E-mail Article Print this story

Rendell: Netted a brace

Related Links

• Teams
• Cambridge United
• Stevenage Borough

Cambridge book their place at Wembley

Cambridge United overturned a first-leg deficit with a 3-0 victory against Stevenage Borough on Monday to book their place in the Blue Square Premier play-off final at Wembley.

Graham Westley's Stevenage recorded a 3-1 win against the U's in the first leg but were powerless to stop Gary Brabin's men from storming to a convincing win in the return leg.

The first half ended goalless with neither of the two sides able to fashion an all-important opening goal.

The home side looked most likely to make something happen with their best chances coming from a Scott Rendell header and a Courtney Pitt volley.

Cambridge grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck after the break and broke the deadlock in the 55th minute through Robbie Willmott.

Willmott - on the edge of the box - cut the ball onto his left foot before unleashing a left-footed shot which took a deflection off Stevenage defender Scott Laird and flew past goalkeeper Chris Day into the top-right corner.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure and drew level on aggregate in the 72th minute when Scott Rendell poked home a knock down by Wayne Hatswell.

With the encounter heading for a tense finish, Cambridge launched wave after wave at the Stevenage defence but couldn't find a third in normal time.

In fact, Boro came close to nicking the win in injury time but Steve Morison's header was cleared off the line by Wayne Hatswell.

The match went into extra time and again Cambridge looked strong with their supporters willing them on.

However, Laird picked up a second yellow card for a foul on Jai Reason in the 96th minute making the task all the more difficult for his team-mates.

The U's finally got the breakthrough they were looking for in the 119th minute when Paul Carden played a one-two with Rendell and fired a shot at goal which was parried by Day and Rendell pounced on the loose ball to tap home from close range.

Cambridge Utd 3-0 Stevenage (4-3)

Cambridge bookings: Carden 71, Willmott 118, Rendell 120.

Stevenage bookings: Ashton 45+4, Laird 75, Roberts 103.

Sent off: Laird 96.

Ref: Paul Tierney.

Att: 6507.