An Andy Sandell penalty five minutes from time earned Newport County a precious point against Cambridge.

United took the lead when Josh Dawkin beat Newport keeper Glyn Thompson from a tight angle.

Newport thought they had equalised soon after through Elliott Buchanan, but the effort was ruled out for offside.

Just as the hosts looked like holding on for all three points, U's defender Kevin Roberts handled the ball in the area and Sandell fired home.

The FA Trophy finalists have gone up a place to 18th and are now two points off the relegation zone.

VIEWS FROM THE DRESSING ROOM

Cambridge United manager Jez George told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"We showed the right level of desire, commitment and work ethic tonight.

"The tempo of the game was much quicker. Credit to Newport, they don't look like a team down the bottom, except that they were committed into every challenge and it became a bit of a blood-and-thunder game. It was a bit of a cup tie, I thought.

"The little details were missing on a couple of occasions when we opened them up and should have scored the second goal - we missed a good chance first half, a couple second half, (and had) a bit of poor luck when it hit the inside of the post - but I thought it was a good reaction to Saturday."

Newport County manager Justin Edinburgh said:

"I think we deserved a point, I'm not sure if we did enough to win the game.

"I was disappointed with the goal we conceded but I thought the response in the second-half and the tempo was played was what I expected in the first-half.

"But on reflection I would have settled for a point before the game."

Lineup, Bookings (3) & Substitutions (6)

Cambridge United

  • 01 Naisbitt
  • 02 Roberts Booked
  • 03 Jennings
  • 05 Wylde (Hudson - 80' )
  • 12 McAuley
  • 27 Thorpe (Jackson - 73' )
  • 16 Jarvis
  • 18 Berry
  • 09 Gash (Tyriaki - 76' Booked )
  • 15 Pugh
  • 22 Dawkin

Substitutes

  • 21 Jackson
  • 25 Hudson
  • 26 Eades
  • 14 Tyriaki
  • 17 Hughes

Newport County

  • 18 Thompson
  • 05 Warren (Hatswell - 68' )
  • 16 Hughes
  • 25 Rodgers
  • 28 Sandell
  • 36 Lee Evans
  • 42 Porter
  • 11 Knights (Read - 71' )
  • 15 Jarvis
  • 26 Buchanan (Harris - 46' )
  • 31 Rose Booked

Substitutes

  • 43 Darlow
  • 17 Hatswell
  • 23 Harris
  • 24 Greening
  • 41 Read
Ref: Rees
Att: 1,815

Match Stats

Shots

5 8

On target

2 4

Corners

1 4

Fouls

18 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +5:02 Full time

Full Time The final whistle goes and the game is over.

90:00 +4:28

Romone Rose takes a shot.

90:00 +3:05 Booking

Booking Mustafa Tiryaki goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.

90:00 +2:48

Andy Sandell fouled by Mustafa Tiryaki, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

90:00 +1:13

Romone Rose concedes a free kick for a foul on Kevin Roberts. Kevin Roberts takes the free kick.

89:45

Andy Pugh has shot on goal from just outside the area which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

87:49

The ball is crossed by Ryan Jackson, clearance made by Wayne Hatswell.

87:21

Mustafa Tiryaki sends in a cross.

86:59

Unfair challenge on Kevin Roberts by Max Porter results in a free kick. Danny Naisbitt takes the direct free kick.

85:08 Goal scored

Goal - Andy Sandell - Cambridge 1 - 1 Newport Co Penalty taken left-footed by Andy Sandell and scored. Cambridge Utd 1-1 Newport County.

84:37 Booking

Booking Kevin Roberts booked for dissent.

84:13

Kevin Roberts is penalised for handball and concedes a .

83:55

Romone Rose delivers the ball.

83:55

Romone Rose crosses the ball.

82:51

Lee Evans challenges Rory McAuley unfairly and gives away a free kick. Danny Naisbitt restarts play with the free kick.

82:16

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Glyn Thompson by Andy Pugh. Glyn Thompson restarts play with the free kick.

79:39 Substitution

Substitution Michael Wylde leaves the field to be replaced by Blaine Hudson.

77:00

Free kick awarded for a foul by Mustafa Tiryaki on Andy Sandell. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

76:11

Mustafa Tiryaki concedes a free kick for a foul on Andy Sandell. Glyn Thompson takes the direct free kick.

75:16 Substitution

Substitution Mustafa Tiryaki is brought on as a substitute for Michael Gash.

74:35

Corner taken by Andy Sandell from the right by-line to the near post, Michael Gash manages to make a clearance.

74:15

Lee Evans takes a shot. Rossi Jarvis manages to make a clearance.

74:07

The ball is sent over by Nathaniel Jarvis, Michael Wylde manages to make a clearance.

72:15 Substitution

Substitution Ryan Jackson replaces Jonathon Thorpe.

72:15

Lee Evans challenges Rossi Jarvis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

70:39 Substitution

Substitution Jake Reid on for Darryl Knights.

67:23 Substitution

Substitution (Newport County) makes a substitution, with Wayne Hatswell coming on for Gary Warren.

67:01

Andy Pugh takes a shot. Save made by Glyn Thompson.

63:23

Andy Sandell produces a cross, clearance by Michael Wylde.

