Cambridge United: (4-3-3) Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Charles (Taylor 67'), Kyd (Butler 82'), Benjamin.
Sub Not Used: Preece.
Booked: Benjamin (82' foul).

Scunthorpe United: Clarke, Walsh, McAuley, Forrester, Wilcox, Hope, Walker, Harsley, Eyre. Ormondroyd (Stamp 57'), Calvo-Garcia (Marshall 76').
Subs: Shakespeare.
Booked: Walsh (41' foul), McAuley (51' foul).

Ref: A. P. D'Urso (Billericay).

Shots On Target: Cambridge 4, Scunthorpe 5
Corners: Cambridge 6, Scunthorpe 10

It was 'game of two halves' time this afternoon as for the second time this season United threw away a two goal lead against Scunthorpe. In November we led the Iron by 2-0 in a game that ended 3-3, but today it looked as though teenage striker Trevor Benjamin had set up victory with two first-half goals.

The game got off to a poor start but big Trevor, who never gives up on an apparently lost cause, got his reward in the 24th minute when he beat visiting 'keeper Tim Clarke to a sloppy backpass. They both went down in the box but the 19-year-old was the first to recover and he coolly slid a shot into the empty net from 12 yards.

Benjamin increased his tally to three goals in two games in the 41st minute. He timed his run perfectly into the box to receive Ben Chenery's right-wing cross, and rose unmarked to head home from eight yards out. Two minutes after the break he went close to completing the hat-trick that would surely have sealed the points with a 20-yard screamer that just scraped the bar.

However, from then onwards the game changed course as Scunthorpe's former Leeds United midfielder Jamie Forrester took charge. He raced from the half-way line to score a brilliant 52nd minute goal which lifted his team and United had to withstand a lot of pressure as Scunthorpe battered the United defence.

Forrester went off injured in the 76th minute but had the satisfaction of seeing his side grab a well-deserved equaliser a minute later. Substitute Darren Stamp volleyed home from ten yards after Chris Hope had headed down a right-wing free-kick, as Scunthorpe gave United the run around. Striker Martin Butler made a welcome return to action when he replaced Michael Kyd with eight minutes left, his first appearance of the year.

Although a draw was probably the fairest result, both sides had chances to snatch the points in the dying seconds. In the 90th minute Scott Barrett denied Lee Marshall a scoring chance by bravely diving at his feet, and then Benjamin could have notched his first hat trick in the final minute of stoppage time. 'Billy' Beall sent him clear but his shot across goal just scraped the far post.

This result probably ends talk of a late run into the play-off places by even the most optimistic supporters! But when taking into account the average age of today's starting eleven - just 22, and 21 without Scott Barrett - it is obvious that Roy McFarland is planning for the future and looking ahead to next season.

Colin Foster

The day after David Williamson joined Kingstonian on a free transfer, Roy McFarland told another player he is not part of his plans for next season.

Veteran centre-back Colin Foster has been told his contract will not be renewed in June. Foster joined United on a free transfer on the eve of the new season and was an influential ever-present until January, since when he has been missing with calf and knee injuries.

McFarland feels the giant 33-year-old lacks the pace to operate in an orthodox back four, the system he has recently adopted after disappointing results using the sweeper system. The manager told the CEN "I thought it was only fair to tell both players now that they weren't in the plans for next season to give them time to get fixed up. Colin is staying with us as he recovers from his injuries and works out his next move. He's been a great asset for us, but at this stage of his career I couldn't see him getting into the side as one of two centre-backs."

David Williamson left the club yesterday for non-league Kingstonian and McFarland added, "David looked like establishing himself once or twice this season, but never quite managed to maintain a high enough level of consistency to become a regular in the 14."

Striker Martin Butler makes a welcome return to the first team squad and could be on the bench for the visit of Scunthorpe tomorrow. Knee problems have kept him sidelined for the last two months but he has been back in training for ten days.

McFarland stressed the importance of tomorrow's match by describing it as a "do or die" game: "We must follow up our excellent win at Torquay last week. The players are well aware that too many times in the past we've come back after good performances and let the fans down."

