U's 2-1 Forest Green
Cambridge United defeated Forest Green Rovers in an entertaining match at the R Costings Abbey Stadium to regain top spot in the Skrill Premier.
United led from the first minute, when Luke Berry took advantage of some hesitant goalkeeping from Sam Russell to shoot home. It didn't get any better for Russell in the second half, as he allowed Tom Champion's header to squirm under his body as the U's doubled their advantage. Yan Klukowski got Rovers back in the match four minutes later, but United hung on despite an injury to Ryan Donaldson.
Richard Money made two changes to his starting line-up, with Berry and Tait returning to the side at the expense of Liam Hughes and Michael Spillane.
Berry picked up the Skrill Premier Player of the Month award before the match, and within 48 seconds of kick off he was celebrating again after scoring the opening goal. Tait’s cross was flapped away unconvincingly by Rovers’ keeper Sam Russell, and Berry coolly steered the ball into the gaping goal.
Rovers expensively-assembled team was never going to let United have it all their own way though, and Chris Maxwell had to make a good save to stop Andy Mangan’s header. Matthew Barnes-Homer also headed wide on a couple of occasions, while Anthony Barry tried his luck from distance but Maxwell saved comfortably.
At the other end Kwesi Appiah’s shot was dealt with by Russell, and Richard Tait thundered a powerful effort against the cross bar.
Rovers boss Dave Hockaday rang the changes after the break, but United made it 2-0 when Champion found space at the back post to meet a Donaldson corner, and his header crept across the line.
Four minutes later it was 2-1 when half-time substitute Klukowski took advantage of a spill from Maxwell to poke the ball into the unguarded goal.
The U’s then lost Donaldson, who was stretchered off after going down under a fairly innocuous looking challenge. But Money’s men saw the game out well, with Cunnington and substitute Nathan Arnold passing up good chances to make it 3-1.
So the U’s unbeaten run continues, and they will be looking to extend it again on Tuesday night when Nuneaton Town visit the R Costings Abbey Stadium.
MayIClaim Man of the Match: Luke Berry
Cambridge United: Maxwell, Tait, Taylor, Miller, Coulson, Donaldson (Hughes 74), Dunk, Champion, Berry, Cunnington, Appiah (Arnold 65). Subs not used: Norris, Sam-Yorke, Spillane.
Forest Green Rovers: Russell, Stokes, Oshodi, Bennett, Turley, Bangura, Barry, Taylor (Klukowski 45), Barnes-Homer, Wright (Vieira 67), Mangan (Norwood 55). Subs not used: Hodgkiss, Bulman.
Referee: Mr Rob Whitton
Attendance: 2915 (away 51)