Two goals from Lee Boylan condemned United to their third home defeat of the season as Cambridge made it a double over them this season. Boylan's goals, one in each half, sandwiched a fine strike from Matt Green in an evenly contested match.
With James Clarke ill and Green preferred to Justin Richards up front United lined up in their now familiar 4-4-2 shape, against a Cambridge side in a more unusual 3-4-3 formation (or 5-4-1 when defending, formation followers).
After Courtney Pitt had rolled back the years and blasted wide from six yards on six minutes United had a Jamie Hand effort on eight go just wide but then fell behind to a move engineered by another Oxford old boy Rob Wolleaston. The ex Chelsea midfielder was drifting away from play on 16 minutes but cut back and crossed perfectly for Boylan to loop a header up and over the stranded Turley.
Against a side in third and going for promotion United might have let their heads drop but instead showed character and struck back immediately. Green almost found the winner in the last minute at Forest Green on Saturday when he galloped away from the defence and forced a low save from the keeper, and in a very similar move this time he cut across from the right channel and curled the ball across keeper Potter with the outside of his right boot to find the corner of the net and register his fourth goal in United colours. A well taken goal, with an early strike of the ball decisive.
Green and McAllister were causing problems for the Cambridge defence, but with the other U's' strike force of Boylan and Lee 'Baby Hartson' McEvilly also lively it was even stuff as the two midfields tried to find the right ammunition.
Again, the pairing of Hand and Murray in the centre of the park were demanding the ball be played to feet rather than over their heads and their growing influence meant that most of the game was beginning to be played at the open end of the ground despite the wind gusting in as we reached half time.
The second half opened in even fashion with both sides looking to play football on the deck, but on 57 minutes it was the visitors who made that work in their favour with a very well worked and decisive goal. McEvilly turned neatly and ran at the defence and as he drew the defender slipped the ball into the feet of Boylan just inside the area. Boylan, full of confidence, advanced then thrashed the ball past Turley for a very well executed goal to restore Cambridge's lead.
United almost repeated their earlier trick of equalizing swiftly but this time McAllister's volley from twelve yards was well saved by Potter and it wasn't long before a change of personnel and formation as wide men Anaclet and Blackwood made way for Justin Richards and Yemi Odubade.
Murray's passing range and hunger for the ball were remarkable, especially for someone up most of the night attending the birth of son Harley, and now with four strikers to hit United started to look longer and to stretch the game.
It meant a very open last twenty minutes as 4-2-4 met 5-3-2 and a Murray drive on 77 was heading for the corner of the net until it struck a leg and flew to safety. A Foster header was clawed away by Potter on 78, Hand's right footer was going in until Potter produced more magic twenty second later before two scrambled efforts in the 79th minute were cleared off the line, one at each post. Pitt, gesturing the scoreline at the Oxford fans at every opportunity, scrambled the last one away to further anger the 4,000 fans in yellow.
Potter had one last trick, arching backwards to tip a Richards header over the bar on 89 minutes, and despite four minutes of injury time United could find no way past a stubborn Cambridge defence.
Ask Potter, when the magic is with you your two shots on target both go in. Cambridge killed the game off well and will be in the play-offs. United will continue to rebuild.
Report: Chris Williams. Stats by PA Sports
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