Jez left "fuming" as U's grab a point
A trademark free kick from James Jennings deep into second half injury time ensured that Cambridge United's unbeaten start to the season was maintained.After a very non eventful first forty five minutes the game sprung to life after the interval and it was the free scoring Tom Elliott who broke the deadlock on 52 minutes when he pounced on Harrison Dunk's knock down to score from close range.
The home side were back on level terms within sixty seconds of the restart though as the Cambridge defence switched off and allowed the impressive Wesley York to square for Adam Walker who side footed home from inside the area.
Jez George introduced Sam Smith on the hour mark who partnered Elliott up front but it was another substitute in Adriano Moke who caused Nuneaton the most problems as his trickery inside the area won the U's a penalty with around ten minutes left to play. Robbie Willmott stepped up but saw his well struck penalty saved superbly by Neil Collett.
It was a 92nd minute penalty up the other end that looked to have given Nuneaton all three points. Jonathon Hedge had fouled York inside the area when one on one, the keeper was sent off with a straight red card. James Armson made no mistake as he rifled the spot kick past Liam Hughes who had gone in goal with the U's not having a substitute goalie on the bench.
With the U's staring defeat in the eye they pushed forward with Josh Coulson playing the final minutes as a forward, and it was a foul on Coulson on 95 minutes 25 yards from goal that allowed Jennings to hammer home the free kick to the delight of the 411 United fans gathered behind the goal.
16:53 Full-Time: Nuneaton Town 2-2 Cambridge United.
16:52 GOAL: Nuneaton Town 2-2 Cambridge United. Get in! James Jennings fires a free kick home from twenty five yards after Coulson was fouled, the U's fans are delighted.
16:49 GOAL: Nuneaton Town 2-1 Cambridge United. James Armson smashes the penalty into the bottom left hand corner, Hughes had no chance.
16:47 It's a penalty to Nuneaton after Wes York is fouled by Hedge in the area and is subsequently sent off. As a result Liam Hughes is on for Willmott and goes in goal.
16:47 Armson see's his shot go just wide of the post.
16:44 Nuneaton win a corner, but it is over hit and a Cambridge throw in.
16:42 Harrison Dunk fires a shot into the side netting.
16:41 PENALTY MISS: Robbie Willmott has a spot kick saved well by Collett after Moke was fouled in the box.
16:37 Thompson-Brown curls a right footed shot well wide, and he is then replaced by Kyle Patterson.
16:36 Adriano Moke replaces Tom Elliott.
16:35 A deflected shot by Willmott is out for a corner but Nuneaton deal with the threat.
16:31 Jarvis shoots first time from outside the box but it was always rising and it's well over.
16:29 Elliott wins a corner, Jennings to take, Collett punches clear.
16:28 Willmott is looking bright now and his low cross is cut out by Collett.
16:27 Sleath runs onto a good ball from Thompson-Brown and fires a shot goal wards which Hedge parry's behind for a corner. The U's defend it well.
16:26 A good cross from Robbie Willmott has the keeper flapping but Nuneaton just about do enough.
16:24 A quick free kick catches United sleeping but the cross is over hit and out for a throw
16:22 Luke Berry shoots from twenty yards but Collett saves comfortably.
16:19 Nuneaton pile the pressure on and have two crosses run across the face of the goal in quick succession.
16:18 Cambridge United substitution here as Sam Smith replaces Tom Shaw and the U's to 4-4-2.
16:14 Wesley York looks the danger man for the host's and his cross is only just to long for Andy Brown.
16:10 GOAL: Nuneaton Town 1-1 Cambridge United. Nuneaton get straight back into the game as Adam Walker side foots home from York's right wing cross.
16:09 GOAL: Nuneaton Town 0-1 Cambridge United. It's that man Elliott again. Willmott crosses to the far post and Dunk squares it to Elliott who shoots from six yards.
16:08 The attendance is 1,175 with 411 Cambridge fans.
16:07 Cambridge win a corner but O'Halloran heads it clear.
16:06 Great ball from Jarvis as he hits a diagonal ball 30+ yards out to Elliott.
16:03 Nuneaton kick the second half off.
15:46 Half-Time: Nuneaton Town 0-0 Cambridge United. The referee does everybody a favour as he brings a drab first half to an end, let's hope for a more entertaining second half.
15:41 James Armson floats into the Cambridge area unchallenged but his cross is headed clear by James Jennings.
15:39 Dunk's cross is blocked and it's a Cambridge corner, taken by Jarvis but cleared away at the near post.
15:36 Scott Garner clears the ball from inside the six yard box with Andy Brown looming after York's original effort was deflected and had left Hedge out of his goal.
15:33 Willmott's cross is just to long for Luke Berry.
15:30 A slow first half an hour here with the U's enjoying the most possession. The rain hasn't helped as players on both side's struggle to keep on their feet.
15:26 Tom Elliott shoots on the turn from the edge of the area but it's blocked and cleared away.
15:14 Rory McAuley concedes a corner, Sleath delivers but the referee blows for a free kick to Cambridge for shirt pulling.
15:11 Luke Berry plays a pass to Dunk who takes a couple of touches before drilling a low shot just past the right hand post.
15:09 Tom Elliott heads wide from Willmott's cross.
15:08 Cambridge win the games first corner which Jennings takes, Neil Collett punches clear.
15:06 A good run down the left from Harrison Dunk who beats a defender and gets a cross in but it's cleared away.
15:04 Wesley York shoots wide from outside the area as Nuneaton get forward for the first time.
15:03 Rossi Jarvis heads over from the edge of the area.
15:01 We're off, Cambridge kick off with a good number of United fans behind the goal we defend in the first half.
14:45 I'm pleased to report that the rain has stopped so we should be okay. Fifteen minutes until kick-off.
14:30 We're currently experiencing a huge down pour here as well as thunder and lightening, hopefully it will pass quickly and not put the game in any danger. Both sets of players are soaked as they warm up.
14:15 TEAMS: Nuneaton Town: Collett, O'Halloran, Grodron, Cowan, Thompson-Brown, Armson, Sleath, Walker, Brown, York. Subs: Patterson, Perry, James, Adams, Ford.
Cambridge United: Hedge, Jennings, Garner, Coulson, McAuley, Dunk, Jarvis, Shaw, Willmott, Berry, Elliott. Subs: Hudson, Wellard, Moke, Hughes, Smith.
13:00 Good afternoon folks and welcome along to the Triton Showers Community Stadium, the home of Nuneaton Town football club. The U's come here full of confidence following their great start to the campaign and I'm sure nothing other than three points is what Cambridge United manager Jez George and his players will be looking for. Team news to follow a little later.
Match report provided by cambridgeunited.com reporter Sam Line.