CAMBRIDGE UNITED 0 TAMWORTH 1

THE last time the Lambs won in Cambridge, they were promoted to the Conference for the first time with a victory over the City side, writes Dave Clayton.

Eight years and a lot of water under the bridge later, Tamworth are now playing the city's United side on a regular basis – a club that played in the Football League just six years ago.

While there are a number of sides now in the Conference that played at a higher level once upon a time, the scalp of one of these still-so-called "big boys" is always a delight for a smaller side.

And that was exactly the same at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday as the Lambs won for the first time since mid-October to end a miserable run of seven league matches without a victory.

However, the prognosis didn't look great an hour before kick off as Marcus Law, watching from the stands in the first of his two-match touchline ban, was forced to pick from an ever- decreasing pool of players which now excluded the injured Danny Thomas.

So Dale Belford took a place on the bench alongside the only other established first-teamer, Nabil Shariff, who had arrived on the supporters' coach due to train difficulties earlier in the day.

It looked like the game would be one of Tamworth digging themselves into the trenches as Cambridge pushed forwards straight from the kick-off.

But no matter how hard they tried, the Us couldn't force the ball into the net in the opening exchanges.

In fact, although the ball did go into the danger area on a number of occasions, Jonathan Hedge was protected well enough by the heavily defensive line-up in front of him.

While United were being frustrated, Tamworth tried to catch them on the break and almost managed it twice in the first half.

First Liam McDonald chipped forwards for Kyle Patterson and his shot from the right forced Danny Naisbitt into a double save at his near post.

Eight minutes later, on 36 minutes, Sam Oji rose highest to head a corner at the target and forced Naisbitt to tip the goal-bound effort over the bar.

What turned out to be the solitary goal of the match came five minutes into the second half.

McDonald hit a speculative shot from the left of the box which rose and dropped in an almost perfect arc to leave Naisbitt stranded and helpless to do anything.

Patterson and Paul Green then had great chances to give the Lambs a stronger control of the tie as opportunities came to both in quick succession.

However, on both occasions, their shots missed the target from good positions in or around the edge of the box.

As the game wore on, Cambridge turned up the heat as they tried to salvage something to boost their promotion hopes.

And the brilliant Hedge was called upon on to preserve the lead any which way he could as he put the heartbreak of missing out on a starting place at Everton firmly behind him.

The England C keeper prevented the ball crossing the line at least half a dozen times with full-length saves, parries, brave catches, punches or anything else that was required to earn Tamworth the win.

The victory was vital with the Lambs in free fall.

Law will hope this win helps them turn the corner as the Lambs look to rediscover their early-season spark.

Cambridge United: Naisbitt, Roberts, Jennings, Shaw, Gash, Carew (Thorpe 68), Dunk, Johnson (Hughes 83), Jarvis (Pugh 60), Berry, Hudson. Subs not used: McAuley, Eades.

Tamworth: Hedge, Courtney, Francis, Oji, McDonald, Patterson, Green, Gudger, Isaac, Barrow McKoy. Subs not used: Reynolds, Shariff, Wallen, Belford, Headley

Attendance: 2,281

Herald Star Man: Jonathan Hedge