It was the only game affected by the weather, and results elsewhere saw United slip to seventh in the table from third. However we are still only three points behind leaders Halifax with a game in hand, and the delay will at least give the likes of Neil Mustoe and Marc Joseph a few extra days to recover from their thigh strains, as well as Paul Wanless and Martin McNeil who were carrying slight knocks.

Cambridge United have asked that supporters wishing to learn the outcome should contact ClubCall, check Ceefax/Teletext or local radio and not contact the Abbey Stadium as there will be no-one available to take the calls. You could also check the message board on this site for an update.

Ticket details have been announced for the FA Cup second round tie at Macclesfield next Saturday. Prices are £12 (£8 concessions) for the seats and £10 (£6 concessions) for standing. Admission to the match will be 'pay on the day'.

The Away Travel Club will be running a coach to the match, leaving from the Abbey at 9.30am and priced at £13.50 a head. Supporters wishing to travel on the coach should contact Caroline McIntyre in the club shop.

Should a replay be required it will take place at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday December 15th (7.45pm)

This site will not be updated again until tomorrow evening so for tomorrow's team news check the Cambridge Evening News site, for latest scores check the Sporting Life vidiprinter and for results check the Sporting Life results service.

The youth team progressed to the third round of the Times FA Youth Cup last night in Swansea, courtesy of a Michael Steward penalty. The game was a second round replay after the goalless draw at The Abbey last week and United performed well only to be denied by the woodwork as they were last week. The 78th minute penalty decided the game although Swansea mounted a late flurry, but the young U's defended well as they had throughout, and will learn their third round opponents tomorrow afternoon.

The reserves went down 2-1 to Swindon reserves at the Abbey this afternoon, but put in a good performance against a strong side that included Robins boss Jimmy Quinn. United included former Liverpool trainee Ian Foster and Aston Villa trialists Ben Petty and Richard Walker, and it was Walker who scored United's goal. Michael Kyd and Arjan Van Heusden also played as they continue their return to fitness after the injuries that have interrupted their season.

Reserve team: Arjan Van Heusden, Nathan Jukes, Larry McAvoy, Dean Armstrong, Darren Cockrill, Ben Petty, Keith Newby, Tom Youngs, Richard Walker, Michael Kyd, Ian Foster.
Subs: Alim Kamara, Dale Cockrill, Leighton Hill.

If you were passing the ground during this afternoon's game you could have watched the match on a large screen in the Corona car park! The company who operate the mobile screen, which packs away into a van, asked for permission to test their equipment during a game and were allowed to use today's fixture. Andy Pincher admitted that he could sneak a quick look at the game in progress from his office window!

"Really, though, we have so much confidence away from home these days I don't think the players will worry who they have to play a week on Saturday, and we'll have the advantage of getting a good look at both sides tonight."

McFarland saw the game go to 120 minutes and penalties after a 1-1 draw, and second division Macclesfield eventually triumphed 9-8 on penalties after what must have been a truly nail-biting sudden-death finale.

Ticket news will be published on this page as soon as it is available from the Club.

Thanks to assistant secretary Mark Johnson for sharing the information, and the full table has been added to the "Look Back In Amber" section

Roy McFarland described Saturday's win over Darlington as the best performance of the season so far, as United came from a goal down to win 2-1. But the price was a leg injury to skipper Paul Wanless who limped off with a heavily bandaged right leg.

"It's a nasty gash, but should heal quickly," McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News. "Paul will have to be careful in training, but it shouldn't keep somebody like him out of a match."

Wanless should be fit for Saturday's trip to Rochdale but the manager feels that Neil Mustoe and Marc Joseph may need an outing in the reserves to recover some match fitness. Both have been missing for the last four weeks with thigh strains, and both suffered set-backs last week.

Saturday's win was enough to push United back into the promotion places but as ever McFarland was cagey with talk of promotion. "We are building a platform now," he said. "Despite our injury problems we feel we have a good chance against any side in the division."

McFarland was Sky Sports' studio guest at Derby County's new Pride Park stadium for their televised defeat by West Ham, and was asked about the season so far at Cambridge. After West Ham boss Harry Redknapp had raged at his board's decision to sell Andy Impey, it was good to hear the Cambridge manager say that he and the board sit down and discuss very carefully any offers for players, and they decide if it is the right thing for the Club and for the player. He also stressed that Chairman Reg Smart wants promotion just as much as the fans, and he described the team as a "bunch of kids" who all work hard for each other and can only get better.

The Peterborough Evening Telegraph apparently reports that Barry Fry has failed with a bid to take goalkeeper Scott Barrett on loan.

Cambridge United: Marshall, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, McNeil, Campbell, Wanless, Taylor, Butler, Benjamin, Russell.
Subs not used: Preece, Kyd, Youngs.

Darlington: Preece, Reed, Hope, Liddle, Tutill, Bennett (Dorner 63'), Gaughan (Brumwell 63'), Barnard, Naylor, Gabbiadini (Roberts 81'), Atkinson.
Booked: Liddle 28' (unsporting behaviour), Brumwell 82' (foul), Naylor 86' (foul).

Ref: Mr P Walton (Winwick).

Shots On Target: Cambridge 7, Darlington 3
Corners: Cambridge 6, Darlington 5

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In the 55th minute, from Taylor's quick free kick, Martin Butler's shot from the edge of the area w denied by a brilliant tackle from young McNeil who slid the ball out for a corner.

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

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

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

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

Roy McFarland commented, "We'll have to wait and see how much of a lift the Cup win has given them. They are a good footballing side who are better than their recent results. We need to follow up our last home win against Barnet to keep on encouraging those extra fans to come to the Abbey."

Darlington come looking for their first win in five League games and assistant manager Ian Butterworth said, "The lads are bubbling and I would love them to go straight out and play the same way, but it may be a case of 'after the Lord Mayor's Show', and we have to make sure we are focussed and disciplined. The league is far more important to us than the Cup, which is no more than a bit of an adventure."

John Taylor could reclaim his place in attack from Michael Kyd tomorrow. The pacy forward made an impressive return from a cartilage operation to help turn the game at Nottingham Forest, but he was below par at Telford last weekend.

The new Mitre Ultimax Fluoflare "yellow" ball will be used for tomorrow's match, and for all Nationwide League games until February 27.

