days ago, to come to terms with a truly horrendous pitch. Rochdale on the other hand knew exactly how to deal with it and from the kick off were getting behind the United defence with high balls over the top of the U's defenders, the ball bouncing just about anywhere and the eager Rochdale strikers were snapping at the heels of the ruffled United defenders.

Three excellent saves from Shaun Marshall in the first ten minutes were to prove crucial, and although two of them were comfortable if difficult, one of them was astonishing as Williams the giant Rochdale no9 rifled in a bullet shot from ten yards, as he chased an "over the top" pass which bounced cruelly in front of, and away from Duncan. Thankfully somehow Shaun Marshall instinctively stuck out a hand and kept the shot out.

This scare seemed to wake United and the traveling support up as bit by bit United began to compose themselves and claw their way back into the game, eventually restricting Rochdale to occasional long ball attacks on the break, however for all their pressure and possession United could only manage one attempt on target from Campbell that the Rochdale 'keeper managed to push away for a corner.

As the half time whistle went you could sense the frustration and tension in players and the U's fans were starting to get jittery, this was tempered somewhat by the news that Brentford and Scunthorpe were also drawing their games and Orient were a goal down.

With the traveling fans lifted by the other scores the United players ran out to a huge roar and an almost endless cacophony of singing and chanting that was only broken up by United attacks. The U's were on top for almost the entire 2nd half and were clearly raised by the din made by their fans, then with 65 minutes gone news filtered through that both Brentford and more importantly Scunthorpe were a goal down.

The United fans somehow managed to up the noise by several decibels and moved out from under the cover of the terracing and up against the railings that spanned the length of the pitch,it was almost as if we knew that this would be the night and that being nearer to our heroes would give them that little extra life. The players quickly cottoned on to what was going on (probably due to the deafening chants of "one nil to the Halifax") and moved up a gear and pinned Rochdale in their own half.

The extra noise seemed to galvanise the players and despite the tension they must have been feeling they seemed to be playing with greater confidence and a sense of purpose, the screw was slowly being turned, but as United spurned two excellent chances in the next five minutes, we again started to doubt that it would happen.

Firstly Butler was through one on one with the keeper but with a 'Dale defender hassling him all the way he hit his shot straight at the advancing keeper and Trevor Benjamin just failed to control the rebound and put his shot wide, then a couple of minutes later, following an amazing goal mouth scramble Butler twice attempted to toe-poke the ball home but each time was foiled by the body of the 'keeper then just as it looked as if Wanless would smash the ball into the net the 'keeper dived on the ball and clutched it safely to his body.

With ten minutes left, it looked as if a draw was going to be all we could hope for, but with fans chanting his name on came Shaggy the United legend who replaced the exhausted Walker.

None of us could have possibly have dreamt that it would such an inspired substitution but with literally his first touch of the ball Taylor received a throw in just outside the 'Dale penalty area, he looked to have lost control of it but somehow he snaked out a foot and poked the ball to Butler, the U's top scorer had spotted Benjamins run into the penalty area and rolled the ball into the giant strikers path.

Once Trev had received the ball there was no way that the Rochdale defender was going to catch him and in a desperate attempt to get the ball he stuck out a leg and hauled him down, the 'Dale defender will probably kick himself for the rest of the season as it looked as if Trevor Benjamin had knocked the ball too far forward but the outstretched leg brought him down and the referee instantly pointed to the spot and there was no arguing from the Rochdale players.

Everybody thought that Butler would take it but Taylor grabbed the ball and plonked it purposefully on the spot, with Scunthorpe a goal down we all knew that this could be the goal that took us up and with half the U's fans unable to watch, Shaggy stepped up and hit a low hard penalty that the keeper managed to get a hand to but couldn't keep from nestling in the corner, this sparked amazing scenes on the terraces as the U's fans let out all the frustration and pent-up emotion and doubt that had built up over the last two weeks and danced for joy along the edge of the pitch.

Rochdale rallied straight from the restart and forced 3 corners in succession, then with just two minutes left and some injury time to be added due to an injury to Marshall and United fans fearing a last gasp equaliser that would spoil our big night, United launched a quicksilver break in a flowing 3 man move involving the impressive trio of Russell, Ashbee and Butler with Butler being denied a shot by the outstretched boot of a Rochdale defender.

I don't know who took the corner, but the image of what happened next and the feeling of ecstasy and relief that the incident sparked amongst the U's fans will take a long time to fade from my memory.

Shaggy leapt like a salmon, and completely unmarked, powered a header downwards and into the net, again the scenes on the terracing were amazing as United fans danced for joy.......but were we up?...people were on their mobile phones ringing home asking friends and family to check the teletext for the Scunthorpe result, we knew we were ten minutes ahead of their game owing to the amount of injury time we'd played in ours. Then somebody got the result....Halifax had won 1-0 and a huge roar went up from the United fans, the players and United bench heard the United fans roar followed by " going up, going up, going up" and punched the air in jubilation......second later the final whistle blew and it was mayhem again.

Any ideas that the Rochdale stewards had about keeping us off the pitch were soon given up as U's fans streamed onto the pitch. Once we'd reached the players it was so obvious how much this win meant to them, several of them including big Trev were in tears and the jubilant John Taylor and Martin Butler were mobbed, the entire United squad danced for joy with us all over the Spotlands pitch and adorned our hats scarves and Union Jacks as it sunk in that we'd finally done it......we are in Div 2!!

