IT was like Icarus flying too close to the sun. A magnificent, almost magical attempt to achieve the impossible. Cambridge United, an injury-hit third division side staged an astonishing comeback, probably their greatest in almost three decades of League football to scare the life out of Premiership Nottingham Forest.

With only 22 minutes left of last night's third round tie they were 3-0 down, and surely out of the Worthington Cup. Thirteen extraordinary minutes later it was 3-3, Forest were down to 10 men, and around 3,200 United fans, more than the Abbey Stadium attendance against Shrewsbury on Saturday, were dancing like dervishes and completely drowning out almost 6,000 disbelieving home fans.

"You're not singing any more," they roared. And at that stage, nine minutes from the end of normal time stunned Forest were not doing a lot of playing either. The Premiership side, last season's impressive first division champions, were hanging on and hoping for extra time.

It was to end in tears, shed by players who scored, as well as those who missed in the cruel drama of the penalty shoot-out, as well as many of the marvellous black and amber army.

But after beating first division Watford and Premiership Sheffield Wednesday, both over two legs, Roy McFarland's men went out like heroes. They were level with Nottingham Forest after 90 minutes, after half an hour of extra time, and after the sides completed their allocation of five penalties.

It was only when the penalty shoot-out went to sudden death, at getting on for 10.30pm, that Forest managed to land the killer blow, like an exhausted pugilist swinging a lucky punch in one of those old bareknuckle fights that used to go on for dozens of rounds.

"Don't have a go at us," said Forest assistant manager Mickey Adams. "Give credit to Cambridge instead. They showed great courage, amazing courage. At 3-0 down midway through the second half with the rain coming down like that they could have said, 'Stuff this,' and played out time.

"Harry (manager Dave Bassett) and I tried to tell our players what it would be like playing a lower division team, because we've been down there, but you can't convey something like this. They had to be out, but somehow they came back. How do I feel? Bloody relieved."

There was little sign of the drama to come, however, when Forest struck either side of half time to build what looked like an unassailable lead. The Premiership side's skill and much greater experience snuffed out United's attack, and aided by a couple of elementary defensive errors, they were coasting after Craig Armstrong, seconds before the break, followed up Dougie Freedman's 22nd minute goal, then Marlon Harewood made it 3-0 in the first minute of the second half.

That was when the biggest United away following for more than a decade looked like being in for a thoroughly miserable night. Soaked to the skin by the persistent rain, they were watching young goalkeeper Shaun Marshall trying to prevent a defeat turning into a rout. But, in yet another superlative display, he gave his side the thread of a lifeline with a series of breathtaking saves as Harewood ripped through the United defence in the 53rd, 57th, and 58th minutes.

Four minutes later the fourth goal seemed to be flying in, until Marshall got a hand to a 20-yard blaster from Chris Bart-Williams. At that point McFarland decided "to go down with all guns blazing," pulling off full-back Jamie Campbell and sending on Michael Kyd as a fourth striker.

Out for two months with a knee injury, Kyd helped set up United's first goal within five minutes of his entry. That was the consolation goal, then. Nobody in the stadium could have thought anything else, until Alex Russell threaded a pass through to Martin Butler five minutes later. And, amazingly, Forest's collection of seasoned internationals panicked. They should have gone for the fourth goal as fired-up United piled forward, but they fell back to defend their lead, conceding a series of corners, one of which produced the 81st minute equaliser.

With the ground reverberating from the ecstatic support behind the goal United were attacking, the third division men raced into extra time and almost grabbed the lead when Butler broke through only to fire straight at goalkeeper Dave Beasant.

Both periods of extra time were evenly-fought by two exhausted sides who would have looked like equals to anyone entering the stadium at that stage. Marshall made a couple more super saves from Bart-Williams, and United substitute David Preece passed back when he might have tried a shot after another superb Russell pass reached him 10 yards out.

When it came to the shoot-out the odds were stacked against inexperienced United. Marshall had never faced a penalty, and most of the side had not taken one at League level, whereas huge 39-year-old Forest keeper Beasant was the first man to save a penalty in a Wembley cup final -- and against Liverpool.

The nail-gnawing tension was almost unbearable as United again fought back to take it to sudden death where Trevor Benjamin, the teenager whose goals knocked out Sheffield Wednesday, was the luckless last-kick victim.

But, after no more than a few seconds of desperate, numbing, disappointment the amber army lifted their team sky high by saluting what was a glorious effort against all the odds.

Dave Beasant was Nottingham Forest's shoot-out hero as the Premiership side survived the fright of their Worthington Cup lives and the sending-off of Thierry Bonalair to beat courageous Cambridge.