The Cambridge Evening News reports that a 'six figure' offer for Trevor Benjamin from a Division One club has been turned down. The club has not been disclosed but the CEN hint that Crewe are interested and may have bid around £200,000, while Q.P.R. and Brentford have been linked with the big striker in recent weeks.

Benjamin has scored nine goals in his last twelve games and has hit the target in each of the last five games, and last month he signed a new four year deal, the longest contract ever offered to a Cambridge United player.

Roy McFarland has reflected on his two years in charge at the Abbey Stadium and the changes he has made to the playing staff. "It's taken me until now to be able to send out what I would describe as my team," he said. "I've shifted out 20 or so players and brought about 14 into the squad. A difficult process in view of the financial situation of the club, which I knew from the start and fully accepted.

"We aren't the finished article by any means, and that goes for many of the individual players, but I believe we are developing in the right way. We are a very young squad, under 21 when you take out John Taylor and David Preece, and young teams can be inconsistent, as we've seen at the Abbey at times. But we have to put the emphasis on youth because they are the lifeblood of a club which needs to sell from time to time to survive."

Club captain Paul Wanless (left) is one of only three surviving senior players (with Michael Kyd and David Preece) from McFarland's first game in charge, the FA Cup tie against Welling in November 1996. He obviously holds the manager in high regard despite suffering a spell in the reserves at the beginning of last season:

"Looking back over the two years, I think Roy McFarland has done a very good job. I've certainly learned a lot from him, and I believe the club is probably stronger all round than before he came," he told the CEN.

"He demands a lot from the players, and we work hard, but he does it in the right way. I don't think it's an easy job, managing a club when you can't go out and buy many players. But he does things like including the young players with the first team in training, and I'm sure that's a major reason for them doing so well when they've been brought into the side."

Chairman Reg Smart had the final word, saying, "I'd put Roy up there with Ron Atkinson as an all-round manager and a man to work with. I had a good relationship with John Beck, but I probably work closer with Roy.

Chairman Reg Smart hopes the former England centre-half will sign a two year extension to his existing deal and commit himself to the Club until the summer of 2002. He told the CEN, "Roy has done an excellent job in the two years he's been with us, and we want him to take charge of the club's long term development. As well as a top coach and manager he is also a marvellous ambassador for Cambridge United.

"He came into a very difficult situation when he took over from Tommy Taylor two years ago, and he has produced a successful side with next to no money. My directors and I felt this was a good time to offer him a longer contract, although we wouldn't want it to stay on the table as long as the current one did."

It took McFarland twelve months to sign his current contract, which runs until the summer of 2000. He inherited a team riding high in Division Three in November 1996 but had to oversee the departures of young stars Danny Granville, Jody Craddock and Micah Hyde within months of taking charge. He has since recruited a number of young players from bigger clubs and United fans believe they are watching some of the best players and most exciting football from a United team for many years.

The team cost just £42,500 to assemble and there is already a lot of interest in some of the players, but McFarland explained some of the reasons why he will have to think long and hard about extending his contract at this stage.

"It's gratifying to think the chairman and the directors feel they can make me an offer like this," he told the Cambridge Evening News, "but 31/2 years is a very long time in football management. I've got to try to foresee how Cambridge United might develop in that time.

"It is a fact of life that the club has to sell its best players from time to time to keep going, and that's not very satisfactory from a manager's point of view. And I have a feeling the implications of the Bosman ruling might make it harder to raise that kind of money in the transfer market in the years ahead. Can United, either by a link with a big club, or by other commercial means break away from the sell-to-survive situation?

"The club is hoping to develop the Abbey Stadium in the near future, but any manager has to know that the main priority of the directors is what happens on the pitch on a Saturday. There are a lot of questions to go over before I make a decision about what I should do when my current contract runs out at the end of next season."

These are probably just the opening shots in what are sure to be detailed discussions, but there is no doubt that McFarland has engineered a huge turnaround in fortunes from January this year at Rotherham and Barnet when some sections of the crowd were calling for him to leave.

Youth team manager David Batch was left to rue a clutch of second half chances that went begging during last night's goalless Times F.A. Youth Cup match. He must take his young charges to South Wales next Tuesday for the replay at Swansea's Vetch Field, after they were denied by a first minute save and the width of the post and crossbar.

Cardiff included 17-year-old first-teamer Danny Barwood and had the better of the first half action although Daniel Chillingworth, who has been in prolific form with ten goals already this season, saw his first minute shot brilliantly saved. The same player fired just wide shortly before half-time and moments later Karl Fox's volley from a Michael Steward corner shaved the upright. After the break United were the dominant side and Chillingworth hit the bar while the impressive Adam Tann's header was nearly sliced into his own net by a Swansea defender.

Batch commented, "It was disappointing not to get the win. In the first half we were stuck in second gear, and although we improved, I still thought we were a bit subdued."

The South East Counties fixture last Saturday was postponed due to a water-logged pitch but Batch felt that his team were a long way from showing that the break had done them good. "Mentally we weren't quite there, but despite that we were a bit unlucky not to have wrapped things up."

19-year-old Benjamin did not make the final squad of sixteen chosen by England Under-21 coach Peter Taylor, but will have his bags packed ready just in case anyone withdraws from the squad after the weekend's fixtures.

Roy McFarland commented, "It's good recognition for both Trevor and Cambridge United Football Club. It is also pleasing for the Third Division that a player from there has been considered to represent the Nationwide Football League."

In today's Cambridge Evening News Trevor, a product of United's youth scheme, commented, "It's great to be named in the League squad, I wasn't expecting anything like this. I know somebody has to drop out for me to go to Italy, but I'm just happy to be selected in the 22.

"It's going really well for me at the moment. I expect to score in every game I play. I've read all about scouts from big clubs watching me, but I don't think it's affected me at all. I'd like to play at a higher level one day, but it's not something you think about from day to day."

McFarland added, "It's important recognition of Trevor's progress. Even if he doesn't get into the main squad it shows how highly rated he is. All of the sixteen are from the first and second divisions, and it's not often the selectors include a third division player."

The fixture will be played at The Stadio Liberati, the home of Ternana, who play in Serie B of the Italian League. In the squad are Ipswich Town's England Under-21 regulars Keiron Dyer and Richard Wright, who was included in the full England squad this week.