On the subject of sinking in, it wasn't until I ran onto the pitch that I realised just *how* bad it was, from the terracing the turf seemed hard and bumpy but in reality it was a quagmire, like running in wet sand and my and everybody elses trainers were plastered in what looked like clay. I'm glad I had this experience as without it I don't think I or anyone else apart from the players could possibly have imagined how difficult it must be to run and play for ninety minutes on such a surface.

So we managed to do what we hadn't managed to do on our previous eight visits, we won at Spotlands and propelled ourselves upwards to the 2nd division at the same time.

What a night and Saturdays trip to Plymouth can't now come around fast enough, it will be terrific to watch United play in game where the promotion pressure that has started to creep into our play in recent weeks has now gone and with promotion guaranteed, the Championship is now our target.

I'm sure that without this pressure the U's will treat us to the kind of free-flowing football they've provided us with notably in the games against Mansfield and Halifax and then Brighton when we have been out of site of the opposition with the game wrapped up.

Roll on Saturday, I do believe the Championship is in sight, suddenly the trip to Plymouth doesn't seem so long.

Roy McFarland made two changes to the starting line-up tonight, handing Richard Walker a start in place of John Taylor and preferring Ian Ashbee to Neil Mustoe in midfield. Taylor and Mustoe were joined on the U's bench by Michael Kyd, as the pacy forward was involved in first team duty for the first time in six weeks. Reporter Mark Johnson described the pitch - which is shared with the local rugby club - as "so sandy the players could have brought their buckets and spades".

Alex Russell, who was released by Rochdale last summer and joined Cambridge on a free transfer, got a great reception from the home fans before kick-off. United got off to a very slow start, clearly struggling to adapt to the awful playing surface. In the second minute the defence failed to deal with a free-kick and Morris looked certain to score, but Shaun Marshall got a great block on the ball and Holt failed to convert the rebound before the ball was scrambled away. Moments later Holt was through from another free-kick and had plenty of time to wait for the ball to drop before striking it with a great volley, but Marshall made a superb reflex save.

United's first real chance came after ten minutes when Ian Ashbee's block challenge sent Martin Butler scampering away down the right. Trevor Benjamin made up miles of space to receive the pass but his first touch let him down and he spooned the shot wide. The U's were slowly starting to get into the game but Rochdale looked relaxed and like a side with nothing at stake while United were battling to play on the heavy pitch.

In the 35th minute an Alex Russell corner went through everybody to Jamie Campbell just outside the box, he hit it first time and drew a full-length save from Neil Edwards as the ball rocketed towards the top right hand corner. Rochdale had the final chance of the half in the 44th minute when Holt got through on goal and was poised to pull the trigger, but Paul Wanless came from nowhere to block the shot. United will have been pleased to go in at half-time with the score at 0-0, in front of nearly 300 travelling fans. (Half-time 0-0)

Those travelling fans sang non-stop after the break, giving concerted positive support and lifting the team. After 50 minutes Russell found Ashbee 25 yards out. but his shot went high over the bar and five minutes later Andy Duncan's 25 yard free-kick also flew over. Then after 58 minutes a deep free-kick allowed Morris an unmarked header, but it was tame and straight into Marshall's arms. On the hour Barlow found Painter who advanced into the area but Andy Duncan stood up brilliantly to block him, and Scott Eustace cleared the ball as far as Benjamin. The big striker found Martin Butler who jinked past a defender but his shot was well saved.

In the 65th minute there were loud appeals for a penalty from the home crowd when Campbell brought down one of their players just outside the box, and he was booked for the challenge. Rochdale launched their free-kick into a packed box, Scott Eustace cleared the ball off the line and sent Butler racing clear, but he was brought down by Farrell who followed Campbell into the referee's book. A minute later a Benjamin shot was blocked but fell to Butler whose shot was saved by Edwards in a cloud of dust.

United were playing much better after weathering the nervous storm of the first half and looked much more threatening, while Rochdale defended resolutely. The travelling U's knew that Scunthorpe were losing at Halifax and that a win here would see United promoted, and kept their singing going.

Roy McFarland then withdrew Richard Walker, who had an excellent game, to send on not-so secret weapon John Taylor in the 83rd minute. I'm too emotional right now to write this very well, and I know I needn't tell most of you what an impact this man has had on our season, but his contribution tonight would be beyond belief if you read it in a boy's story book.

With his first touch he found Alex Russell out wide, and the former Rochdale man picked out Trevor Benjamin who was clattered to the ground as he muscled his way into the box. Up stepped John Taylor to take the penalty and tuck the ball past Edwards with his second touch of the game. But as if that weren't enough, he kindly settled any remaining nerves in the 89th minute with a second goal. A Russell free-kick found the big man in the box and he directed a downward header into the net for his 19th goal of a fantastic season and the 93rd of his United career.

Three minutes of added time flew by as the U's bench signalled frantically to Mark Johnson in the press box for news of the Halifax - Scunthorpe scoreline (news which I was glad to supply from here!), and then the final whistle! The travelling fans, many of whom have endured two aborted trips to Swansea this season as well as days off work and miles on the country's motorways, were able to celebrate and onto the quagmire of a pitch they poured, to lift their heroes and dance in joy as the news sank in that "The U's are going up!"

The 'Dale fans stayed to applaud them and the U's showed their appreciation by returning their applause.

An emotional Mark Johnson, who rarely gives his Man of the Match accolade to strikers, once again had no choice but to hand it to the man who had changed the course of a game in a few short minutes. "John Taylor," he said simply. "Got to be!"