Cambridge United 3 Bristol Rovers 1

Last updated : 21 December 2002 By Footymad Previewer

This was an encounter between two sides heading rapidly in different directions, Cambridge towards promotion contention and Bristol Rovers possibly out of league football.

Cambridge scored in their 25th league match in a row as they completed a comfortable victory while Rovers' club record eighth successive league defeat dumped them to the bottom of the Nationwide League for only the second time in their 82-year league history.

Cambridge, the division's top scorers, do not need much help at home but they got it from a rocky Rovers side who scored an own goal and had a man sent off.

Sonny Parker marked his league debut for the Pirates by turning a Tom Youngs cross into his own goal in the 18th minute under no pressure.

It was all Cambridge but out of the blue, or rather the grey East Anglian sky, Rovers equalised seconds before the break when Bradley Allen followed up an Adam Barrett header that had been blocked by United goalkeeper Shaun Marshall at a corner kick.

Hope was brief for Bristol as Youngs completed a fine 49th minute move to restore the lead.

Graham Hyde was sent off in the 62nd minute for a handball which followed another yellow card for a foul and it was no real contest after that.

Dave Kitson got his 14th goal of the season, taking advantage of a slip by ex-Cambridge defender Kevin Austin in the 66th minute and the U's dominated the play from then on.

There could have been more goals but Kitson fired wide from a good position and Rovers keeper Scott Howie denied Omer Riza when he was clear five minutes from the end.