Roy McFarland was understandably delighted to see his side record the first away win of the Division Two season, and pointed to Trevor Benjamin's progress as a key reason.

"It's been a long time coming, but obviously it's nice to get our first away win in the League. It was hard fought and well deserved," he told the Cambridge Evening News, before admitting that conceding a goal after just 74 seconds was not the perfect start. "That was a bit of a blow. The goalkeeper has put his hand up at half time and said 'it's my fault, sorry lads'.

"But the main thing with that is the lads didn't let it bother them. They just got on with it and they believed in themselves, as they always have. The mental side of this game is very important and they've shown that their attitude and the willingness to work for each other is very important. It was a good solid performance and when we had to defend, we defended in numbers and did very well.

"We worked for each other and we worked around each other, and we blocked balls and generally tried to make it hard for them. It was a very positive team effort."

Opposite number Gary Brazil admitted afterwards he was extremely disappointed and, without naming individual players, blamed his defenders for the sixth home defeat of the season. Many of the disgruntled home fans left in their hundreds long before the final whistle and missed Benjamin's injury time winner.

Brazil told the Nottingham Evening Post, "Too many players just weren't on song against Cambridge, and it's hard to legislate for individual mistakes. It's not the best time of the season to be playing the bottom sides, and at this stage of the game there will be results like that up and down the country.

"We knew Cambridge wouldn't be easy, and they fought really well. But my players didn't throw the towel in, and you could see how much they cared by their expressions as they walked off the pitch."

McFarland went on to express his delight at Benjamin's recent form. There were very few matches played last night and with five goals in his last seven games the 21-year-old was undoubtedly the main attraction for the rows of scouts and club managers at Meadow Lane last night.

"I've asked him to take Martin Butler's mantle and carry it, and I think he's leading the line very well since Martin left," said McFarland, adding, "He was awesome in the first half at Stoke and he came off without a goal, but he's carried it on here."

Careful to point out that Benjamin is not the finished product and doesn't score enough tap ins, he concluded, "I think he's now starting to believe in himself and the lads know that since Martin's gone we have to have someone up there in the box and scoring goals, and Trevor is starting to do it."

The manager also praised the noisy travelling support who got behind the team all night and were ecstatic at the injury time winner. Unusually he stepped onto the pitch and applauded the supporters after the match and he told the CEN, "On behalf of the players, it's a big thank you to them, because they've stuck with us. It's much appreciated."

Physio Ken Steggles also made special mention of the 416 supporters to assistant secretary Mark Johnson today, while a Notts County steward who was on duty for the U's game at Nottingham Forest last season said that United's fans were more passionate and gave better support than Manchester City's fans.