Forest led 3-0 with 22 minutes to go but the Third Division minnows, conquerors of Watford and Sheffield Wednesday in earlier rounds, recovered to send the game into extra time. But Dave Bassett's 10 men, with Bonalair dismissed for hand ball on 80 minutes, showed real grit at a rain-lashed City Ground to hang on and then hold their nerve in the penalty shoot-out, with Beasant making three splendid saves.

Andy Gray saw Forest's first spot-kick saved by Shaun Marshall and Martin Butler fired Cambridge into the lead with their opening effort. Chris Bart-Williams hit the target before Beasant flung himself to his left to parry Alex Russell's shot. Steve Chettle scored and Forest stayed 2-1 ahead in the shoot-out when Beasant blocked Paul Wanless' effort.

However, Jean-Claude Darcheville shot over and Neil Mustoe equalised, sending Beasant the wrong way. Steve Stone restored the hosts' advantage but Andy Duncan, 21, kept his cool to send the shoot-out into a sudden-death situation. Craig Armstrong fired beyond Marshall and Beasant excelled himself again, blocking Trevor Benjamin's shot with his legs.

It was the cruellest of Cup exits for Cambridge, who were given a standing ovation by home and away fans alike. And Benjamin, 19, whose goals dumped Wednesday out in round two, did not deserve to be their fall guy. But despite their dramatic win, Forest will know theirs was hardly the sort of performance which will have Pierre van Hooijdonk eager to return to training for the first time since last season on Friday. And it was strikers Dougie Freedman and Marlon Harewood who were guilty of spurning the chances which would have smoothed their side's passage into the fourth round.

Both scored but they also wasted a string of opportunites, while the fine form of Cambridge's third-choice keeper Marshall, 20, also laid the foundations for the visitors' incredible revival. But the game's exciting climax looked a million miles away as the hosts cruised into a three-goal lead just after half-time.

Freedman had already sent one shot horribly wide from 10 yards out when 60 seconds later, he gave his side the lead. Duncan failed to deal with Steve Chettle's hopeful through ball and Freedman lifted his eight-yard shot over Marshall for his fourth goal of the season on 22 minutes. Freedman and Stone then went close before an error by the otherwise impressive Marshall gifted Forest their second goal.

Under pressure from Jon Olav Hjelde, he failed to punch Bart-Williams' corner clear and Armstrong nodded home from four yards. Forest then looked to have wrapped up victory when Harewood struck within a minute of the restart, the striker drilling the ball home after Marshall had done well to parry his initial effort.

Cambridge looked to be dead and buried, and they would have been had Marshall not made splendid saves from Harewood, Bart-Williams and Freedman. But the visitors, roared on by a 3,500-strong travelling army, clawed their way back into the game with an incredible burst of three goals in 12 minutes.

First Benjamin fired the ball past Beasant on 68 minutes after good work by sub Michael Kyd, whose introduction sparked United into life, and Russell. Forest's lead was cut to 3-2 after 72 minutes, Butler taking advantage of hesitation in the home defence to collect Russell's pass and slot the ball home beneath the advancing Beasant. And Cambridge drew level on 80 minutes, John Taylor beating Beasant from the penalty spot after his header from Russell's cross had been handled on the line by Bonalair.

The Frenchman was sent off for the offence and after being in total control for so long, 10-man Forest were suddenly staring into the abyss. They could have still won it in normal time, Hjelde heading wastefully over when unmarked six yards out.

Taylor, for Cambridge, and Forest duo Darcheville and Bart-Williams could have given their side the lead in extra time but all failed to apply the finishing touch in front of goal. Indeed, Darcheville's main contribution was to get booked for diving - rather appropriate, given the horrendous conditions which had turned the normally pristine City Ground pitch into a near-swamp.

The dramatic game was then plunged into its dramatic conclusion, with Forest coming through after a titanic tussle.

Forest took their Premiership woes into last night and made life incredibly difficult for themselves as they squandered a 3-0 lead in 13 second half minutes against third division Cambridge. First half goals from Dougie Freedman and Craig Armstrong provided the basis for a commanding Forest performance and they appeared to be steering clear of a Third Round Worthington Cup giant killing.

Manager Roy McFarland, the former England and Derby star, was back on enemy territory with a Cambridge side equipped with the best away record in the Football League on the strength of five wins in seven games. Cambridge had already beaten both Watford and Premiership Sheffield Wednesday in previous rounds to give McFarland more than a glimmer of hope of completing a notable hat trick of victims.

Forest, second from bottom in the Premiership after collecting just two points from six games, were obviously short on confidence and looked tentative following Saturday's 5-1 mauling at Liverpool. A routine-looking ball out of midfield from Armstrong in the 21st minute allowed Freedman an easy opportunity to flick the ball over stranded goalkeeper Shaun Marshall.

