Marksman Rendell set to join Posh after all

AT THE ABBEY with MATT GOODING

CAMBRIDGE United's win over Halifax on Saturday has been overshadowed by the news that top scorer Scott Rendell is set to join arch rivals Peterborough.

United announced on Saturday that they had rejected a six-figure bid from Posh for Rendell, who has netted 23 goals this season.

However, it was revealed on Sunday that the 21-year-old subsequently submitted a written transfer request, stating his desire to join the League Two side.

The move has infuriated many United fans, coming just a week after Rendell claimed he had rejected a January move to Rochdale because he wanted to stay with Cambridge until the end of the season.

Rendell's final appearance saw United pick up their first win at Halifax for 34 years, beating the Shaymen 2-1.

After they fell behind to a Simon Heslop goal, a defensive mix-up allowed Mark Beesley to lob in his first for the club and make the score 1-1 at half-time.

In the second period a flowing move culminated in Lee McEvilly tapping in Dan Gleeson's cross to put the U's in front.

But three minutes later, Mark Peters was shown a red card for pulling down Craig Nelthorpe when clear on goal.

However, 10-man United defended valiantly, and hung on to claim a victory which lifted them to third in the Blue Square Premier table.

This Saturday Cambridge face a tricky home match against Forest Green Rovers. Without Rendell, and Beesley, who is ineligible to play against his former club, Jimmy Quinn will have to rely on an untried forward pairing of McEvilly and the returning Lee Boylan.

Peters and fellow defender Dan Gleeson will start two game suspensions, so Mark Albrighton and Josh Coulson are likely to come into the team and take on the challenge of shackling the country's top goalscorer, Stuart Fleetwood.

The match at the Abbey Stadium kicks off at 3pm.