Cambridge United

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Matt Tubbs

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Cambridge Utd 2-2 Crawley Town

Cambridge United denied Crawley their first win of the new Blue Square Bet Premier season after a first-half comeback at the Abbey Stadium on Tuesday night.

Both sides lost their opening matches of the 2010/2011 season but the U's looked have made amends after just eight minutes as Matt Tubbs fired in a quick-fire double. But Simon Russell and Brian Saah responded with a goal of their own each to claim a 2-2 draw.

Tubbs found himself well placed to head home his first after just five minutes as the Crawley defence failed to clear. Simon Brown's poor attempt to claim a cross allowed Tubbs in with a header, only for James Jennings to hit the bar as he attempted to clear the danger. Brown tried in vain to punch the ball away but instead it fell for Tubbs who made no mistake at the second time of asking.

Tubbs' second on eight minutes was more straight-forward as he finished off a Sergio Torres pass after some excellent work down the left-hand side.

The two Crawley goals initially knocked back their opponents but a brief spell of pressure saw them back in the tie.

Russell cooly slotted home from the edge of the area in the 18th minute after a swift counter attack before Danny Wright so nearly broke through, only for Adam Quinn to make a last-gasp challenge.

But an equaliser was not long in coming as Saah got his head to a Jennings corner from the right on 29 minutes.

The game continued to swing back and forth as Steve Masterton and Torres both tried their luck from distance while Robbie Willmott's curling free kick for Cambridge had Nick Jordan scrambling across his goal.

Cambridge emerged for the second half the more composed side Willmott again threatening from a free-kick but Adam Quinn showed his side were still in with a shout as he forced Brown into a smart save from his diving header before Scott Neilson saw his shot cleared off the line by Kevin Roberts.

And it was United to finished the stronger of the two as Platt and substitute Adam Marriott went in search of an elusive winner.

Cambridge Utd bookings: Carden, Wright, Jennings.

Crawley Town bookings: Wilson, Neilson, Masterton.

Att: 2558

Ref: Michael Bull