Worse was to follow for Cambridge seconds before the interval when Marshall mistimed his punch from Chris Bart-Williams' corner and the ball dropped perfectly for Armstrong to head home. Within seconds of the restart, Marlon Harewood hit Forest further ahead from close range after having his first attempt blocked by Marshall.

Trevor Benjamin began United's amazing comeback on 68 minutes after slotting in from close range. A second goal followed on 77 minutes as Martin Butler shot home after a scramble in Forest's penalty area. Nine minutes from full time a fully deserved equaliser went in after a John Taylor shot was handled on the line by Forest defender Thierry Bonalair.

BY RICHARD HOBSON

CAMBRIDGE UNITED, from the Nationwide League third division, staged one of the most remarkable recoveries in recent memory before going out of the Worthington Cup on penalties at the City Ground last night. Trailing by three goals and all but out of the third-round tie, they equalised amid high tension to take the game into extra time before they were foiled by one of the most renowned stoppers from 12 yards in the English game.

Dave Beasant, who denied John Aldridge when Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup Final, saved from Russell, Wanless and finally Benjamin to ensure that Nottingham Forest progressed. The sides had never met before and, after coming so close to a humiliating elimination, Forest will not complain if they do not cross swords again.

Benjamin had been the most effective of the Cambridge outfield players for most of normal time, but was distraught when Beasant got his body to the final kick. He was the last of his side to march the length of the pitch to acknowledge a band of some 4,000 travelling supporters. Almost five minutes passed before Cambridge left the field, their heads held high to further applause from the few Forest season ticket-holders who remained to acknowledge their contribution.

For most of normal time, this had been a rare occasion when it was possible to watch Forest without reflecting upon the difference that Pierre van Hooijdonk might have made. True, chances were wasted, but, like London buses, there always seemed to be another on its way.

Ultimately, however, the misses of Harewood in particular almost proved expensive. The recalcitrant Holland forward, his strike over, is expected back at the training ground on Friday and Dave Bassett, the Forest manager, cannot integrate him back into the side quickly enough.

The torrential rain placed the onus on vigilance among defenders. Right from the start, players struggled for balance and Forest went ahead in the 22nd minute after Duncan lost his footing. Freedman first coaxed Marshall off his line and then chipped over the exposed goalkeeper. In injury time in the first half, Armstrong doubled the lead with a firm header after a corner by Bart-Williams.

When, two minutes after the resumption, Harewood scored after Marshall parried away his initial effort, it seemed to be a question of the extent of victory. Cambridge had disposed of Sheffield Wednesday in the previous round, however, and boast the best away record of any side in the Nationwide League and such runs are born from resilience and perseverance as much as plain talent.

The introduction of Kyd as a right winger galvanised the visitors. Marshall produced a fine save from point-blank range and Bart-Williams had a shot tipped away to raise hopes further as Benjamin began the recovery in the 69th minute with a composed finish from a Russell cross.

Five minutes later, Butler capitalised on a mistake by Bonalair before shooting beyond Beasant and then, to wild delight among the Cambridge ranks, Taylor won a penalty when his header was handled on the goalline by Bonalair. The French defender was immediately shown the red card and Taylor himself slotted in the penalty.

At this point, with Forest reduced to ten men for perhaps as long as 38 minutes, the whole balance of the game had shifted. Forest, four times winners of the competition, had to call upon all of their experience in drawing the sting from a resurgent Cambridge and hoping they might prosper on the counter-attack.

By Christopher Davies

CAMBRIDGE fought back from a three-goal deficit only to lose 4-3 on penalties after taking this Worthington Cup tie into extra time. Nottingham Forest had been hanging on towards the end of 90 minutes as the Third Division's last representatives mounted an unlikely comeback with three goals in a blistering 13 minutes.

Dougie Freedman had given Forest the lead in the 22nd minute, chipping Shaun Marshall, and on the stroke of half-time Craig Armstrong headed home from close range to make it 2-0. Forest scored again within a minute of the restart when Marlon Harewood found the net after Marshall saved but the ball rebounded to the striker.

Cambridge stuck to their task, though, and Forest's vulnerability in the air was highlighted when Trevor Benjamin scored at the second attempt. Having been outjumped by Benjamin for Cambridge's first goal Thiery Bonalair was then responsible for the visitors' second, his error putting Martin Butler clear. As Dave Beasant advanced Butler slipped the ball past him.

Left Bar hill at 4:45 with Ian (another face to name), 2 hours later in a pub (Flagon and Lace or something similar) near the Forest ground with loads of other U's fans. The Trent Bridge Inn was for home fans only.