The full squad:
Wright (Ipswich), Evers (Luton), Weaver (Man City), Johnson (Crewe), Marshall (Norwich), Robinson (Watford), Mullins (C Palace), Branch (Everton, on loan at Man City), Naylor (Wolves), Bridges (Sunderland), O'Brien (Bradford), Koumas (Tranmere), Williams (Sunderland), Noel Williams (Watford), Dyer (Ipswich), Rankin (Bradford).

United's reserves lost 2-0 at Millwall yesterday afternoon. The team included Aston Villa youngsters Ben Petty and Richard Walker who have been training with the squad this week, a Greek trialist and ex-Spurs forward Paul Mahorn who was playing the second game of his trial period.

Roy McFarland told the CEN, "Defender Ben Petty played well, and I'm also having a look at a striker, Richard Walker. They'll be training with us this week."

Goalkeeper Arjan Van Heusden came through the game safely after recovering from a broken hand, but midfielder Neil Mustoe, who was expected to feature yesterday, missed out with a recurrence of the thigh strain that has ruled him out of the last four games.

Full team sheet: Arjan Van Heusden, Keith Newby, Larry McAvoy, Dean Armstrong, Darren Cockrill, Ben Petty, Rian Kapagiannidis, Tom Youngs, Paul Mahorn, Richard Walker, David Preece.
Subs: Leighton Hill (for Mahorn), Alim Kamara (for McAvoy), Sol Benjamin.

The youth team are in FA Youth Cup second round action tonight when Swansea City visit the Abbey Stadium (kick off 7pm). Admission prices are £3 for adults and £1 for concessions.

Steve Greenall has played down the speculation linking him with a similar position at new club Norwich City, after it was announced that Canaries' Club Secretary and Operations Manager Andrew Neville is leaving to join Leicester City. Greenall joined Norwich at the start of last month as their Communications Manager after eight years with Cambridge as Club Secretary and Financial Controller.

"I've seen Swansea play in the previous round," Batch commented, "and they are a good side going forward, but then so are we. It should be an exciting game and I'm very much looking forward to it."

The game offers the ideal opportunity for supporters to see the young talent on United's books and admission is £3 for adults and £1 for concessions.

"Martin Butler's goal was sheer quality," McFarland commented afterwards, "and the difference between the two sides was in the finishing. Telford have had many League scalps and I didn't want us to be another one.

"I was pleased with the way we battled and we won it comfortably in the end. It's a long hard season and my instructions were to finish the job today."

Trevor Benjamin's 22nd minute header and Martin Butler's clinical 66th minute strike took both strikers to the top of the scoring tables in Division Three. Butler leads the table on eleven goals with Benjamin, reportedly a £250,000 target for Q.P.R., hot on his heels with ten.

Telford manager Jimmy Mullen agreed with McFarland, saying "The finishing was the difference between the two sides. They scored two and we missed two. They were comfortable without a shadow of a doubt but we had most of the clear cut chances. I was very disappointed with our defending for the first goal and it gave us a mountain to climb."

Cambridge United: Marshall, Chenery, Ashbee , Duncan, McNeil, Campbell, Wanless, Kyd (Taylor 60'), Butler, Benjamin, Russell.
Subs not used: Preece, Van Heusden, Youngs, McAvoy.

Telford United: Williams, Turner, Lyne, Fowler, Bentley, Shakespeare, Doyle, Jones, Norbury (Gray 78'), Huckerby, Palmer (Murphy 74').
Subs not used: Davis, Cartwright, Bytheway.

Ref: Gurnam Singh (Wolverhampton).

Shots On Target: Cambridge 3, Telford 1
Corners: Cambridge 5, Telford 1

There was one change to the starting line-up today, with Michael Kyd replacing John Taylor. Trevor Benjamin recovered sufficiently from a bout of tonsillitis to keep his place, and Arjan Van Heusden was a surprise face among the substitutes. The giant Dutch goalkeeper returned to training this week after breaking his hand against Brighton five weeks ago.

Telford include former U's Neil Lyne, who plays at wing-back for the Lilywhites, and Mickey Norbury who plays up front alongside Scott Huckerby, elder brother of Coventry star Darren.

The game kicked off under a grey sky with a slight drizzle, and United got off to a slightly nervous start. Telford had an early chance when, in the sixth minute, Doyle's long ball hit Huckerby but he couldn't quite bring the ball under control. In the ninth minute United's first chance came from a Jamie Campbell cross, but Martin Butler failed to connect and Michael Kyd could not quite direct his header goalwards. A minute later came the unlikely sight of Ben Chenery bursting through the centre, he slipped the ball to Butler who beat the keeper, but the flag was up for offside.

United looked under par as they had in the first half on Tuesday, often giving away possession cheaply, but after a spell of better play the U's opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. It was a textbook goal - Alex Russell took a corner kick and picked out Trevor Benjamin who headed home. He has now scored in each of the last five games and reaches double figures for the season. A few minutes later a Benjamin header set up Martin Butler but his shot was well-saved by Dean Williams.

Telford were far from buried and fought back to create a couple of scoring chance before half-time, while United were restricted to a few half-chances. On 32 minutes Mick Norbury collected a ball that bounced over Andy Duncan, but young keeper Shaun Marshall stood up well and Norbury sliced his shot wide. After 40 minutes Scott Huckerby got on the end of a good through ball but also sliced his chance wide.

Then on 42 minutes Norbury lashed the ball out of play and into the home spectators, but unfortunately hit an elderly female supporter in the face and after attention from stewards and paramedics she was taken to hospital. (Half-time 1-0)

The early exchanges of the second half resembled the first, with United on the defensive for long periods and looking fragile at times while doing just enough to stay ahead. After 51 minutes McNeil's head fell kindly for Huckerby and the striker tried to lob Marshall who was off his line, but the ball floated over the bar. Then on 59 minutes after a Telford free-kick, Jamie Campbell headed bravely over his own bar under pressure from Palmer and both players required some treatment.

John Taylor replaced the subdued Michael Kyd on the hour, then in the 66th minute United extended the lead with a well-taken Martin Butler goal. Ian Ashbee robbed Palmer on the half-way line and split the defence with a great ball to Butler, who controlled the ball with his first touch and scored with his second, beating the keeper with a low, angled drive.

After that United killed the game off, holding on to the ball and looking very professional. We might even have scored a third in the last ten minutes as Benjamin and Butler both went close. The U's never really got into top gear throughout the match but the main difference between the sides was the finishing, with United scoring two of probably three chances while Telford blasted theirs high or wide and never troubled Shaun Marshall.

