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United were at the Abbey Stadium for their second away game in the space of a week on Saturday afternoon as they came up against Cambridge United.

It was United who took the points as they overcame a stuttering start to dominate the game and, in the end, it could and probably should have been an even more comfortable winning margin.

The hosts had their first corner of the day with just 60 seconds on the clock and the low Maris delivery somehow found its way through bodies to pick out Ibehre at the back stick. He saw it late and he could only guide his header wide of the target.

Things tightened up as both sides took a measured approach to trying to find a way through, but Cambridge came again when Carroll fed Brown into space on the left flank. A fizzed cross found Brown but Liddle got his head in the way to deflect the goal bound effort behind. The corner was met by a jump from Louis John but he couldn't keep it down and it rose high over the bar.

Good work on the right wing from Amoo saw him beat his man before clipping the ball deep. Brown controlled it on his chest but he rushed his volley and it flew harmlessly over the angle of post and bar.

A throw from Liddle was taken well by Devitt as he held his man off to create space on the edge of the area. He looked up to see Glendon on the move and the midfielder went for a first time shot which took a deflection as it made its way into Forde's waiting hands.

The U's tried to hit the visitors on the break when a promising away move broke down with plenty of grape juice shirts committed forward. Azeez bent his run into the box but Gerrard was there to make a block when the shot came in.

An unbelievable save from Collin kept the score all-square when Azeez had the ball put on a plate dead central and just ten yards out. The big stopper stayed on his feet only to spread himself at the final moment when a low, crunching shot appeared to be going in.

His good work was undone just moments later when Ibehre raced through to latch on to a ball over the top. He had time to weigh up his options before rolling the ball back to meet a run from Jevani Brown. The forward said thank you very much as he rattled it into the unguarded bottom corner.

Another blocked shot from Brown, when he was found by Amoo, signalled the start of a better spell for Carlisle as they pushed out, and kept the ball in midfield, before sending Gillesphey on an overlap. Bennett was interested until Forde raced off his line to drop onto the loose pieces.

The away side looked to find a gap with their considered approach but another break, this time with Maris pulling the strings, almost caught them light again. He bent his run but Liddle did well to block the attempt.

Carlisle were back on terms just before the break from a move that started when Maris gave the ball away from a loose pass in midfield. Etuhu, Glendon and Devitt kept it well, but it was Yates who stretched the defence when he dropped a shoulder to cross to the back stick. Devitt recovered the long ball, and his looped cross was met by a graceful leap from Richie Bennett. His header left Forde rooted to the floor as it dropped neatly into the back of the net.

United went close on 47 minutes when Devitt got wide to send another testing cross into the mix. Bennett was up well but it was a difficult chance and his header fell wide.

Collin had to be on his toes at the other end when a shot from Azeez hit Gerrard before spinning into the area. Brown wanted it, but the keeper got there first to prevent the shot. Cambridge stayed forward and a long range volley from Carroll was deflected wide as he pulled the trigger on a clearance from Parkes.

Yates scuffed a half volley wide from an Ibehre half clearance from a Devitt corner, as United enjoyed a very good spell, and a 23-yard free kick was wasted by Gillesphey when he lost his bearings and sent it high into the sky.

A quickly taken free kick from Devitt from out wide put Glendon clean through as the away tempo increased. His cross looked perfect for Bennett until Deegan got in the way. The U's broke and Maris put his laces through a volley from the edge of the box which wasn't too far away.

A good set piece from Maris found Taft unmarked but he couldn't get his body round in time and his header rose high.

Carlisle immediately got forward and Devitt showed great awareness to slide a pass through to Nadesan in the box. He controlled neatky and spun on his heels to shoot, and he reacted immediately as the block gave him more space to work in. Forde had no chance as it flew beneath his dive to give the visitors the lead for the first time on the day.

The U's were stung and they went in search of a reply with crosses from Halliday and Carroll. Gerrard showed great poise to deal with everything that came his way.

United should have had the points wrapped up with six minutes left to play when Yates robbed the ball off Halliday inside the Cambridge half. He had Campbell in support and the pass invited a first time shot. The visiting contingent were ready to celebrate until his thumping shot shaved the outside of the post.

Yates had another effort blocked late in the day, and Devitt put one just over as the away side continued to look potent in the attack.

And they saw the game out well as they frustrated the hosts to claim their deserved away points.

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Goals

Cambridge United - Brown (23)

Carlisle United - Bennett (42), Nadesan (69)

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Carlisle United - Campbell (90)

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Teams

Cambridge United - Forde, Halliday, Carroll, Taft, Deegan (Lewis 85), Amoo, Azeez (Corr 70),  Ibehre, Maris, Brown, John. Subs - Mitov, Taylor, O'Neil, Osadebe, Davies, Lewis.

Carlisle United - Collin, Liddle, Gerrard, Parkes, Gillesphey, Yates, Glendon (Sowerby 90), Etuhu, Devitt, Nadesan (Campbell 77), Bennett. Subs - O'Reilly, Miller, Slater, Adewusi, McCarron.

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Referee - Mr Ollie Yates

Attendance - 4,234 (248 away fans)

Read Time: 6 mins