Queued in the rain, got into the ground around 7:30. At 7:40 they announced the kick off would be delayed 10 minutes to allow visiting fans in. I reckon it was so they could round up and drag in a few more home fans! At first I think about half the away end was allocated to United, there were people standing in the gangways before they opened up another section, then another until the whole end was United. They opened up another turnstile, but had no change, so it was correct money only!

I can't believe a Premiership club could be so disorganised. Just because the Forest fans couldn't be arsed to see the game didn't mean United fans wouldn't want to see it! Didn't Forest contact United for an idea of travelling fans? What do they do when there is a big crowd? If it was at the Abbey you could understand a small club not being used to staging a big game, but I bet we wouldn't have made such a cock-up. I bet it's not often that a third of that ground is visiting fans.

The Match programme was only £1 for 24 pages, presumably because it was a lot smaller than normal. It did however have very good player profiles of United, and some basic info. on the Forest players. On to the match.

We showed our intentions not to be overawed by going at them, in the first minute a cross was cleared just in front of Shaggy (with bandaged head). A few minutes later Benjamin did his normal closing down of the 'keeper, but was spoken to by the referee it seemed for turning his back as the ball was kicked. Campbell was booked for a sliding tackle on 8 minutes, soon after their #9 was booked for delaying us taking a free kick quickly. Forest were beginning to sort themselves out, their #11 shooting straight at Marshall. At the other end Beasant struggled to hold a cross from Benjamin, then after a low cross from Butler Russell shot wide, then Butler shot straight at Beasant.

On 20 minutes Forest scored, another long through ball was missed by Duncan which allowed Freedman to lift the ball over the advancing Marshall and into the net. Five minutes later they had a player booked for a late tackle on Russell, although the referee allowed play to go on as we had the advantage. On 27 minutes Marshall made a hash of punching the ball away from a corner and the ball went into the net through a bunch of players but the referee had blown for a foul on Marshall. Soon after a clear foul on Campbell was not given which almost resulted in another goal conceded. Butler almost got through but a last ditch tackle stopped him, then Marshall made a fine save at the foot of his left hand post to deny Stone.

3 minutes from the end of the half Wanless was booked, then with a minute to go we conceded another, Marshall made a hash of punching the ball away from a corner and the ball went straight to their player on the 6 yard line who nodded the ball in. Almost an action replay of earlier. Like Van Heusden, Marshall seems to have to make 1 mistake per game, and that was it! (On Saturday it was poor kicking but luckily nothing came of it).

2-0 down at half time, if we could get an early goal maybe we had a chance of forcing an equaliser. It was not to be. Almost from the restart a long through ball gave their #9 a chance which Marshall saved, unfortunately the rebound was miss-controlled by Campbell, the ball rolled back to the forward who banged it in. 3-0 down after 46 minutes, please don't let it be a slaughter, just 1 goal would be nice for the travelling fans.

We kept trying, Mustoe heading past from a Chenery cross, Benjamin had a powerful shot deflected for a corner, then almost got a chance at the far post. Marshall had to make a good save when we gave the ball away in our own half, soon after the #9 missed a good chance. The Forest plan was to exploit the lack of pace of our central defenders, made worse by trying to turn on the slippery pitch, again Marshall saved us, as he did from a long range shot after a corner.

18 minutes into the half Kyd came on for Campbell. Almost immediately he had a run through the middle, but lack of fitness meant he was beaten to the ball. Another quick break by Forest was stopped by Marshall, then Kyd made a bit of space for Russell to cross to the far post where Benjamin beat the defender and shot into the net. A goal to cheer at last! 5 minutes later a through ball was missed by the defender which left Butler with time to roll the ball past Beasant and into the net. The noise must have raised the roof! A few minutes later a goal bound shot was deflected away, then Benjamin got past his defender who grabbed him round his waist to stop him, which resulted in a booking.

On 35 minutes a powerful header was deflected away, the referee blew for what I at first thought was a free kick against us, but quickly realised it was for a penalty. Their #2 was sent off for deliberate handball, and Shaggy scored the penalty. This time the roof must have gone into orbit! The few Forest fans there were did not make much noise anyway, by this time they were totally silent. We kept on trying, Kyd doing well with his close control, but there was no last minute winner.

Into extra time, Butler had a chance but shot tamely at Beasant. Forest made a double substitution for fresh legs to run at our defenders. Chenery got booked for a perfectly good tackle, Marshall saved the free kick.