62:58

Corner taken left-footed by Andy Sandell, clearance by Michael Gash.

62:20

James Jennings produces a left-footed shot from just outside the box that hits the post.

59:09

Andy Pugh challenges Gary Warren unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Max Porter.

58:03

Darryl Knights fouled by Rossi Jarvis, the ref awards a free kick. Andy Sandell restarts play with the free kick.

56:07

Unfair challenge on Andrew Hughes by Michael Gash results in a free kick. Glyn Thompson restarts play with the free kick.

55:37

Shot from just outside the penalty area by Romone Rose misses to the left of the target.

53:23

Free kick awarded for a foul by Luke Berry on Max Porter. Glyn Thompson takes the direct free kick.

52:33

Effort on goal by Romone Rose from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the goal.

52:25

Max Porter produces a cross, clearance by Luke Berry.

51:01

Nathaniel Jarvis delivers the ball, clearance by Michael Wylde.

49:45

Romone Rose takes a shot. Save by Danny Naisbitt.

47:28

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Jake Harris by Luke Berry. Andy Sandell takes the free kick.

46:54

Andy Pugh takes a shot from long distance which goes wide of the right-hand upright.

46:40

Andrew Hughes produces a cross, Rossi Jarvis manages to make a clearance.

45:49

Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Gash on Andrew Hughes. Glyn Thompson takes the free kick.

45:43

Jake Harris crosses the ball.

45:01

The game restarts for the second half.

45:01 Substitution

Substitution Jake Harris is brought on as a substitute for Elliott Buchanan.

45:00 +1:03 Half time

Half Time The players leave the pitch at half time.

45:00 +0:29

Romone Rose sends in a cross.

45:00 +0:06

Rory McAuley challenges Nathaniel Jarvis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Darryl Knights.

44:32

A cross is delivered by Andy Sandell.

42:35

James Jennings challenges Paul Rodgers unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

41:28

A cross is delivered by Romone Rose.

37:58

Jonathon Thorpe crosses the ball.

35:14

Free kick taken by Rossi Jarvis.

35:14 Booking

Booking Romone Rose goes into the referee's book for unsporting behaviour.

35:06

Free kick awarded for a foul by Romone Rose on James Jennings.

34:32

The ball is crossed by Kevin Roberts, Max Porter makes a clearance.

31:13

Corner taken right-footed by Rossi Jarvis, free kick awarded for a foul by Rory McAuley on Gary Warren. Direct free kick taken by Glyn Thompson.

31:00

The ball is crossed by Jonathon Thorpe, Andrew Hughes makes a clearance.

30:05

Jonathon Thorpe concedes a free kick for a foul on Darryl Knights. Darryl Knights restarts play with the free kick.

29:30

The ball is crossed by Jonathon Thorpe.

28:23

Elliott Buchanan challenges Danny Naisbitt unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

27:47

Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Andy Sandell from the right by-line.

26:45

Darryl Knights takes a shot. Blocked by Luke Berry.

26:14

Michael Wylde concedes a free kick for a foul on Nathaniel Jarvis. Andy Sandell delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from right wing, Kevin Roberts makes a clearance.

23:44

Assist on the goal came from James Jennings.

23:44 Goal scored

Goal - Josh Dawkin - Cambridge 1 - 0 Newport Co Goal scored by Josh Dawkin from inside the six-yard box low into the middle of the goal. Cambridge Utd 1-0 Newport County.

22:41

Darryl Knights takes a outswinging corner from the left by-line played to the near post, Luke Berry makes a clearance.

22:00

Darryl Knights takes a shot. Blocked by Rossi Jarvis.

21:30

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Gary Warren by Michael Gash. Andrew Hughes takes the free kick.

17:16

The ball is sent over by Andy Sandell, Rory McAuley manages to make a clearance.

15:36

Foul by Paul Rodgers on Michael Gash, free kick awarded. Michael Gash takes the direct free kick.

14:39

The ball is swung over by Jonathon Thorpe.

13:29

The official flags Elliott Buchanan offside. Danny Naisbitt takes the direct free kick.

12:40

Elliott Buchanan fouled by Andy Pugh, the ref awards a free kick. Glyn Thompson takes the direct free kick.

12:33

The ball is delivered by Nathaniel Jarvis.

12:02

Shot by Nathaniel Jarvis from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.

10:23

Jonathon Thorpe fouled by Lee Evans, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Kevin Roberts.

9:36

Romone Rose challenges James Jennings unfairly and gives away a free kick. Danny Naisbitt restarts play with the free kick.

9:30

The ball is swung over by Andy Sandell.

8:29

Luke Berry fouled by Gary Warren, the ref awards a free kick. Danny Naisbitt takes the direct free kick.

8:12

The ball is swung over by Andy Sandell, Luke Berry manages to make a clearance.

7:15

Jonathon Thorpe fouled by Andy Sandell, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

6:37

Lee Evans fouled by Michael Gash, the ref awards a free kick. Darryl Knights takes the direct free kick.

5:39

Unfair challenge on Rory McAuley by Darryl Knights results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

3:08

Foul by Paul Rodgers on Andy Pugh, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Danny Naisbitt.

0:00

The ref blows the whistle to start the match.

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