In a game that could have easily gone either way, Cambridge United took a hard-earned point from third-placed Bristol Rovers and Trevor Benjamin broke a club record with his eighth goal in successive matches.

Paul Wanless and Scott Eustace recovered from the dead legs they suffered against Bury to allow Roy McFarland to name his first unchanged side for many weeks, and the fit-again Tom Youngs was restricted to the bench. Rovers named a strong and experienced side as they came in search of a win to get their automatic promotion push back on the rails, and Reg Smart introduced new directors Paul Barry and Renford Sargent to the crowd as the teams took to the pitch.

The match kicked off under the control of Premiership referee Uriah Rennie in warm sunshine, and United started the brighter when John Taylor hit a fifth minute cross from out wide which beat the keeper but smacked the crossbar. The early pressure was rewarded in the 11th minute when John Hansen's low cross into the area was somehow directed into the net. There were whispers that it bounced off the foot of a Rovers player but Trevor Benjamin was closest and claimed the goal which would set a new club record, and no one was queuing up to take it off the big young striker! It was Trevor's eighth consecutive goal in eight starts and set a new club record.

Robbie Pethick's cross in the 15th minute was met at full stretch by the fingertips of Lionel Perez, with Mark Walters poised to get his head to the ball before the Frenchman pushed it away. Trevor Challis was injured in a clash with Ian Ashbee on 20 minutes and had to be stretchered off to be replaced by Jordan Stewart, then Ashbee himself was unlucky not to put the U's 2-0 up in the 35th minute when he headed Hansen's cross wide.

Unusually, the Habbin-side linesman had to be substituted a minute later and, after Hansen and Wanless both had shots at goal, a further nine minutes was added on to account for Challis' and the linesman's injuries. (Half-time 1-0)

Soon after the break Hansen had a chance from distance which beat the keeper but hit the bar, but Rovers were much brighter in this half and in the 50th minute the highly-rated Jason Roberts escaped down the right to score a good equaliser. As he advanced with the ball at his feet, the U's midfield and defence backed off or missed their tackles and he was allowed to progress all the way into the box and beat Perez. It was the first goal Perez had conceded at the Abbey for United, and Roberts' 23rd of the season.

Rovers then brought pressure to bear for a spell and Perez had to be alert to deal with a shot from from Vitalijs Astafjevs, and a through ball from the Latvian which Jamie Cureton almost reached first. Benjamin had a header saved at the other end and Roberts also had a chance which he fired straight at Pereze, then in the 74th minute Tom Youngs came on for Hansen as United tried to break the "defences on top" pattern of the game. Youngs almost scored straightaway, Benjamin had a header saved and Mustoe fired an effort wide, but both sides could have nicked all three points late in the game.

With just minutes left substitute Ellington wasted two good opportunities for Rovers, first firing the ball out of the ground forom 25 yards and then holding onto the ball and losing possession to Scott Eustace as Jamie Cureton ran into space. At the other end, a free kick was cleared only as far as Paul Wanless who crossed the ball for Ian Ashbee to fire the ball against the bottom of the post. That was almost the last kick of the game, with Mr Rennie blowing for full time as the ball was cleared to safety.

Usual match reporter Mark Johnson agreed with Moosenet's choice of man of the match by naming Scott Eustace: "A colossus at the heart of the defence."

Ref watch: Uriah Rennie left no doubt as to who was in charge. 8/10

Firstly many thanks to Jamie D. for organising the Moosenet meet. Having got our tickets last week we (my daughter Lauren and myself) were able to get in before the ground had even opened a few minutes before 1 o'clock. It was quite unusual to be able to walk along the Newmarket Road terracing with absolutely no-one else there! Into the Harris suite for free drinks, courtesy of our mystery benefactor, and many thanks go to him for his generosity which is much appreciated. It was good to see so many Moosenetters again.

