Cambridge United got back on track with a home draw against ten man Stockport County at the R Costings Abbey Stadium.

Cambridge were desperate to get back on track after a woeful performance against Southport on Saturday. Manager Jez George had a couple of problems going into the game. Tom Shaw was suspended due to bookings and Keiran Murtagh away on international duty. Adam Marriott was called back into the starting line up after not been selected in the matchday squad for the last four games. Luke Berry moved back into midfield to partner Rossi Jarvis. Also welcomed back into the squad on the bench was Jonathan Thorpe and Blaine Hudson.

The match started with the renowned Abbey swirling wind rattiling round the famous old stadium. United were first out of the blocks with a nice sweeping move but could not make the most of it as Carew lost out.

Before we knew it Stockport took the lead in the second minute. Striker Nick Chadwick earned a free kick after been bundled over from behind by Rory McAuley. The ball was put in to the box and Chadwick connected and put the ball in the back of the net. The former Everton man made the Cambridge defence look like statues. Jez George would have been livid with the start after leaking on two minutes for the second time in two games.

Cambridge tried to hit back when a free kick from Carew was flicked on by Coulson but failed to find a fellow United player. A minute later Michael Gash using his strength to barge into the box before crossing to the edge for Adam Marriott who shot wide. It seemed that United were turning up the heat on a cold night in CB5.

Stockport hit back with free kick and a corner which came to nothing. Stockport it must be said at this point whethered the early Cambridge storm and took control of the game themselves.

Within minutes the game was all level. Cambridge had the goal they needed. Marriott took a throw in to Gash who laid the ball off for Luke Berry who curled a stupendous shot into the corner of the net. It was the fillip United needed.

For the rest of the half it was United who had the upper hand with many well worked moves gaining a couple of free kicks from counter attacks. Stockport did not produce anything of note as the wind continued to play havoc for the teams.

The second half started with the wind swirling as viscously as ever. Stockport made a change with Whitehead coming on for Paton. Both sides started the half cautiously and appeared to enter a game to tit for tat with a number of tough tackles been exchanged. The first bit of interesting action of the half came from Cambridge. Michael Gash flicked on for Luke Berry but the youngster could not make anything of it. Carew was next to cause havoc getting away from his marker and feeding Kevin Roberts whose cross was too deep for Winn.

Within a couple of moments Stockport took the lead for the second time in the game. Cambridge again leak a goal from a set piece. The corner came in which was flicked on by O'Donnell and Whitehead nodded home. Again manager Jez George would be livid about the marking. It seems all the good defensive work of previous weeks has gone out of the window.

Moments later Stockport went down to ten men as Piergianni was sent off for hacking down Roberts and earning a second yellow card. This was the tonic United needed. U's boss George then decided to make a double substitution. Charles and Patrick came on for Marriott and Carew and Blackburn replaced Chadwick for County.

For the next few moments it was as expected all Cambridge. I was no surprise with fifteen minutes left that United equalised. Jordan Patrick was the man. The ball was sent over the Stockport defence and Patrick ran onto the ball and slotted home a beautiful angled shot. Game on. This was a chance for United to go for the kill.

Dunk came on for the impressive Gash. Cambridge had one final chance when a JArvis shot was parried by the Stockport keeper into the path of Ryan Charles who shinned the ball over. That was the chance to win it. No doubt George will be upset his striker missed from five yards. The game ended all square but The Ambermen will feel they should have done a lot better.

Att 2,047