Mark Johnson's Man of the Match: Andy Duncan - "a rock at the heart of the defence".

LATE NEWS:
The following information has just come in from Dean at Sky TV: Soccer Saturday have a piece by Chris Kamara - done with club's consent - highlighting Trevor Benjamin, at some time after 2pm (but before 3pm) tomorrow. The piece lasts about 8 minutes.

United go into tomorrow's FA Cup game at Telford knowing that the Conference outfit aim to add another name to their list of League scalps. Having been dumped out of this competition by Conference sides Woking and Stevenage in the last two seasons, United's players must reproduce the commitment and desire they showed in the Worthington Cup games and in the second half at Peterborough on Tuesday night.

"We showed how well the underdogs can do in cup matches," Roy McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News. "We've got to remember that when it's our turn to be the big club. Telford have fought their way through the qualifying rounds to get to this stage, so they'll be giving it everything. They are probably not quite as formidable as they were when they were regular giantkillers a few years ago, but we'll be in for a very hard game."

A decision on whether tonsillitis victim Trevor Benjamin will be fit to take part will be left until late, but the game probably comes too soon for Neil Mustoe, while Marc Joseph is definitely ruled out.

"Trevor has had a two-day break which might do the trick," said McFarland, "but if he doesn't make it we know Michael Kyd can go in. He's made good progress after his operation."

Mustoe is back in training, and goalkeeper Arjan van Heusden returned to training this week, although Scott Barrett is expected to be the substitute goalkeeper tomorrow afternoon.

The stewards at the Abbey have had a whip-round for Ron Reeves, the steward who was killed by the Arsenal team coach at Coventry the other week, and the money will be sent to Coventry City for his family next week.

Whether you wish to sit or stand, you enter through the same set of turnstiles paying £8 (£5 concession) and if you wish to sit you will pay a further £2 once inside the ground to transfer to the seated area. The match is not all-ticket.

Directions to Telford's Bucks Head ground were given in last weekend's programme and are reproduced here for your convenience. Leave the M54 at Junction 8 and take the last exit off the motorway roundabout towards Wellington (as that is where the ground is located). Follow the road to the next (massive) roundabout, where you should take the first exit into Bennetts Bank. After a cross roads this becomes Watling Street and the ground is on the right.

If you want car parking the suggestion is, instead of taking the first exit at the last 'massive' roundabout mentioned, to take the second exit into Whitchurch Drive. At the end of this road there is another roundabout. Take the first exit into Haybridge Road and there is a car park on the right.

Telford are currently 16th in the Conference table and lost 3-1 at Farnborough last weekend, despite opening the scoring in the second minute. They could include two familiar faces in their line-up, with former United players Neil Lyne and Mick Norbury - Telford's record signing last season - expected to play. They also have Scott Huckerby on their books, brother of Coventry striker Darren.

The Head of Safety and Security at Nottingham Forest has responded to complaints from supporters and observations by Cambridge United following last month's Worthington Cup third round tie at the City Ground. Over 3,200 fans arrived to support the Mighty U's and this caused congestion at the turnstiles and overcrowding inside the ground until more of the stand and extra turnstiles were opened. Despite kick-off being delayed by ten minutes, several United fans were still queuing in the pouring rain when the match commenced.

Club physio Ken Steggles explained, "Trevor will have to take a complete rest for two days and see if the tablets can do the trick. He complained of feeling weak at half time."

In another blow to the already depleted squad, Marc Joseph has suffered a set-back with his thigh strain and could be missing for another two weeks. The defender has missed the last four games and aggravated the injury during his rehabilation.

Steggles said of the latest problem, "It's a more severe injury, and we are looking at a week or two for him to get back now."

Roy McFarland tried to bring in an experienced defender on loan last month and he may try again, although he is unlikely to be able to field any loanee on Saturday in a Cup game.

The manager was pleased with his team's second-half showing, saying that they had most of the possession and created some very good chances only to be denied by young 'keeper Mark Tyler, who "played out of his skin."

McFarland added, "We were a little bit outrun and outfought in the first half. Peterborough gave us problems in midfield, but I think we deserved something out of the game overall. We had great support again and I'm disappointed we couldn't have got at least a draw for them."

Meanwhile under-fire P*sh manager Barry Fry praised United, saying, "Cambridge are a good team with a bit of everything. They play some football, compete, and get people forward. It's a great achievement for us to beat them."

Cambridge United: Marshall, Chenery, Ashbee (Preece 81'), Duncan, McNeil, Campbell, Wanless, Taylor, Butler, Benjamin (Kyd 71'), Russell.
Sub not used: Youngs.
Booked: Taylor 18' (foul), McNeil 65' (foul).

Peterborough United: Tyler, Linton, Drury, Scott (Gill 73'), Bodley, Edwards, Davies, Castle, Butler, Legg (Farrell 71'), McKenzie.
Sub not used: Grazioli.

Ref: Mr Paul Rejer (Tipton).

Shots On Target: Cambridge 11, Peterborough 9
Corners: Cambridge 8, Peterborough 7

United were unchanged for the fourth successive game for tonight's derby clash, while Peterboring included ex-U Steve Butler, Wales Under-21 international Simon Davies and striker Leon McKenzie who is on-loan from Crystal Palace. Former United schoolboy Matthew Gill was on the 'Boro bench.

United were under-par in the first half and 'Boro responded to Trevor Benjamin's 18th minute opener with two goals in four minutes. They then held on to the points, resisting a spirited second half fightback by the U's who would have gone top with a win.

The game kicked off in freezing cold weather but the action on the pitch was fast and furious from the first minute. There was little skill or control on show as both teams produced the passion demanded by their managers and noisy supporters, but the home side were on top during the early exchanges. Their first real chance came in the seventh minute with Davies' long range effort from the edge of the box, but the tame shot was easy for Shaun Marshall.

Martin Butler sent a shot well wide in the 11th minute after a mistake in midfield, and a Steve Castle effort from an Andy Legg free-kick was saved by Marshall shortly afterwards. Then United took the lead somewhat against the run of play. In the 18th minute Martin Butler and John Taylor combined well to set up Trevor Benjamin, and the big striker controlled the ball before applying a cool finish from the edge of the box under remarkably little pressure from the home defence.

