Cambridge Utd

Southport v Cambridge
Southport manager Paul Cook has been busy strengthening his squad and Sean Doherty is expected to play some part, as is midfielder Ciaran Donnelly. Daniel Kirkup is available once more after completing a three-match ban. Cambridge will be without defenders Andy Duncan (knee) and Tommy Jaszczun (broken toe), Robbie Simpson (head) and Jon Brady (calf). The lengthy injury list means Mark Peters may be in line to start despite only recently returning to training.

Morrison calls on U's to improve
Cambridge defender Michael Morrison has called on his side to improve their form if they are to climb away from the Conference relegation zone. Morrison told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: \"Everyone in the team has got to make sure that we pick up a few points over the Christmas period. \"We need to concentrate hard so that we do not get dragged into a dogfight come March or even January. \"The aim is to stay in the Conference and we can build on that next season.\"

FA Trophy first round details
The 24 Conference National clubs enter the FA Trophy at the first-round stage on Saturday, joining the 40 surviving clubs from the qualifying rounds. One match has already fallen victim to the weather - with the tie between Conference North sides Barrow and Worcester City postponed. With the pitch at Holker Street already waterlogged, it will now be played on Tuesday, 19 December at 1945 GMT. The winners of each first-round tie will receive £4,000. FIRST-ROUND FIXTURES/RESULTS Saturday, 16 December: Aldershot Town v AFC Wimbledon Altrincham v Tamworth Bishop's Stortford v St Albans Braintree Town v Ashford Town Dagenham & Redbridge v Crawley Town Exeter City v Heybridge Swifts Farnborough Town v Bath City Forest Green Rovers v Yeading Gateshead v Burton Albion Halifax Town v Hyde United Harrogate Town v Leigh RMI Havant & Waterlooville v Gravesend & Northfleet Histon v Cambridge United Kettering Town v Stafford Rangers Kidderminster Harriers v Vauxhall Motors Lewes v Oxford United Mangotsfield v King's Lynn Morecambe v York City Newport County v AFC Sudbury Northwich Victoria v Farsley Celtic Nuneaton Borough v Redditch Rushden & Diamonds v Scarborough Salisbury City v Woking Southport v Droylsden Stalybridge Celtic v Hinckley United Stevenage Borough v Merthyr Tydfil Welling United v Basingstoke Town Weston-super-Mare v Evesham Weymouth v Grays Athletic Woodley Sports v Witton Albion Sunday, 17 December Fisher Athletic v Eastbourne Borough Tuesday, 19 December Barrow v Worcester City

U's directors demand improvement
Cambridge United's board of directors has warned the club's players that they must bounce back from Saturday's 5-0 FA Trophy rout at neighbours Histon. A club statement said the performance could not be defended. \"Too many players under-performed and did not appear to have the passion and commitment to match their counterparts. \"We expect the team to respond positively to the criticisms made of them and hope we will look back upon this as the season's low,\" it read.

Cambridge 0-1 Rushden & D
Marcus Kelly struck late in the first half to secure a much-needed victory for struggling Rushden & Diamonds. Cambridge goalkeeper Michael Crichton flapped at Kelly's inswinging corner and the ball passed through a crowd of players and went into the net. The home team had enjoyed the best of the openings prior to conceding and then pushed hard for an equaliser. Robbie Simpson almost secured a point, but directed Rob Gier's cross straight at Rushden goalkeeper Scott Tynan. Cambridge Utd: Crichton, Gier, Morrison, Duncan, Collins, Brady, Josh Simpson, Wolleaston (Smith 54), Pitt, Gash (Carey-Bertram 90), Robbie Simpson (Marum 73). Subs Not Used: Herbert, Peters. Booked: Brady, Smith. Rushden & D'monds: Tynan, Wilson, Hope, Hatswell, Watson, Jackson (Woodhouse 70), Ashton, Savage, Kelly, Rankine, Chillingworth (Berry 90). Subs Not Used: Margarson, Tomlin, Sedgemore. Booked: Watson, Hatswell, Rankine. Goals: Kelly 44. Att: 3,000 Ref: N Kinseley (Essex).