But for Scunthorpe manager Brian Laws the game has similar significance. His team are in the play-off race and need to win to maintain their challenge. They have lost only once in the last nine games after a run of eight straight defeats, but Laws himself is starting a two match ban after picking up eight bookings this season.

Planning for next season will not be such a major headache for Roy McFarland as it was last summer. Just over a year ago he faced the prospect of eight players being out of contract last summer, but this time around only three of the fourteen on duty at Torquay have contracts that expire at the end of the season - midfielders 'Billy' Beall, Ian Ashbee and Adie Hayes.

"We are in a much better position," commented McFarland, who repeated his view of last season when he stated, "It shouldn't have been allowed to develop like it did last year."

'Billy' Beall

Beall slipped back in the pecking order with the arrival of more experienced players last summer, but he fought his way back to become a first-team regular. The 20-year-old has already turned down two new contract offers and former boss Tommy Taylor has expressed his interest in taking Beall to Leyton Orient, but the little midfielder says he only wants to "keep his options open" at this stage.

He said last month that he is "not particularly" interested in following former teammates Shaun Howes, Tony Richards and Matt Joseph to Orient. Another former U, Paul Raynor, recently returned from China to join the Abbey old boys in East London.

Another product of United's youth system, Adie Hayes, has also declined to sign a new agreement and subsequently his name has been circulated as available for transfer. The 19-year-old has shown his undoubted skill this season after receiving an earlier barracking from some sections of the crowd, but regular first team action has been elusive so far.

McFarland told the CEN: "We haven't received any inquiries about Adie. He's made some progress as a player this season, and I intend talking to him again soon. I'll also be sounding out Ian Ashbee. The side is developing well at the moment and we want to keep these players on board if we can."

Ashbee impressed earlier in the season as a central defender and since the change to a flat back four he has added power and aggression to the midfield. Against Mansfield at the end of last month the 21-year-old also scored a cracking long range goal and he looks a fixture in the side on current form. He was with McFarland at Derby County and became his first signing for Cambridge United, and he looks more likely to stay than Beall, who has been courted quite shamelessly by Taylor.

If Beall joins another club in the summer United will be entitled to a tribunal fee as the Bosman ruling only applies to players over the age of 24. Orient dropped their interest in Scott Barrett last summer when McFarland made it clear he was not releasing the goalkeeper on a free transfer and would take the Londoners to a tribunal if they signed him.

Finally, supporters at tomorrow's game will take part in a Nationwide League experiment to stop criticism of referees' time-keeping. The perennial mystery of how much time will be added on will be removed as at the end of 45 and 90 minutes the referee will indicate to the fourth official the time left and a numbered board will be held up at the side of the pitch. This is the system used in Italy and it is due to be adopted here from next season.

David Williamson is leaving Cambridge United. The little midfielder will join non-league Kingstonian until the end of the season but his ambition is to earn another chance in the Football League. Davey's contract was due to expire at the end of this season and in an exclusive interview with U's Net he said he was disappointed that his stay at the Abbey Stadium had not worked out.

"I will have good memories of my time with United, especially this season and playing in the Coca-Cola Cup against WBA," he admitted. "I'm disappointed I haven't had more of a chance this season."

Tommy Taylor signed the Northern Irishman in July 1996 on a free transfer from Motherwell but then ignored the 22-year-old for the whole of his first season, confining him to the reserves. Williamson was used in a variety of positions and it was as an attacking central midfielder that he was most effective. He earned a place on the bench against Northampton last April and broke through to the first team at the start of this season, but has not started a match since September.

Davey regards the move to Kingstonian as a chance for regular football and to re-launch his career: "I think I'm good enough to play in the league," he said. "Kingstonian are a big club and I'm looking at it as a stepping stone to get back into the league."

His career with United totals two full league appearances plus four as substitute, and three starts in other competitions. We wish him well in the future.

Members of Parliament today called on the Government to mount an urgent investigation into claims that some First Division clubs are secretly trying to form a 'junior' version of the Premiership. They fear such a move could ruin smaller clubs and have tabled a Commons motion warning that any new grouping would be at the expense of Second and Third Division clubs.