The joy of the army of travelling U's was to be short-lived however as Peterboring hauled themselves level and then took the lead within minutes. The equaliser came within two minutes as Simon Davies supplied Castle who fired in a screamer from just outside the box, and although Marshall got a hand to the ball it was not enough to keep it out. Then in the 24th minute P*sh were in the lead, thanks to loanee Leon McKenzie. Davies created the opening for McKenzie to get behind Chenery and beat Marshall at the near post.

United seemed caught out by Peterboring's commitment in the early stages and only appeared to get into the game after going 2-1 down. Paul Wanless fired in a long-range shot after 28 minutes which was spilled by Mark Tyler, but the young 'keeper did well to recover and block the shot as Trevor Benjamin raced in. Seconds later Wanless met Jamie Campbell's cross and Tyler tipped the ball onto the bar, much to the relief of the home crowd.

In the 41st minute a corner was headed on to Andy Edwards, but thankfully his free header was against the bar, and the final chance of the half came from a Campbell cross which appeared to hit Ian Ashbee's back as he stumbled into the box with a defender and bounced to Tyler. Overall P*sh dominated the first half by being quicker to the ball and playing above their recent form, while despite a couple of purple patches United's players looked nervous when being run at.

Roy McFarland no doubt delivered a scorching half-time team talk as United mounted a brave fightback and could have scored from any number of chances early in the second half. Within seconds Russell delivered a cross to Ashbee at the far post but the angle was too tight and his shot ended in the side netting, then United survived a scare when Andy Duncan cleared an Andy Legg cross off the line in the 50th minute.

A minute later United were on the break led by Ashbee, his pass found Martin Butler who turned but shot wide. Two minutes after that, in the 53rd, another United break was led by Wanless who again picked out Butler, but the striker's cross was intercepted by Linton with Trevor Benjamin poised. United purple patch continued when a minute later Campbell's free kick was headed down by John Taylor to Butler who turned but couldn't quite get the right connection with the ball. Moments later a Campbell cross was headed onto Wanless by Taylor, but the United captain's header was tipped round the post.

'Boro managed to stifle the rampant United for a while and their next chance came on the hour. McKenzie skipped away down the right, rounded Chenery and put in a cross met by Steve Butler who was unmarked eight yards out, but his shot was wide. United had left themselves too much to do despite working hard to get back into the game, and the veteran Butler was too experienced for 18-year-old Martin McNeil while Tyler was in fine form in the P*sh goal to frustrate United's attack when they broke through. In the 70th minute Martin Butler passed to Trevor Benjamin who shimmied his way to a shooting position only to see Tyler tip his shot over.

A minute later Benjamin - who had been a handful for the Peterboring defence throughout - was replaced by Michael Kyd, and reporter Mark Johnson thought the striker may have taken a knock. Kyd used his pace to run at the 'Boro defence and caused a few flutters, then David Preece replaced Ian Ashbee with ten minutes left and showed his class for the short time he was on the pitch.

On 81 minutes Steve Butler was one of three unmarked players waiting for Davies' cross but he put his header wide, and a minute after that, Jamie Campbell put over another cross at the other end but John Taylor's header was straight at the 'keeper. Both sides had a late chance of another goal. United's came in the 89th minute when Russell played a brilliant ball inside the full-back to Taylor, but he was closed down quickly by Tyler who narrowed the angle and forced the ball out for a corner. Then a 'Boro breakaway in the 93rd minute found Simon Davies in miles of space but he missed the target by a similar distance.

It was perhaps inevitable that if United's unbeaten run was going to come to an end it would do so at the hands of bitter local rivals. "It would be Sod's law," as someone wrote on Moosenet this morning. United drop to sixth in the table following this defeat, equal on points with Brentford and Scunthorpe in fourth and fifth but having scored one goal less than them.

Roy McFarland was naturally disappointed with United's below-par performance, commenting "I'm disappointed but proud of the way the lads stuck at it in the second half. It was a great atmosphere to play in, and while I'm disappointed, I feel our players could not have put any more into it, other than just nick that equalising goal."

Barry Fry said: "It's a tremendous achievement beating Cambridge. Both sides played some good football and it wasn't a typical local derby."

Team news ahead of tonight's local derby is that United are expected to be unchanged for the fourth successive game, as the Cambridge Evening News reports that defender Marc Joseph and midfielder Neil Mustoe have both failed fitness tests.

"Both players are not quite there," said Roy McFarland. "They have thigh strains that need a little longer to recover from."

But assuming there are no changes to the team they will be the same eleven that took Nottingham Forest to penalties and have won the last two League games, and McFarland is confident of a good performance from his young side:

"Everybody knows how much this match means to the supporters. It is like a cup final for us, much more important than the Worthington Cup games at Forest or Sheffield Wednesday. I admit I didn't realise the strength of feeling between the supporters of the clubs when I first came to Cambridge. It is much more intense than the Derby v Forest matches I used to play in."

It will be the first derby for several of United's side, although in-form player-coach John Taylor has been there before and scored the goals to prove it, but McFarland expects his team to match the passion that is sure to come from the terraces tonight.

"I know we are going to get great support, and I expect a show from the players to match that passion. But what I'd also like to see is the contest staying on the pitch between the players. We are the top team this time against Peterborough, but a derby game is a leveller, so we'll have to play as well as in any match this season."

One player who can be relied upon not to shirk any battle in the heart of the action is United skipper Paul Wanless, but he warns that the result is not the foregone conclusion that some fans are expecting: "We are the form team this time," he said. "Our away record is tremendous, but derby games often have nothing to do with what has gone on in previous games. They are one-off occasions.

"Seeing us up near the top of the table will be an added incentive to Posh, and we've got to go there and treat them like one of the Premiership sides we've faced this season. We were the underdogs against them last season, but we did pretty well.

"We've been going well this season, and they've fallen away a bit, but we aren't expecting an easy time. It's always a match everybody looks forward to though. I'm sure we are going to get very good backing again and there's bound to be a great atmosphere.

"There were some people who thought our young players might not be able to handle the atmosphere of a derby game last time, but I think it brought the best out of them, as did playing in the Worthington Cup games this season."