Cambridge to make January changes
Chairman Lee Power says some of Cambridge United's players are not good enough to compete in the Conference and will be leaving the club in January. He feels manager Jimmy Quinn has done everything possible to improve the performances, but some players are incapable of following instructions. Power told SSB: \"We want to make changes once the transfer window re-opens. \"Some of our squad are set to be going as they aren't doing what is asked.\"

Kidderminster v Cambridge Utd
Kidderminster will be without Iyseden Christie against Cambridge after he returned to parent club Rochdale. Midfielder Rob Davies may be restricted to the bench again after failing to recover from a knock, with Dean Sturridge still a long-term absentee. Cambridge manager Jimmy Quinn's injury problems continue, with Paul Crichton the latest to be ruled out. The keeper's red card against Burton sees him miss out with Ritchie Hanlon, Tommy Jaszczun and David Bridges.

Forest Green sign Carey-Bertram
Forest Green Rovers have completed the signing of former Cambridge United striker Danny Carey-Bertram. The former Hereford United forward, 22, agreed a deal until June, 2008 at the New Lawn after being released from his contract at Cambridge. The move was partly financed by contributions from fans paying into the club's squad strengthening scheme. Rovers boss Jim Harvey hopes to make further signings in January in a bid to pull clear of the drop-zone.

Richardson released by Cambridge
Cambridge United manager Jimmy Quinn has continued to shake up his squad by releasing striker Marcus Richardson. The 29-year-old ends a second spell at the Abbey Stadium by mutual consent after scoring three goals in 20 Conference appearances this season. Richarson joined the U's from Weymouth in August after spells with Chester, Lincoln, Hartlepool and Torquay. He becomes the third striker to leave Cambridge over the past week as Quinn looks to make room for new signings.

Injuries force Hooper to quit U's
Defender Dean Hooper has decided to end his spell at Cambridge because of being plagued with injuries. The former Peterborough full-back, 35, was restricted to just three games for the U's after joining the club from Conference South side Lewes in January. Boss Jimmy Quinn told the Cambridge Evening News: "Dean has decided to sign his release forms. It's just been one thing after another since he came here. "He could have stayed and kept picking up the money." Quinn added: "But it's a measure of the man he isn't doing that, because a lot of players would have done."

Cambridge set target for safety
Cambridge assistant boss Steve Castle believes a minimum of four points should secure Conference safety after their win over champions Dagenham. Cambridge's 4-2 win was their third in four games and puts them three points and three places above the drop zone. Castle told his club's website: "I think if we can get something at Exeter on Saturday and then a win out of the next two games that should be enough. "At our best we are arguably one of the best teams in this league." Castle added: "It's just unfortunate that the penny has dropped in early April."

Quinn slams referee after defeat
Cambridge boss Jimmy Quinn hit out at referee Andrew Sainsbury after his side went down 2-0 against Exeter. United were behind after half an hour when Lee Elam's elbow on Dan Gleeson went unpunished, and Elam skipped away to cross for Richard Logan's goal. The home side added a second after the break, but Quinn said: "It was blatant and the goal set us back badly. "We huffed and puffed but didn't play as well as we can. I can't fault our effort though and we'll bounce back."

Quinn keen to hold on to Simpson
Boss Jimmy Quinn has urged striker Robbie Simpson to stay at Cambridge. Simpson, 22, who won the Conference Player of the Month award for March is out of contract in the summer and has attracted attention from League clubs. Quinn told the Cambridge Evening News: "Any player in the form Robbie is in is going to attract interest but we don't want to lose him. "He'll be better off playing here in the Conference rather than in the reserves for a Championship club."

Cambridge hope Simpson will stay
Cambridge United chairman Lee Power is optimistic that star striker Robbie Simpson will sign a new deal. If the 22-year-old does agree a contract it will make him the highest earner at the club. Power told SSB: "We see Robbie as a very big asset that is going to get even better with full-time coaching. "We want to keep him for another year. We have made him a fantastic financial offer and I think he will stay."

Collins agrees Cambridge contract
Cambridge United youngster Jordan Collins has agreed a professional contract with the Conference outfit. Collins, 18, has joined Michael Hyem and Josh Coulson in signing up to stay at the Abbey Stadium for next season. Collins broke into the Cambridge side in December and made seven appearances playing on the left-hand side of midfield for Jimmy Quinn's side. "Left-footed players are at a premium and he's talented," said Cambridge head of development Jez George.

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