The MPs say: "We believe there is a secret agenda to break away from the Football League and create a second division of the FA Premiership. We call on the Government to undertake an investigation and report to the House as soon as possible."

Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester and a keen supporter of his local club, has sponsored the motion. He commented: "I am trying to bring on to the parliamentary field of play what some First Division clubs are doing by stealth behind the scenes. They are greedily trying to cream off a lot of the money now in the football industry and by their own selfishness they are jeopardising the long-term future of many smaller clubs, who would be left with hardly anything."

Russell has already taken the matter up with Sports Minister Tony Banks, demanding Government intervention.

Manchester United reserve defender Andy Duncan has extended his stay at the Abbey Stadium by a further month, although this will be the final permitted loan period. The loan expires just before Cambridge United entertain local rivals Peterborough on Easter Saturday and unless he makes the move permanent by then, Duncan will have to return to Old Trafford.

"We can't keep Andy on loan until the end of the season, which is a shame," said Roy McFarland today. "We'll just have to see what we can do when the month is up. It would be great to have Andy join us, he's doing a very good job for the team, but buying a player from Manchester United has obvious problems."

The 21-year-old has been one of the success stories in Roy McFarland's recent switch from the wing-back system to a 4-3-3 formation, and the side have kept clean sheets in four of the last five games.

Meanwhile, yesterday's meeting of Second and Third Division clubs in London heard little to calm their fears about what their 24 First Division 'colleagues' have in mind for the future. Representatives from Birmingham, Charlton, Stoke and Bradford outlined their proposals in advance of next month's EGM of the Nationwide League.

Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "We don't want a breakaway, but we want autonomy within the League."

That would mean the power to negotiate their own TV deals, but assurances that such a move would not spell serious financial problems lower down had little effect on worried Second and Third Division chairmen.

Football League chairman David Sheepshanks - who is also chairman of First Division Ipswich but has stayed out of the debate in that role - said: "There was a mixed reaction from the Division Two and Three chairmen, but people need time to consider all the points. The First Division have made some specific proposals to the board which they have now shared in complete transparency with the Second and Third Divisions.

"They will need to consider those proposals and bring their views back to the board, so that hopefully we can move forward with the drafting of appropriate resolutions that carry consensus support either for the extraordinary general meeting on April 16 or, if more time is needed, for the annual general meeting on June 6."

Even so, Colchester's Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell is to raise the issue in the Commons with Sports Minister Tony Banks because he sees the plan as merely the "selfish self-interest" of the bigger clubs which could put smaller sides out of business.

Sidelined striker John Taylor watched United win away from home for the first time since September 5th and told the Torquay Herald Express: "I've got no chance of getting back in on that form. I don't think there was a weak link in the side. We were superb, and I haven't got a clue why we haven't won away for so long when we can play like that."

Torquay's former United midfielder Gary Clayton admitted: "Every game is hard for me at my age, but that one was really tough. We've won eight in a row, but United didn't give us a sniff of the ball. The best team we've played for a long time."

Manager Roy McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News that he believes Saturday's win gives United a slim chance of getting back into the play-off race: "We've never given up hope," he said. "Our problem was a lack of confidence after an indifferent run. But we've built up well over the last few weeks, and now we've beaten the second placed team 3-0 on their own pitch.

"There are nine games left, a lot of points to play for, and we are capable of putting a run together. There is nothing in this division to frighten us as we've shown in the last couple of matches against teams in the top three. We've suffered a bit from a certain naivete and lack of professionalism in a generally young squad, but it was a tremendous all round display to beat a Torquay team who had won eight in a row. Don't get me wrong there's still room for improvement, especially in attack, but we are getting a level of consistency now."

Making the play-off zone is - to say the least - a very tall order with United ten places and eleven points off the play-off pace. Eight wins from the last nine games might just do it!

However Taylor agreed that there could be some life left in this season for the U's, saying, "It's a tall order, we know that. You are talking about winning almost all the matches we have left, but stranger things have happened in football. Look at Torquay. We took them apart, but they'd won eight in a row. They aren't better than us. If we can win two or three on the bounce now, that can stretch to four or five, and you are in with a chance. We'll be having a go."