After 12 minutes Preece came on for Taylor. Their #16 tried a dive in our area to win a penalty which gave rise to a bit of pushing and shoving, he got booked. After 4 minutes of the second extra time period their #11 was booked for tripping Kyd, then #6 was booked for holding back Benjamin. Wanless had a weak shot saved, then Marshall saved from another long through ball. 3-3 after 120 minutes, and the first ever penalty shoot out I can remember United being involved in.

There must have been a good 5 minute ovation from United fans for the team, many Forest fans applauded them too. Oddly it didn't seem quite so bad going out like that, especially compared to when England lost on penalties. I guess it must be the weight of expectation.

Something I noticed last night (and in the Sheff. Wed games too) is the amount of holding back that the defenders were doing (and getting away with), not just the arm in front. I haven't noticed it much in the Nationwide league. Obviously Benjamin was the main target, and as I've mentioned 2 players were booked when it was seen.

I thought the referee was reasonable, and consistent in that both sides had harsh bookings that perhaps on another day they wouldn't have got. He kept up with play reasonably well, and wasn't swayed by some theatricals from Forest players.

MoM has to be Marshall for any number of good saves that kept us in the game. No problem at all with his kicking. All the players gave their all, but I think that Martin McNeil deserves a mention for not being overawed, and not putting a foot wrong in his first start.

I wonder if Pierre van H. was watching, and whether he is re-considering his decision to return to a side that can't beat a 3rd division team. I guess his weekly wages for sitting at home on his arse is probably as much as our whole team get!

A small navigational error meant that we found ourselves 5 miles from Nottingham on the A52, but heading towards Derby! So we came back down the M1 which not surprisingly at 11pm was quite empty. Where ever the road signs warned of rain there was none, and of course it slashed down everywhere else!

A night of passion, adrenaline and emotion which despite culminating in ultimate departure from the competition, ranks as one of the most glorious nights in the history of Cambridge United Football Club.

The Division Three flag in the Worthington cup could not have been lowered in a more graceful and dignified manner as it took Nottingham Forest 120 minutes of football and a sudden death penalty shoot out to extinguish the flame of Cambridge United. The whole notion of football as a sport was encapsulated in 120 minutes of breathtaking heart in the mouth entertainment, which despite a devastating finish underlined without doubt the self-belief, sprit and ability which this wonderful United team possess.

We started like an express train, tearing at the shaky Forest defence each and every time we gained possession. Butler found himself with a clear run on goal after just 5 minutes but failed to test Beasant and hit a weak shot, which was easily smothered. Benjamin and Taylor were looking busy and creative and were being threaded superb balls by the impressive Mustoe and Russell. Indeed Benjamin should have given United the lead on 16 minutes as he raced on to a poor pass and closed down on the advancing Beasant but drilled a shot wide of the left-hand post.

It seemed it was that scare which shook Forest into life. They began to take a grip on the game, snuffing out the United attacks and breaking with the vision and accuracy which lead them to the First Division championship less than six months ago. Steve Stone, despite his needless over-elaboration, was a constant thorn in the United side and highlighted why before injury he was an England international. Playing alongside Bart-Williams he presented the striker with two glorious opportunities to put the home side ahead, both were blazed over and wide respectively.

It was on 22 minutes that the scoring was opened when, after a rare defensive lapse from Duncan, Douggie Freedman raced through to chip the ball over the helpless Marshall. The relief in the Forest team seemed to settle them down into a rhythm which United were looking increasingly unlikely to break. At the back we began to disintegrate as we gifted Forest's dangerous middlemen possession on a plate far too often. Yet they gave a perfect lesson of how to waste opportunities and highlighted to their few home fans why they are unlikely to survive in the Premiership.

Indeed it looked though United had survived the late Forest onslaught but on the stroke of half time a poor punch from Shaun Marshall was headed in by Craig Armstrong to double the Forest goal tally for the night. In fact those two first half goals doubled Forest home scoring record, in all competitions, for the entire season to date.

Two goals down against Premiership opposition at their own ground left little cause for optimism amongst the United travelling supporters. Indeed after Marlon Harewood put Forest 3-0 up just two minutes after the restart even the most optimistic of United fans would have considered their brave team dead and buried.

Forest began to implement an all-out attack policy against United as they sensed a large confidence-boosting victory was in the making. Shaun Marshall had other things on his mind however, as he produced save after save to deny, frustrate and astonish the Forest front men who must have thought we had slipped David Seaman in goal at half time.

Perhaps seeing Marshall perform such heroics inspired the rest of the team, or perhaps it was the vision and ambition showed by McFarland as he threw on another striker and adopted a seemingly suicidal 4-2-4 formation. Whatever it was though, it worked. Michael Kyd slid a wonderful ball to Russell whose cross was controlled and fired home by the brilliant Benjamin on 67 minutes.

