DESPITE a promising opening five minutes, when they could have easily taken the lead, it turned out to be a second consecutive defeat for the Dragons as Cambridge moved into joint top spot in the BSP table.

Former Chester man Mark Beesley found the net twice and both from close range. The first on 28 minutes when unmarked at the back post and then on the hour mark he was on hand to tap home a rebound off the Wrexham crossbar.

Simon Brown had a great chance when he got on the end of a Jeff Louis header on from a Simon Spender free kick after just two minutes, but as the ball sat up the striker's effort bounced passed the far post

The Reds kept up the pressure and within a minute the ball was only half cleared by United, allowing Levi Mackin the chance to move it to his right foot and fire a 20-yard effort that keeper Danny Potter did well to tip round his right hand post for a corner.

The home side responded on nine minutes when Mark Beesley sent over a teasing cross from the by-line and Lee McEvilly got a head to the ball inside the six-yard box, but his glancing touch saw it come back off the base of the back post, as both teams were trying their best to gain an early advantage.

Former Chester striker Chris Holroyd tested Gavin Ward on 19 minutes when he fired in a thunderous effort from 22-yards, but the Wrexham goalkeeper was equal to the task and tipped the effort over his crossbar for a flag kick.

With United working a move down the left hand channel involving three players, McEvilly burst through the Wrexham back line, but with the goal at his mercy the former Racecourse man fired his shot hopelessly wide from close range.

Then came the opening goal of the game, on 28 minutes, when from a Cambridge corner Holroyd flicked a header on at the near post and at back Mark Beesley was on his own to fire the ball into the roof of the net from a yard out.

It took until the 35 minute before the visitors next tested Potter, when Mackin and Spender combined well on the right and fed Brown. With his back to goal, he spun round inside the box, but his shot was a low effort and the keeper was able to deal with it to his left.

Wrexham clicked again on 44 minutes, when Wes Baynes fired in a bullet from the left wing which Potter tipped away with a spectacular save that earned the Reds a corner.

There was a booking for Simon Brown on half time as he slide in to Jon Challinor to earn the game's first caution.

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On 53 minutes, Baynes pushed up into the front line and he did well to at least touch the ball towards Mackin, the midfielder dugout an effort from the edge of the ball, but it wasn't clean contact and the ball spun wide of its target.

The first sub of the afternoon saw Michael Proctor replace Wes Baynes on 62 minutes.

Then from the restart, McEvilly crossed to the back post from the right and Ward did well to make the first save as he diverted the shot from Holroyd onto the crossbar, but it rebounded into play and Mark Beesley was on his own to tap home from only a few yards out.

It was a now a big ask for the Welshmen and a Kempson throw in from the left was headed on by Louis at the near post, but Potter was on hand to make the save at his near post.

A high ball to the back post by Whalley saw Louis rise to the challenge, but the striker's header only found the side netting. Then Potter fumbled a free kick on 77 minutes, allowing Whalley to fire in an effort that ended up nearer to one of the corner flags.

Cambridge were now in the comfort zone and happy to give us possession, as they seemed to be able to cope with just about anything we could throw at them.

With just eight minutes remaining, Sam Aiston was brought on for Simon Brown and the winger's first cross almost caught out Potter, who was happy to tip the ball over his crossbar.

It was a disappointing afternoon at the Abbey Stadium for the Reds as we finished second best to the home side.

Cambridge: Danny Potter, Jon Challinor, Phil Bolland, Wayne Hatswell, Mark Convery, Paul Carden, Danny Brown, Anthony Tonkin, Mark Beesley, Chris Holroyd, Lee McEvilly.
Subs: Stephen Drench, Joshua Coulson, Robbie Willmott, Chris Jones, Felino Jardim.

Wrexham: Gavin Ward, Simon Spender, Shaun Pejic, Darran Kempson, Carl Tremarco, Wes Baynes (Michael Proctor 62), Levi Mackin, Tom Kearney, Shaun Whalley, Simon Brown (Sam Aiston 82), Louis Jefferson.
Subs: Anthony Williams, Gareth Evans, Christian Smith, Neil Taylor.

Referee: Darren Sheldrake
Attendance: 3,074
Away: 261

Booked -
Cambridge: Tonkin (75, foul)
Wrexham: Brown (45, foul), Baynes (59, foul), Tremarco (70, foul), Mackin (83, foul)