United's youth team lost 1-0 to Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Second and Third Division clubs meet the Football League on Monday in an attempt to avert the crisis which threatens to split the Nationwide League. The meeting is a result of lower league chairmen becoming concerned at the idea that some leading First Division sides want to increase their share of television monies.

The lower league sides are anxious that plans to develop a 'Second Premier League' from clubs in the First Division could financially strangle the rest of the league. The First Division clubs met earlier this week and a majority are in favour of ensuring that, when the Football League's current TV deal is renegotiated in two years' time, they should receive a far larger proportion of the money to reflect their standing, as well as increasing their control of overall marketing and commercial activities.

Currently, the Football League's disposable income runs to £33 million, with 59.5% going to clubs in Division One, 23.5% to those in Division Two and 17% to those in Division Three. Bob Russell, Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, is now planning to take the matter up in the House of Commons. He claimed that "greed" would destroy the game at a grassroots level.

Russell said: "The football industry has shown itself incapable of disciplining itself or of acting in the interests of the game and the lower clubs in particular. For this reason a football regulator is required otherwise the rich clubs will continue to get even richer at the expense of the smaller clubs."

"Whatever the First Division clubs may be saying, the simple fact is that they want to take more money and this would be at the expense of clubs in the lower divisions. What we need now is for Parliament to get involved in football. The financial situation seems to be running riot and something must be done to stop the British game from destroying itself because of the greed of the clubs at the top. Some of them will go to the wall because of the greed at the top."

Russell added that the import of foreign talent through the increased finance within the game would also contribute to a dearth of talent coming through at most clubs. He said: "Now we are witnessing the import of scores of foreign stars which damages that situation."

As well as members of the League board, representatives from the First Division will be there to explain themselves and they are likely to face a hot reception from a number of their lower league counterparts. Yet the threat of a "breakaway" by First Division clubs if they are voted down at next month's Football League extraordinary general meeting could mean that lower league sides give way if a few concessions are won.

Keith Wagstaff, chairman of Third Division Scunthorpe, said: "The First Division clubs are trying to get closer and closer to the Premier League, which is so difficult as the gulf is so wide. The essence of what they seem to be saying is that if they have to sacrifice us to do that, then so be it.

"Even with our share of £40 million being safeguarded, then we would gradually get less and less with inflation and, together with the Bosman ruling reducing transfer fees, that could spell disaster for many Third Division clubs. Many chairman are very worried. What we should be talking about is what is right for 72 clubs not just the top 12 in the First Division.

"But the implication is that if we don't agree, they could break away and we would be even worse off. What choice do we have as they could just do it anyway?"

Report from PA News

Cambridge United: (4-3-3) Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Charles, Kyd, Benjamin.
Subs not used: Wilson, Barnwell, Hayes.
Booked: Wanless (66' foul)

Torquay United (3-5-2): Veysey, Gurney, Gibbs, (McCall 53'), Robinson, Gittens, Watson, Clayton, Hill, Jack, Bedeau, Leadbitter (Thomas 71').
Sub not used: Hapgood.
Booked: Gittens (85' foul)

Ref: A. N. Butler (Sutton-in-Ashfield).

Shots On Target: Torquay 5, Cambridge 5
Corners: Torquay 8, Cambridge 5

Trevor Benjamin

The two sides did not live up to their reputations today: Torquay started this match on the back of eight straight wins while United were without an away win for six months. Torquay looked disorganised and sloppy while United were revitalised by the presence of Benjamin who harried and chased everything. Central defenders Andy Duncan and Marc Joseph were outstanding and Billy Beall had another excellent game in midfield, alongside the impressive Paul Wanless and Ian Ashbee.

United had two chances to go ahead before the first goal went in. After 29 minutes Ken Veysey was rescued by defender Jon Gittens who blocked a Lee Charles shot on the line after a goalmouth scramble, and ten minutes later Trevor Benjamin's curling cross beat him but bounced off the far post.