The margin was then cut further on 73 minutes as Russell again provided Martin Butler with a perfect through ball to slot past the advancing Beasant from just inside the area. United were on fire, simply too hot to handle. Michael Kyd showed no signs of a player returning from a lengthy injury and operation and he set about a demolition job of the Forest defence turning them inside out on the slippery turf dazzling them with his neat skills and lightning variation of speed.

The 13 minute comeback of the century was completed on 81 minutes as John Taylor's goal-bound header was blocked with the hand by Forest defender Bonelair who was shown the red card before Taylor coolly dispatched the penalty to send the United fans into delirium and the tie into extra time.

I don't think Forest knew what was hitting them, as United continued to lay siege to the Forest goal for the remainder of the second half. It was heart in the mouth time in the final minute though as another superb save from Marshall kept United in the match.

Extra time was a nervous, tentative affair, which lacked many real goal-scoring opportunities. Martin Butler was set free after 6 minutes of the first period but hit another weak shot, which was easily dealt with by Beasant.

Darcheville replaced Harewood on 97 minutes and looked as though he had cheated Forest to victory on 103 minutes as after McNeil blemished an otherwise fine performance with an awful piece of defending to give the striker a clear run on goal, he miscontrolled and took a clever dive at the hands of Marshall. Initially it appeared the referee had pointed to the spot, but he referred to his assistant referee and awarded a free kick to United and booked the player for his deplorable actions.

Preece replaced the inspirational Taylor on 114 minutes and guided United to penalties, but should have put us through to the next round. His calm and controlled game exploited the extra man superbly, yet on 118 minutes he found himself at the far post with the time and space to control and volley the ball into the back of the gaping net. Instead he chose to cut the ball back, a move which was anticipated by the experienced Forest defence who gratefully cleared the ball.

That was to be the last real chance for United to end the tie using the conventional methods of scoring goals from open play. There was however ample time remaining for Forest to scare the life out of the fans as they were gifted possession by a tired and out of shape United defence due to our attacking commitments. Marshall continued to give momentum to his increasing reputation as a inspirational shot stopper by producing two more top class saves, one coming in the very last minute of extra time which was probably celebrated as much by the Cambridge fans as the first United goal.

Penalty shoot outs have 'hero's' and 'villains' every time they take place, they are cruel heartless and sometimes a career-affecting way of ending a football match, but that's always what the losers say. In reality they come down a bit of luck, but a whole lot of character and experience never goes a miss.

The experienced and cultured Forest team were always going to be the favourites, especially with Dave Beasant a renowned penalty 'king' in goal. It was Cambridge however who set the pace as the magnificent Marshall dived low to his left hand post to save the first penalty. Alas, it was to be a false impression as to the final result.

With the penalties at 4-3 in Forests favour Trevor Benjamin, the hero of the previous two rounds, hit a poor penalty which Beasant just got a hand to and send Forest through to the last 16 by the skin of their teeth.

It has been a glorious run, which has come to an end, in possibly the most graceful way possible. We didn't just have eleven men out there, we had eleven heroes who injected another dose of respect and dignity into the name of Cambridge United Football Club.

A night to lock away in your heart and treasure always, to remind you on a wet winter evening in Carlisle or Bristol exactly why you support and love Cambridge United. Football is more than a game, it's more than a sport and at our level it can offer the fans the most intense and extreme emotions known to man.

We must make sure that the superb support off the pitch, and the wonderful play on it are maintained for the entire season. Promotion from this league is essential and we must not lose sight of this essential goal amidst the cloud of pride produced by our City Ground showpiece.

This having been said, this competition has provided the whole club with the real belief that we are capable of mixing it with the big boys. Lower division teams occasionally produce the odd shock result knocking out a big name, usually over one leg. We defeated a top half Division One side and a Premiership glamour boy both over two legs. We have not lost one of the five matches we have played in this competition, and managed to score in all of them. This includes three matches against Premiership opposition fielding full strength sides.

A wonderful run in which not just Cambridge United, but football as a whole has benefited. We have served to remind the nation that quality, passion and commitment are not just traits of the top few divisions of English football. They run, like blood, through teams from all divisions, and could, if allowed, act as a catalyst for success at all levels of the national game.

We arrived in Nottingham at 6pm and fell upon The Navigation pub. As we were about to get out of the car we received a phone call from Mark ... the funny thing was he was standing on the opposite side of the road!! We went into the pub where we found Rob and his mates, there was a few more in their by the time we left for the ground.

