Kettering 0-1 Cambridge United

Danny Crow's late second-half strike gave lowly Cambridge a surprise win over promotion contenders Kettering.

Both sides had chances to take the lead in the first half, United keeper Simon Brown pulling off a stunning save from Elliott Charles' close-range strike.

But Crow slammed home a shot from Simon Russell's cross in the 76th minute to give Cambridge the win.

A last-ditch attempt from John Dempster dipped over the bar as Kettering fell to their first defeat in five games.

Kettering boss Lee Harper told BBC Radio Northampton:

"The lads were fuming - they said it was a blatant handball.

"The standard of refereeing is so poor - they miss blatant, blatant decisions.

"But you can keep moaning and moaning and making excuses. The biggest upset is that we didn't take our chances in the first half."

Cambridge United manager Martin Ling told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire:

"There's been a change of fortune, a change of luck, but also a change of attitude.

"We knew the Chester points were going and we knew we would be in a relegation fight. And we asked people to stand up and be counted."

Kettering: Abbey, Taylor, Dempster, Roper, Jennings, Dance, Boucaud, Hadfield, Kelly (Wrack 81), Charles (Marna 73), Appiah (Ebigbo 86).
Subs Not Used: Thelwell, Thomas.

Booked: Roper, Abbey.

Cambridge Utd: Brown, Roberts, Saah, Coulson, Palmer, Neilson, McAuley, Carden, Russell, Crow, Willock (Phillips 85).
Subs Not Used: Walker, Beesley, Murray, Reason.

Booked: Carden, Willock.

Goals: Crow 76.

Attendance: 1,248.

Referee: Michael Naylor (Sheffield).