The U's have won seven times on the road this season, including the Worthington Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday, while Peterboring have lost four of their last five home games. But their manager Barry Fry is relying on the derby atmosphere to level things tonight: "While the U's come here with the best away record in all four divisions, this is an occasion when form doesn't always count and it will be down just as much to commitment and a desire to win," he said.

Fry hopes that three players who were injured in Saturday's draw at Swansea will be fit for tonight's game, as Des Linton and Simon Davies suffered knocks and Steve Castle sustained a cut. If they are passed fit he is expected to name an unchanged side, including veteran former United striker Steve Butler.

"We are not in a position where we need to sell players to pay the bills, and our aim is to keep a good side together to win promotion," he said.

In words that will sound like music to the ears of United supporters he added, "If anybody wants to take one of our players they are going to have to offer a fee which will knock our heads off. I've turned down a bid from a higher division club for Martin Butler, and I'm sure there were people here on Saturday watching Trevor Benjamin and maybe Alex Russell."

19-year-old Benjamin hit the headlines earlier this season with his Worthington Cup goals against Premiership defences, while Russell curled a Brazilian-style free-kick round Barnet's defensive wall on Saturday. Both players signed new long-term contracts at the end of last month and Butler signed for another two years in August.

Transfer-target Scott McGleish returned to The Abbey with Barnet on Saturday, and in the bar after the game told a United supporter that he would love to come back to United but thought it unlikely due to the fee Barnet expect for him.

The CEN reports that McGleish complained that Barnet want £150,000 for him but McFarland responded, "The price they have quoted us is more than that - £225,000. If they value him that highly, why isn't he in their starting line-up."

The manager also confirmed that Halifax striker Marc Williams is another target, and although he has had an initial offer rejected by the Yorkshire club, he is still trying to set up talks about the pacy 25-year-old.

Looking ahead to tomorrow night's derby match at Peterborough, the CEN reports that thigh strain victims Marc Joseph and Neil Mustoe could be fit after missing the last two matches.

Youth team manager David Batch (right) was not too down-hearted after seeing his youngsters lose 2-1 at Brentford on Saturday. He put Brentford's goals down to defensive errors in an otherwise impressive performance.

"At the moment their concentration doesn't match their talent," he told the Cambridge Evening News. "But on Saturday only two were under-18s, the rest were under-17s, so it will improve with time. We played very well. I was really pleased with the way we played when we had the ball - probably our best or second best performance of the season."

"We wobbled a bit at the back but with youngsters at centre-half and in goal due to injuries you are always going to have a few problems. We played some very good football in the first half to keep things going and to keep the pressure on the other sides at the top."

Barnet assistant manager Lil Fucillo said, "Cambridge had a purple patch in the first half which we couldn't cope with, but we showed a lot of character to get back into the game. In the end they just took more chances than we did but I thought we were worth a point."

Trevor Benjamin had a slightly subdued game in front of several scouts, although he took his goal very well, but strike partner Martin Butler cannot have failed to catch the eye with a hard-working game that only lacked a goal of his own after he set up John Taylor's opener and won the free-kick for the third. Alex Russell capped a fine display with that stunning free-kick and Andy Duncan had an impressive game in defence.

Barnet's transfer-listed striker Scott McGleish, a target for Roy McFarland, got a much gentler ride from the Abbey supporters than on previous returns to Cambridge. McFarland repeated his interest in the Scot in yesterday's programme when he wrote: "Ever since he left here I have been following his career and I will continue to do so, despite having our bid turned down by Barnet. I think he would be an asset to the club.

"I like his qualities and and it isn't a case that he has something that our current crop of strikers don't have. It will create better competition for places and the more goalscorers you have the more goals you will score."

McGleish gave a clear indication of where he thinks he might be playing next season when he was warming up near to the North Terrace. As the home supporters taunted him with a chorus of "You're going down to the Conference", he shook his head and pointed to the pitch!

Mpeg files of yesterday's goals are available from the usual page.

Cambridge United: Marshall, Chenery, Ashbee, Duncan, McNeil, Campbell, Wanless, Taylor, Butler, Benjamin, Russell.
Subs not used: Preece, Kyd, Youngs.

Barnet: Harrison, Stockley, Goodhind, Searle, Basham (Manuel 46'), Arber, Simpson (Barnes 74'), Doolan, Charlery, Devine (McGleish 62'), Currie.

Ref: M. Brandwood (Lichfield).

Shots On Target: Cambridge 5, Barnet 4
Corners: Cambridge 5, Barnet 8

Before today's game Cambridge United collected the Mazda award as joint top scorers in the country last month, and then resumed where they left off with three excellent strikes - although a late strike from Barnet ensured a nervous end to the game.

United were unchanged today while Barnet had two ex-U's Billy Manuel and Scott McGleish on their bench and Darren Currie, who came to The Abbey on trial last season, in their side.

Under a cloudy sky the game got off to an indifferent start, with most of United's moves petering out in the packed midfield area. After 10 minutes a cross from Barnet's Warren Goodhind caused some confusion in the defence but Shaun Marshall tipped it behind, and from the corner Ian Ashbee broke out but the move died in midfield.

After 13 minutes Ashbee, Martin Butler and Ben Chenery combined well but from Chenery's cross the shot was blocked by Phil Simpson. Two minutes later United took the lead through John Taylor when the 34-year-old took Butler's pass inside in his stride and a struck a wonderful left-foot shot from 20 yards, giving Lee Harrison no chance at all.

In the 26th minute Trevor Benjamin added to his growing reputation with the afternoon's second fine goal. Taylor started the move on the halfway line with a pass to Butler, the striker took the ball forward and fed Russell on the right wing, the midfielder played a fine ball inside the full-back and Benjamin brushed off the Barnet defenders and lashed a left foot shot past the helpless 'keeper.

There followed a period of end-to-end action and in the 33rd minute Devine set up Ken Charlery who headed wide when it looked easier to score. Two minutes later, after a great United build-up, Wanless fired just over from the edge of the box, and in the 38th minute Sean Devine scampered into the area only to be robbed by a perfectly-timed tackle from Andy Duncan. In the 40th minute Martin Butler's cross was only inches in front of Trevor Benjamin, then two minutes later Barnet pulled a goal back thanks to errors by the normally immaculate Duncan. He missed his first clearance, his second hit defensive partner Martin McNeil and ex-P*sh striker Ken Charlery was in the right place to strike the ball past Marshall. (Half-time 2-1)

At half-time Billy Manuel replaced Mike Basham and took just 27 seconds to give away his first free-kick! The goal had definitely lifted Barnet and for a spell United looked nervous, probably afraid that the home game jinx was about to strike again. But the storm was weathered and the scoreline remained at 2-1, although on another day another referee might have awarded a penalty to Barnet after an hour. A Barnet cross found Sam Stockley who got past Jamie Campbell and then fell theatrically when challenged, but Mr Brandwood was not fooled and he waved play on.