We had to queue to get in at 7.00pm,and once in the ground we could see that there was going to be more than the 1500 predicted. Many of the seats were already taken and it took us a while to find a suitable place. We were starting to blow up the many balloons we had when the tannoy announced that kick off was delayed for 10 minutes. Can anyone remember an away game when the kick off was delayed for United fans??

The players came out for the warm-up but there was only one light on so it was difficult to sing the players names as you couldn't tell who they were!!!!!

The game was really exciting to watch,it was end to end stuff and without Marshall we could have gone in more than 2-0 down. We counted that he had made at least 5 excellent saves to keep them out. The fans were excellent, we kept singing even though things were not looking good. Their goals came from poor defending really. Half time.

The second half started and they got a very quick third goal ... we could have died on the spot by now. Instead of clearing the ball Campbell decided to delay it and lost possession, 3-0. The team didn't get their heads down, they jumped to the challenge, and what a challenge it was. They kept going and battled for every ball with it paying off. The first goal coming from Trevor, we thought consolation goal, we were wrong!!!!!

Soon Butler was free and scored the second, excellent goal. That was it we knew we were going to get something out of this game. Marshall was still making the good saves he had done in the first half. Our third goal came from the penalty spot with Shaggy stepping up, i think that was a good decision from Roy. We hadn't realised that the player had been sent off until 5 minutes later!!!!

By now we were all over them and we were going loopy, it was a pity that after every goal someone was kicked out by the police or stewards. If only we could have played another 10 minutes of football i think we would have won, the final whistle came at the wrong time.

Penalties.What can i say about this....
Butler....scored
Russell...saved
Wanless...saved
Mustoe...scored
Duncan...scored
sudden death and their player scored it was all up to Trev, he hit a very soft shot straight at the keeper.....we were out.

This was a very good all round performance and to come back from 3-0 down, away from home, to a Premiership team was an excellent achievement. To say that i am very proud of the team is an understatement, i think we all have a lot to look forward to this season.

I have to say that Trev looked totally gutted at the end and seemed to have more than a tear in his eyes, but for me he has been the hero of The Worthington Cup.

Ian: As for the game itself well what can I say. I was sooooooo proud of those lads last night it brings a lump to my throat. Another 5-10 mins of normal time and we would probably have won it but never mind - let's use this now as a springboard for promotion.

Rory in Germany: I have to agree with Ian. The boys performance brings a lump to my throat. I was following the game on Teletex while watching the Liverpool Match ... Extra time was getting so unbearable that I finally phoned my father-in-law and had him place the phone by the radio while me, my wife and sister-in-law sat around the speaker phone wringing our knuckles for the last 10 minutes of the game (to hell with the phone bill). Oh the joys of going 1 up in the penalty shoot out and then the agony of loosing. Words can not express how proud I am of the mighty U's. We have got to have the most talented selection of youngsters in the 3rd and maybe even 2nd division. It was especially good to hear how Kyddo affected the match as we are his sponsors. I trully believe that we deserve promotion as I dont think we have peaked into our best form yet.

I wish there was some way we could express to the players how proud everyone is of them.

Louise in Nottingham: What a come back. The team spirit is something else at the moment. Good to see Kyddo back too, and he looked pretty confident running with the ball. Good saves from Marshall, but shame about the corner.

What an atmosphere. The crowd really got behind the team last night, and Roy McF recognised that at the end of the match. No voice and sore hands today.

Ed in Rome: What can I say. It sounds like a memorable night, a fantastic fight back. It was agony for us following at long distance too. Had to listen to the horrible news on 5Live's 10.30 sport bulletin, tacked onto the end of the irritatingly prepared-earlier summary which said "the shock of the round was 2nd division Luton beating Coventry 2-0" and then "the giant killers of the previous round Northampton went out at the hands of Tottenham".

The last surviving Division Three side in the Worthington Cup, United went out in the cruellest possible fashion by losing the penalty shoot-out, ironically after a 'sudden death' miss by Trevor Benjamin - the young man whose goals got United to this stage of the competition.

The main talking point in the United line-up was the absence of defender Marc Joseph with an injured thigh. His place was taken by trainee Martin McNeil who could scarely have picked a bigger occasion for his full debut. Trevor Benjamin and John Taylor were restored to the team as Roy McFarland opted for the 4-3-3 attacking line-up that has served United so well this season. Forest included a host of well-known names and internationals including England winger Steve Stone.

Kick-off was delayed by ten minutes to allow all the travelling U's to get through the turnstiles and into the ground. They had travelled in their thousands on a filthy day and the rain continued to fall heavily as the game kicked off.

