United flatten mighty City (05.03.05)

A LATE goal from Lewis Cook gave the Magpies one of their best wins of the season at high flying Cambridge City on Saturday, and lifted them back out of the relegation places.
The win was a deserved reward for a superb team performance by United, and a personal triumph for manager Dennis Greene, whose innovative tactical approach to the match was a key factor in the victory.
It also ended City's nine-game unbeaten run and jeopardises their promotion play-off hopes.
The Magpies lined up in an unusual 4-5-1 formation, with centre-half Brian Connor playing in a novel role just in front of the defence.
This had the desired effect of stifling the Cambridge midfield, and allowing United to dominate throughout.
Maidenhead could have taken the lead as early as the third minute, when Craig O’Connor broke through the defence only for his shot to be pushed behind by the keeper for a corner.
Cambridge’s best chance of the match came four minutes later from a free-kick, given when Magpies keeper Adam Federici had illegally ended a threatening run by Matt Robinson just outside his area.
Fortunately, Bryan Smith had sprinted in behind his keeper, meaning referee Mr Horwood showed only a yellow card
From the resulting set piece, Sam Cooper's nicely weighted free-kick cleared the wall, and only a flying save from Federici kept the scores level.
In stark contrast to the corresponding match at York Road, when Cambridge destroyed Maidenhead 5-1 which effectively led to John Dreyer’s departure from the manager’s job, United took control of the match and regularly created chances to score.
O’Connor performed a thankless task in his solitary role up front with his tireless running working the Cambridge defence hard.
In keeping with their midfield dominance, the best two United chances fell to wide player Peter Adeniyi.
In the 16th minute he had a good shot across goal tipped wide by Duncan Roberts, and just after half-time – following a Lee Kersey effort which was cleared off the line – he put the ball high and wide from close range.
In an attempt to pose the Magpies’ rock-solid defence some different problems, manager Gary Roberts had introduced Jon Stevenson at the interval, with Sam Cooper departing from the action and Matt Robinson switching to the left.
City got a rare sight of the visitors’ goal midway through the half, when Lee Chaffey delivered the ball into the space between Federici and his defenders, presenting Dave Sadler with a good opportunity from close range.
But when a header seemed the most obvious option, the Lilywhites’ marksman stabbed a half-hearted effort across the face of the area and behind for a goal-kick.
Another opportunity materialised moments later, when Josh Simpson fed Carl Williams, whose first-time strike shaved the outside of the post.
However, it was the visitors who were asking the big questions, especially after the inspired introduction of Lawrence Yaku with half an hour to go.
Now playing with two men up front, a goal for United began to seem inevitable.
On 68 minutes Yaku escaped down the right to set up Kelvin McIntosh, only for the former Oldham keeper to block his close-range shot.
The goal finally arrived with just over 10 minutes to go, Yaku latching onto a long ball down the right and threading a cross through to Lewis Cook who fired home from 12 yards.
Yaku himself had a couple of efforts which went close in the dying minutes, the best coming from a mistake by the keeper, whose miscued clearance was pounced upon by Jamie Cook.
Cook released Yaku with a well-timed pass, but Roberts atoned for his mistake with a brave block.
Lee Chaffey’s driving run and shot momentarily lifted the home fans’ spirits but, following an agonizing three minutes of injury-time, the referee blew for time, prompting deserved celebrations for the Magpies.

BROTHERS IN ARMS: Guy Ekwala embraces Lewis Cook after his winning strike on goal.