United extended the lead on 67 minutes after a slightly fortuitous decision at the other end. Martin Butler was felled just outside the box and Alex Russell curled the free-kick over the wall and under the bar for his fifth goal of the season.

In the 78th minute Butler burst down the right but his cross was slightly behind Russell who could only spoon the ball over the bar. Seven minutes later Ken Charlery made himself space for a shot at goal but missed by a mile, but he made amends in the 89th minute to give the home fans a nervous few minutes at the death. A defensive mix-up between Chenery and Marshall allowed Charlery to run into the box on his own, and despite Marshall's late charge off his line Charlery was again in the right place to pounce on the loose ball and tucked it home. But despite another two minutes of injury time United managed to avoid the familiar last minute self-destruction and held on for the three points.

Martin Butler had an excellent all-round game that only lacked a goal as reward for his running and effort, while John Taylor continues to defy the years by playing the full 90 minutes and capped today's display with a goal that must rank among his best. Despite his mistake for the first Barnet goal, Andy Duncan also caught the eye with some good tackling, especially when possession was being given away in the second half.

Barnet are unlikely to include United transfer target Scott McGleish, who has not played since he requested a transfer last month. McFarland is a big admirer of the Scottish striker who enjoyed a prolific loan spell at The Abbey two years ago, but he had a bid rejected last month before McGleish asked to leave Underhill.

McFarland knows tomorrow's game against second-from-bottom Barnet represents a vital chance to improve United's indifferent home record, which falls well short of the U's away form - the best in the country.

"The pressure is on us," he told the Cambridge Evening News. "I accept that and so do the players. We must start winning more matches at home. There have been times when I've appealed to the fans to get behind us, and they have done that magnificently in the cup matches. Now it is time for us to do it for them. I want the players to feel that responsibility tomorrow.

"I don't think anybody is going to take Barnet lightly because they are having a bad time. Brighton were bottom when they came to the Abbey and won recently. They'll be scrapping for points, and we've got to be just as committed."

Skipper Paul Wanless (below) also spoke about the difference in home and away results to the CEN, saying "There isn't any sort of complex among the players about home games. It's just that our away record this season is so exceptional it makes it look as though we are really bad at the Abbey.

"The results aren't as good as we would like, that's true, but that's probably more to do with the teams we've played, rather than us not performing. Our Worthington Cup run may have had some effect. If you are near the top of the table it affects how visiting teams approach the game. But with our cup results added to that it means other sides get more wound up before playing you.

"It can make them more determined, but also in a lot of cases, more defensive. They know they are going to have to come and scrap for any points. So we don't get as much space in which to attack as we might do away from the Abbey, where we have players with a bit of pace to catch teams out. I don't see it as a problem we can't overcome, though. As we get more used to games like these at home I'm sure we can improve our record."

Wanless is concerned at the effect suspensions and injuries will have on UNited's small squad but added, "We had Trevor Benjamin suspended and Marc Joseph injured, but Michael Kyd is on the way back and young Martin McNeil came in and did a good job in defence. Despite the problems, we've gone up the table instead of down."

Meanwhile Roy McFarland has spoken about the number of young players in the high-flying United team and how they are coping. If United are unchanged tomorrow the fourteen on duty will include three teenagers, seven players aged between 20 and 24, with just four who are older than that (Jamie Campbell, Alex Russell and the two mid-30s player-coaches Preece and Taylor).

McFarland knows it is a far from ideal set-up to have so many under-24s in the side but admits, "Like a lot of clubs at our level we can't afford the wages of a high proportion of older players, even if we could get them in on free transfers.

"We are reliant on the quality of our youngsters, and I think that will be the continuing trend. We are fortunate to be able to bring on players who have shown they can adapt to the demands of League football, although we have to be careful not to over-expose them at that level.

"Goalkeeper Shaun Marshall (20) has done a very good job, and Martin McNeil (18), still a youth team player has the confidence needed to step up. He's convinced he ought to be in the side on merit, irrespective of his age. But he's cocky in a funny, rather than nasty, sort of way. All the players take the mick out of him, but he reacts the right way to it.

"He played well," said Roy McFarland about Mahorn, "and we are going to have a longer look at him in training with us."

However news of the injured Marc Joseph and Neil Mustoe is not so good, according to today's Cambridge Evening News, and they are rated 'doubtful' for the visit of Barnet on Saturday. Both are nursing thigh strains that have ruled Joseph out of the last two games and forced Mustoe to miss last weekend's win at Mansfield.

McFarland told the CEN, "We'll give them as long as we can, but I also have to consider we have a game at Peterborough on Tuesday, so we can't afford the risk of them coming back too soon."

The youth team were in action yesterday evening, travelling to the Midlands for the first round of the FA Youth Cup. They beat Bolehall Swifts 7-1, with the goals coming from Matthew Hanniver (2), Andy Ingham, Karl Fox, Michael Steward, Mark Gibson, and Daniel Chillingworth.

The award, a cut glass bowl, will be presented before Saturday's game by Jack Taylor of the Football League and representatives of Mazda.

Mazda have lowered their goalscoring targets for the Mazda Marksman Award, which is a chance for Nationwide League strikers to win a Mazda MX-5 sports car, worth around £20,000. The first player to score 27 goals before Christmas - in League, Worthington Cup and FA Cup matches - will win a car, and another car will go to the first player to score 43 goals - in the same competitions - by the end of the season. The previous goalscoring targets were 30 goals by Christmas and 45 goals by the end of the season.

United's leading scorers in those competitions are currently Martin Butler with ten goals and Trevor Benjamin with seven.

Tickets prices are now available for the FA Cup first round tie at Telford on Saturday 14th November. It will be 'pay on the day' at Telford, and prices are £8 for adults and £5 for concessions to gain entry to the terraced area. If you want to sit you must then pay a £2 transfer charge to move to the seated area, which is the same for adults and concessions.