United started the brighter with Trevor Benjamin looking lively after his enforced layoff. Mr Styles made an early mark on the game with some picky refereeing and Jamie Campbell (foul) and Forest's Marlon Harewood (not retreating at a free kick) were booked in the first ten minutes.

After 20 minutes United had a good chance to take the lead when Benjamin and Neil Mustoe combined well to set up Martin Butler, but the striker had more time than he realised and his shot was straight at Dave Beasant. Forest were immediately on the counter-attack and could have taken the lead themselves through Dougie Freedman, but he fired well wide. However a minute later he made no mistake as he beat Andy Duncan, raced into the area and lifted the ball over Shaun Marshall (22').

United continued to press and look for openings but found the Forest defence just that little bit too clever or experienced as they quickly cut off runs and closed down the space. At the other end Martin McNeil was having a good game after a early fall in the slippery conditions that gave Forest an opening, and his cool performance belied his lack of first team experience.

The referee made no allowances for the sodden pitch which was cutting up and booked two more players in the first half, before Forest added a killer second goal. Marshall failed to claim a Forest corner and palmed the ball as far as defender Craig Armstrong who rose unchallenged at a corner to head home in the 45th minute. (Half-time 2-0)

There were no changes to the teams during the break but United's task became 'Mission Impossible' just 55 seconds after the break when Forest were gifted a third. Harewood got on the end of a long ball down the middle of the pitch and hit it first time, but was denied by a brilliant save from Shaun Marshall. Jamie Campbell then gave the ball straight back to Harewood who gleefully slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

Shortly afterwards Trevor Benjamin saw his shot deflected wide but the corner came to nothing. Roy McFarland changed things around in the 64th minute when he sent on Michael Kyd for Campbell, and the striker livened up the attack with his pace and strong runs. However it was often Shaun Marshall against Forest as the Premiership side cut United's defence to ribbons with their quick incisive passing and movement. The 20-year-old 'keeper pulled off a string of outstanding saves to keep the scoreline down, including a couple of one-on-ones with Harewood, and then suddenly things improbably looked up for the U's.

In the 65th minute one of Kyd's runs was picked out by Butler and the youngster had scorched from the halfway line before he was tackled by Armstrong just outside the area. Three minutes later United struck through Worthington Cup specialist Trevor Benjamin, grabbing what looked like a consolation goal. Kyd fed Alex Russell whose cross was met by the big teenager, his header hit a defender and bounced back to him and he did well to bury the rebound.

Five minutes later the travelling U's - estimated at 3,500 - were given hope when Martin Butler struck to add a second for United. Russell was again involved as the ball was lofted over the fullback and Butler held off the defender before sliding the ball under the advancing Beasant and into the far corner.

United's players seemed to sense Forest were there for the taking as the home support grew quiet and edgy, and it was fitting that the improbable equaliser should come from the boot of long-term United hero John Taylor. His downward header was handled on the line by defender Thierry Bonalaire who was shown an immediate red card, and Taylor coolly sent Beasant the wrong way to level the scores at 3-3. United threw everything into attack and Forest were clinging on desperately for the last few minutes of normal time.

The match then went into extra time, and the tempo slowed slightly. Two minutes in, Butler struck an effort straight at Beasant, and after 102 minutes Shaun Marshall dealt with Forest's first real threat when Chris Bart-Williams' free-kick was well saved. David Preece replaced John Taylor, who had run himself into the ground, after 104 minutes.

A minute later substitute Darcheville burst into the area and went down, then got into a minor scuffle with Neil Mustoe as he appealed for the penalty, but he was booked for diving by Mr Styles.

Both sides seemed to run out of steam on the quagmire of a pitch as extra-time progressed, and it became inevitable that the match would be settled by the lottery of penalty kicks after a thrilling 120 minutes.

Breakdown of penalties (taken in front of the home Trent End):

Gray - saved by Marshall (0-0)
Butler - sent Beasant wrong way (0-1)
Bart-Williams - sent Marshall wrong way (1-1)
Russell - saved by Beasant (1-1)
Chettle - Marshall got hand to shot but could only palm into roof of net (2-1)
Wanless - saved by Beasant
Darcheville - blasted over bar
Mustoe - sent Beasant wrong way (2-2)
Stone - scored (3-2)
Duncan - scored (3-3)
(sudden death stage)
Armstrong - scored (4-3)
Benjamin - tame shot to Beasant 's left, goalkeeper guessed correctly
Forest win 4-3 on penalties.

Benjamin was immediately surrounded by his team-mates as they commiserated with him, and then the whole team went up the pitch to salute the wonderful travelling support who never stopped singing, even when their side were 3-0 down. The battling United team were given a standing ovation by both sets of fans as they eventually left the pitch with a lot to be very proud of.