United's opener came nicely just before half-time with Michael Kyd's brilliant solo run from the half-way line. In recent weeks the pacy striker has looked as though he is returning to his best after a cartilage operation interrupted his season, and he confirmed his return to form by beating three defenders before finishing from ten yards with his left foot. The ball hit the bottom of the far post and smacked into the back of the net for Kyddie's eighth goal of the season, but his first for six weeks.

After the break United withstood the anticipated early pressure from the Gulls, during which Ben Chenery cleared a Tony Bedeau overhead kick off the line, and then broke out to add to the scoreline.

Ben Chenery (number 2) clears off the line

Trevor Benjamin thoroughly deserved a goal for all his hard work and it came ten minutes into the second half. He intercepted a Chris Leadbitter pass and showed tenacity to brush aside several challenges before scoring with his left foot from about eight yards. Benjamin was also involved in the third, heading the ball down to Billy Beall who threaded a short pass forward. Lee Charles let the ball run to Paul Wanless, who hit the ball first time to send a rising shot into the top left corner from 25 yards. That was in the 79th minute and by then Torquay knew it was all over, and their fans began streaming for the exits. At the final whistle the United players lined up to salute the 40 odd hard-core travelling fans who made the 600-mile round trip to witness the first away win for six months.

United moved up one place in the table to 17th and although this win does not mean anything in terms of achieving a long out-of-reach play-off place, it will do the world of good for morale among the players and supporters.

Torquay boss Kevin Hodges picked up the Third Division Manager of the Month award for February but saw his club's record eight-win run come to a halt today. He said, "We were just not at the races. Too many players looked tired and jaded after mentally-sapping wins over Lincoln and Cardiff."

The UEFA under-16 international due to be played at the Abbey Stadium tomorrow has been moved to Boreham Wood due to a waterlogged pitch.

Steve Greenall has revealed that United are in talks with Manchester United about extending the loan of defender Andy Duncan by a further month. That would take his loan period at the Abbey up to just before the derby game with Peterborough on April 11th.

Martin Butler played for the reserves on Wednesday but has not travelled with the 16-man squad to Torquay. In contrast, Trevor Benjamin did not feature in the reserves game and is in line for a recall as Roy McFarland attempts to refresh a forward line which has failed to score in three of the last four games.

McFarland told the CEN: "I believe we've played pretty well lately. There's not much I'm looking to change at the moment, but we haven't made enough impact up front. Trevor unsettled the Macclesfield defence when he went on as substitute on Tuesday, and he's certainly an option for us at Torquay.

"They are second in the table and flying at the moment, but we've kept three clean sheets in our last four games and they won't find it easy against us. Taking on a team up at the top is an incentive for us, rather than a worry."

Player-coach David Preece will miss out through a toe infection and Roy McFarland is afraid that he may be without the influential little midfielder for the rest of the season, just as he has been playing at his best: "David has had the trouble for a while, but this week the poison spread from the foot, and he suddenly found a lump in his groin.

"He's been given antibiotics and we are hoping they can kill the infection enough for him to carry on to the end of the season when he'll have to have an operation. But if the foot doesn't respond he'll just have to have it earlier. It's so painful if you touched it, even with his shoe on he'd go through the roof. It's a shame for David and the team because he's been playing well lately. He has that experience we can't really replace from the squad."

McFarland will have to manage without two other vastly experienced players tomorrow as John Taylor is doubtful for tomorrow's tough game at Torquay, and centre-back Colin Foster is still some way from a return to action. The big defender has been missing for two months, firstly with a calf problem and now with a knee injury siffered in training, and his future at the Abbey Stadium could be in doubt. The 33-year-old signed a contract until the end of the season after injury problems curtailed his career at Watford, and now that McFarland seems to have made the switch to a flat back four from the sweeper system the emphasis is on pace for the central defenders.

Cambridge United from: Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Preece, Charles, Kyd, Barnwell, Beall, Wilson, Benjamin, Taylor, Marshall.