We started the brighter of the 2 teams, after 5 minutes Taylor hit a cross from a wide position which beat the 'keeper but came back off the crossbar. We forced our first corner after 7 minutes then Mustoe was almost put through with a good pass. A long angled cross from Ashbee to Hansen on our left gave him the chance to put in a low cross which was somehow turned in by Benjamin after 10 minutes to give us the lead. Quite how it went in I don't know, the 'keeper didn't seem to try to get the ball and it went through his legs. They all count though! This was Benjamin's 8th consecutive goal in his last 8 games, a record which beat the 7 held by David Crown.

Rovers managed their first corner soon after, but were dangerous in the 18th minute with a cross which Perez had to push away. They then had to bring on substitute Jordan Stewart (isn't that an F1 racing team?) for the injured Challis. Mustoe was set up with a shooting chance but put it wide, then Ashbee headed past from a Hansen cross. Hansen then almost got on the end of a through ball which was cleared by the keeper, the ball fell to Wanless on the halfway line who shot first time but the 'keeper had got back to collect the ball on the second bounce.

After 36 minutes the linesman in front of the Habbin got injured and had to be substituted, something you don't see too often! Perhaps the evil eye from the Happy Habbiners got to him, although he had been having a good game. Rovers had a player booked in the 46th minute, then on 49 minutes the board was held up to show 4 minutes injury time! The first half finished after 52 minutes. Into the Harris Suite for drinks and a chance to see the end of the Grand National, the horse (Suny Boy) I had in the sweep at work didn't finish in the top 4, I suspect it fell early on as usual!

Early in the second half a Rovers player stopped a quick throw with his hand and was booked. The free kick was headed away, fell to Hansen who put in a super shot from around 25 yards which beat the 'keeper but hit the bar and rebounded away. From this pressure Rovers broke down our left, tackles were missed on 2 or 3 occasions and their player (Roberts I think) found himself in our penalty area with only Perez to beat, which he duly did to equalise.

Rovers then had their best spell of the game and putting us under some pressure, Perez had to be off his line quickly to collect a through ball. Benjamin had a header saved easily, then a good advantage following a foul on Benjamin resulted in a corner. Youngs came on for Hansen after 28 minutes, and almost scored with his first touch as we moved towards a 4-3-3 formation. On 36 minutes Taylor was replaced by Abbey. Benjamin had another headed chance saved, then Mustoe ran onto the ball but shot wide.

Ashbee was fouled on 42 minutes, from the free kick Joseph's shot was blocked, the ball came out to Wanless on the right who crossed to the middle where the ball fell kindly to Ashbee (I think) whose shot hit the base of the post and rebounded to safety. 2 minutes of injury time was shown, the game ended on 49 minutes! Apart from odd timekeeping, Rennie had a good game, spotting the little nudges that are usually not given and making it obvious to players and fans why decisions had been given (such as showing Abbey he'd seen the tug on the defenders shorts).

In the main the defences were on top and midfields cancelled each other out. Eustace was my MoM, and many other Moosenetters agreed so he got a bottle of bubbly from vote collector Justin after the game. Walters was their best player, he seemed able to go past players whenever he felt like it. If I'd been manager I would have bought off Taylor sooner. He seemed to be complaining most of the game, and looked pretty weak when running. Hansen was a bit unfortunate to be replaced, I thought he was doing well. Abbey is beginning to find his feet a little more at this level too, and may be a good replacement for Taylor.

To me this is a point gained, realistically I was not expecting anything from this game. Other results mean we are 6th from bottom, 4 points ahead of Cardiff who have a game in hand. We are not safe, but at least the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched on now. It is important that we get at least a couple of points from our next 2 away games, preferably not losing to Cardiff, but neither will be easy though.

In the Harris Suite after the game Benjamin was the main sponsors MoM, the awards were videoed by Cambridge Red, so those with cable look out for us on Channel 8! The club photographer had a bit of trouble getting the all the Moosenetters in his pictures though! Lauren was disappointed not to see Adam Tann, I guess she'll just have to come along to the next game!

On the way home I heard a caller on the radio who had been to the Chester-Carlisle game (a Carlisle fan who lives in Kings Lynn!) complaining about their referee, Mr Lynch. How surprising!

Terry Wilby.
Proud Supporter of Cambridge United Football Club