Telford's Bucks Head ground is two minutes off Junction 6 of the M54, and United are hoping to be able to print detailed directions in this weekend's matchday programme. If a replay is required it will be on Tuesday 24th November at The Abbey (k.o. 7.45pm).

On the Chris Waddle front, the Cambridge Evening News reports that Roy McFarland will be speaking to chairman Reg Smart about the former England winger.

The 37-year-old winger was capped 62 times and is two games short of 600 League games. His career has included spells at Newcastle, Tottenham, Monaco and Sheffield Wednesday, but he failed to finish on the winning side in seven games for the Gulls as they drew five and lost two during his stay.

Gulls owner Mike Bateson said today, "The arrangement when Chris joined us was that we would review the situation after half a dozen games. The parting is very amicable."

Roy McFarland told the Cambridge Evening News: "I'll be having talks in the next day or so, and before going into the financial aspects, I can see where a player of his calibre playing a wide role for us would be a very useful addition.

"I could see Chris fitting in to a 4-4-2 or sweeper system. We are going to have a good look at this."

The News also reports that McFarland's bid for an unnamed third division striker has been rejected. The manager commented, "We weren't in a position to up the price, but we'll keep on plugging away."

Today's London Evening Standard reports that QPR manager Gerry Francis is "keeping an eye on Cambridge striker Trevor Benjamin", but rumours in London suggest that he will need to raise cash by selling before he can buy.

Meanwhile United are still waiting for the date of the tribunal to set Matthew 'Billy' Beall's transfer fee. He finally signed for Leyton Orient last week after training with them for some months and made his debut on Saturday.

News of the ticket prices and the allocation for the FA Cup tie at Telford is expected tomorrow. United were waiting for the details from the Conference side today.

The derby at Peterboring next week is not all-ticket and terrace tickets WILL be available on the night, priced at £7 and £3. However tickets for the seated area must be bought in advance from the Abbey ticket office, prices £8 and £3. No seat tickets will be available on the night.

Admitting it was "not exactly" the tie United were hoping for, McFarland explained, "What you hope for most at this stage of the FA Cup is a home tie or a game against another League side. Nobody likes going into the unknown to play non-League opposition. We will have to show we can meet a different kind of challenge.

"It will be a big day for Telford and we know they'll be giving it everything. We'll probably look like an even bigger scalp for them after our Worthington Cup exploits. They are halfway down the Conference, but that is going to be irrelevant on the day."

The game will take place on Saturday November 14th and although McFarland is sure to have Telford watched in the meantime, he already knows that they have a good ground and playing surface which will suit United. He added: "They've probably fallen a bit below their form of two or three years ago when they looked like getting into the Football League, but they have a bit of Cup tradition and we are going to have to scrap, no doubt about it."

Looking back to Saturday's game at Mansfield he was delighted with the performance, telling the CEN: "Saturday's win at Mansfield was probably our best of the six in the League this season. They were a good side, yet we won with a bit to spare.

"It was very, very encouraging so soon after such a hard match in midweek at Nottingham Forest. As well as getting over the physical side of that game, we had to cope with the fact we didn't get through, and with the change of tactics we felt was necessary at Mansfield."

He deployed Jamie Campbell and John Taylor to mark Mansfield's wing-backs and after his exertions in the rain at Forest on Tuesday night, the 34-year-old player-coach did remarkably well in a role more suited to the busy Neil Mustoe. Mustoe missed out with a thigh strain, the same injury that kept Marc Joseph on the side-lines. Both are said to have a chance of being fit for Saturday's home game against struggling Barnet.

Skipper Paul Wanless said, "We could have steam-rollered them. I know they could have had another goal late on, but with a bit more luck we might have scored six or seven. It's great to be able to come away and win like this."

There are unsubstantiated rumours that United are ready to make an increased offer for Barnet's Scott McGleish, having had a reported £70,000 bid rejected last month before the Scot went on the transfer list at his own request. Since then 'Billy' Beall has signed for Leyton Orient and made his debut on Saturday, which means Orient are now bound by the fee set by the transfer tribunal. But despite any extra income generated by the Worthington Cup run and Beall's sale, many fans suspect that McGleish is being lined up as a replacement for the in-demand Trevor Benjamin.

Cambridge United supporters who travelled to the game at Nottingham Forest last Tuesday have complained about the lack of organisation at The Premiership club's ground.

United took over 3,000 to the City Ground for the Worthington Cup tie and Forest were slow to react to the situation. Fans were herded into seating areas that were already full and this led to minor confrontations between stewards who were unaware of the over-crowding and fans who were bring told to sit down where there no seats to be found. Frighteningly some children were separated from their parents, and several fans resorted to entering through the home turnstiles and requesting a transfer to the away end once inside.

Eventually, more of the Bridgford End was opened and two extra turnstiles were opened, but one of those had no change and was therefore accepting correct money only, and although kick-off was delayed by ten minutes some fans were still queuing outside in the pouring rain as the match started.

Club Secretary Andy Pincher said: "We have received several complaints from fans, so we'll be writing to Forest."

The CUSA has already written to Nottingham Forest with their observations and spokesman Brian Attmore said today, "In order to help with investigations it would be helpful if anyone who attended and experienced difficulties could put in writing exactly what happened to them and post it to me as soon as possible."

Brian can be contacted at: Brian Attmore, 32 Beaumont Road, Cambridge CB1 8PY or you can e-mail him at brian.attmore@btinternet.com.

Saturday's Cambridge Evening News carried an article in which the holders of the allotments behind the South Terrace warn Cambridge United that they 'hold the cards' over the planned proposal to redevelop the ground. The club wants to purchase some of the land used by allotment holders as part of the overall redevelopment plan, but the newspaper report included quotes from one of the allotment holders which indicated that they do not intend to allow the Club to purchase the piece of land without a fight.

"There is a lot of pride in our dressing room at the moment," he said, "and no-one let themselves or Cambridge down. I was worried about this game, playing on a wet pitch, when I thought we would be a little leggy after extra-time in midweek.

"I don't have a big squad to make changes from, but in the end everyone played well and we got the result we wanted."

Mansfield manager Steve Parkin, recently linked with Hull City, was unsurprisingly less impressed with his side and commented, "You can't defend like that and expect to win games and you can't squander chances like that and expect to win games. Believe me, both will improve before next Saturday."