Torquay United will be looking to 18-year-old Tony Bedeau for goals as they aim to extend their record run to nine successive wins. Wolves have recalled striker Jason Roberts from his loan spell at Plainmoor so Bedeau will start his first game since December 2nd and will partner Rodney Jack in attack. Midfielder Chris Leadbitter is expected to recover from a knee injury to face his former team, along with another ex-U Gary Clayton.

Torquay United from: Veysey; Gurney, Gibbs, Robinson, Gittens, Watson, Clayton, Hill, Jack, Bedeau, Leadbitter, Hapgood, Thomas, McCall, Tully and Gregg (gk).

Former United boss John Beck, who led the U's to the brink of the Premiership in 1992, has been sacked by Lincoln City after 29 months in charge. Meanwhile BBC Teletext report that South African defender Mark Moore and Alex Finlayson, a teenager from Swindon Town, are on trial at the Abbey.

Recently injured strikers Martin Butler and John Taylor are due to play for the reserves today against Brentford, hopefully ending Butler's two month absence with knee injuries. The first team have failed to score in three of the last four games and the return of the experienced Taylor and lively Butler can only boost United's inexperienced front line.

If both survive the match today Taylor is likely to travel with the team to Torquay on Friday, but manager Roy McFarland warned that Butler will need more time: "Martin and John will get a run out in the reserves. John might have a chance of playing on Saturday, but Martin looks like needing a bit more time. He hasn't been able to play this year, and will need to build up to a first team return.

"We could do with a bit of his strength in the attack," he told the Cambridge Evening News. "I thought it was generally a very good display against a Macclesfield team who set out to keep it tight. But we just couldn't set up that clear scoring chance. They have an excellent home record and they don't need to take many risks when they go away. They were happy with a point."

McFarland also revealed that striker Jamie Barnwell played last night despite breaking his nose in Saturday's victory over Mansfield: "We didn't want Macclesfield finding out about it," he said. "If they'd known ... let's just say Jamie might have been at a bit of a disadvantage. It didn't affect him too much, but obviously you are aware of something like that in certain situations."

John Taylor, who missed out again with a groin strain, added, "We weren't quite there in attack. Lee Charles held the ball up in some good positions, but we didn't have that little bit of know-how to unlock it in the box. We have to work hard on that."

Cambridge United: Barrett, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, Joseph, Campbell, Wanless, Beall, Charles, Kyd, Barnwell (Benjamin 71').
Subs not used: Wilson, Hayes.

Macclesfield Town: Price, Tinson, McDonald, Payne, Howarth, Sodje, Askey (Power 81'), Wood, Chambers (Philliskirk 81'), Sorvel, Whittaker.
Sub not used: Edey.
Booked: Howarth (50' foul), Power (82' dissent)

Ref: M D Messias (York).

Shots On Target: Cambridge 3, Macclesfield 2
Corners: Cambridge 6, Macclesfield 3

But even the all-action style of the diminutive Beall was not enough to transform this lack-lustre match. The standard of entertainment was poor with a swirling wind making conditions difficult and defences were on top throughout. Manchester United loanee Andy Duncan was particularly impressive for the U's whilst ex-Stevenage defender Efe Sodje was equally solid for the visitors.

However United did play good football with improved passing and movement, and Lee Charles and Michael Kyd showed signs that they could form a good partnership. Unfortunately the team's over-elaboration tended to nullify the attacking threat and Jamie Barnwell missed the best early chance when he failed to connect with a header from about four yards out. Jamie Campbell, playing at left-back, was probably United's most potent attacking force in the first 30 minutes, sending a couple of long-range chances wide.

United's best chance of the evening came after an hour when Lee Charles helped on a Michael Kyd cross from the right and Paul Wanless stole in, but goalkeeper Ryan Price saved bravely at his feet. Trevor Benjamin, who replaced Barnwell with 20 minutes left, charged about and had a couple of speculative efforts, and could have scored in the 78th minute. He burst powerfully into the box and beat the full-back, but defender Howarth stretched out a leg and managed to get enough of a touch to send the ball inches wide.

In front of the Abbey's lowest gate of the season the teams ground out a draw and United now face the tricky prospect of a trip to second-placed Torquay on Saturday. The only cheers of the evening were provided by the news that Peterborough lost again, away to Darlington.

Match preview - United will be without two of their most influential players tonight for the visit of third-placed Macclesfield. Player-coach David Preece is suffering with a toe infection and veteran striker John Taylor is unlikely to overcome a groin strain.

Roy McFarland explained, "David has quite a bad infection. It's a case of trying to get him back in time for Saturday's trip to Torquay. It's a blow for us because I thought he had one of his best games of the season against Mansfield. John is desperate to play after missing three matches due to illness and the groin strain, but I think this one is a little too soon for him.

"We gained a bit of confidence by beating Mansfield, though, and I believe we'll react well this week with matches against two of the top three. You have to admire the way Macclesfield have come out of the Conference and done well, but their home record is the key to their success. They've only won two matches away, and we shouldn't have any worries about taking them on. Mansfield were on a good run, but we won that one comfortably in the end and could have had more goals."

'Billy' Beall is in line to replace Preece after another impressive performance when he came off the bench on Saturday. McFarland is likely to retain the same front three although teenage centre-forward Mark McCammon could claim a place on the bench.

United celebrated only their second win of the year on Saturday, but David Preece is insistent that the 2-0 scoreline could have been more. After just three minutes United's player-coach was quite clearly pushed off the ball when running in to meet a corner kick, and he complained, "It was a clear-cut penalty, but referees don't seem to give those very early in the game for some reason.

"He let a lot go, especially in the first half when two or three Mansfield players could have been booked. Our physio had to treat four or five players after bad tackles."

Mansfield manager Steve Parkin described his side's performance on Saturday as the "worst display since I became manager". The Stags failed to conjure a solitary shot on target as their bid for a third consecutive win for the first time all season was thwarted by goals from Lee Charles and Ian Ashbee. Parkin reacted by ordering his players in for extra training on Sunday morning.

United now face two extremely tricky games in a week. Third-placed Macclesfield Town are the visitors to the Abbey tomorrow night, and then the squad face the long trip down to Devon to face second-placed Torquay United on Saturday. Roy McFarland will be able to assess his players against two of the surprise packages of the season and he sounds confident that they will measure up.

"We've hardly been outplayed all season. Nobody has given us a thumping," McFarland told the CEN. "We've just had too many draws we couldn't turn into wins. Macclesfield are up the top because of their exceptional home record. It will be a tough game because they'll be confident after beating leaders Notts County on Saturday, but we shouldn't have too much to fear. We'll go to Torquay without an away win for a long time, but I don't see that as a chain around our necks. There have been games in that run when we have clearly been the better side but haven't quite clinched the win."

McFarland also spoke about Manchester United midfielder Grant Brebner, who joined Scottish Premier side Hibernian last week on loan. McFarland had hoped to persuade the 20-year-old to sign permanently for the U's after he returned from Italy, where he played for Manchester United in an international under-19s tournament.

However today McFarland revealed, "Grant told us when he left he wouldn't go on loan anywhere else, but he's joined Hibernian, so that is probably that. It's a great shame because he gave our side something extra and was very popular with the supporters. We need that kind of midfield player and will just have to keep on searching."

United's under-18s lost to two early goals at Millwall on Saturday. Youth team manager David Batch summed up the game: "In the second half we had all the pressure, but without a great deal of quality on it. If there was any football played, we played it. But we didn't really do enough to dominate the game. Trailing 2-0 you do tend to try and force things a bit and we fell into that trap. And having only one recognised centre forward available does tend to limit the creative side."

Cambridge United will host an Under 16 UEFA Championship game at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday, when Bosnia face Croatia. The match is one of the Group Two games, which is the English group, the fourth team being Slovakia. The winners of Group Two go on to the sixteen team tournament in Scotland, and they will be in Group D along with Russia, Israel and Ukraine, who have already qualified.

The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday 7th March and admission will be free of charge to under 16's and just £1 to adults and OAPs.

Other games in Group Two are taking place at Peterborough United, Kettering Town, Rushden and Diamonds and Northampton Town.