As John Motson once famously said ‘this just gets better and better’. That quote related to England’s 5-1 victory over Germany in a World Cup qualifier but it could just as appropriately be applied to Cambridge City’s remarkable season which scaled new heights with this fully deserved victory at the Broadfield Stadium, only the Red Devils’ second home defeat, the other coming at the hands of Conference National leaders Barnet.

Francis Vines made one change from the team that salvaged a draw at Milton Road on Saturday thanks to Sacha Opinel’s 93rd minute leveller, fit again Paul Armstrong replacing Robert Kember in midfield.

The Lilywhites side, which is virtually picking itself as a result of the current crop of injuries, remained unchanged, although a recovering Glen Fuff was named amongst the substitutes. The only notable absentee was boss Gary Roberts, who was ill, leaving the team in the hands of reserve team boss Jez George and player-coach Richard Scott.

Unlike Saturday’s game, which started at a blistering pace the opening exchanges were very low key, the main concern being whether the game would survive the thick patches of fog enshrouding the pitch.

With just under fifteen minutes played the home supporters were stirred by Mo Harkin’s right wing trickery which took him past Lee Summerscales before his dangerous looking far post cross was ushered to safety by a well positioned Craig Pope. Harkin obviously stretched awkwardly in delivering the centre and was only able to continue for a further 10 minutes or so before giving way to Robbie Kember.

Phil Smith was the first ‘keeper to make a meaningful save when he took two attempts to cling onto Matt Robinson’s well placed free kick after Robert Watkins had felled Jon Stevenson.

If Smith had looked uncertain on that occasion it was nothing compared to what followed five minutes later when City grabbed a 32nd minute lead with their next meaningful attack. Lee Summerscales’ lofted ball forwards seemed like little more than an attempt to clear his lines, however with the Red Devils rearguard hesitant Carl Williams showed great awareness to race into the space behind the home defence and strike a dipping first time effort which sailed over the former Margate ‘keeper who found himself in no-man’s-land, some ten yards off his line.

It was a stunning strike from City’s popular wide man and with Crawley offering little as an attacking force hopes were high amongst the visiting contingent that the Lilywhites could finish the job they started at the weekend. However, the lead was to last only four minutes before the Conference South side conceded an unnecessary equaliser.

A speculative ball was played into the City box, sailing harmlessly over Matt Langston and Lee Chaffey at the heart of the defence and into an area where Duncan Roberts should have been able to come and collect comfortably. However, his hesitancy encouraged Neil Jenkins to chase the lost cause and pressurise the ‘keeper into making an untidy challenge which floored the former Southend midfielder. Although the ball had gone out of play before any contact was made Mr Lee pointed to the penalty spot. With Saturday’s successful penalty taker Harkin off the field Simon Wormull stepped up and fired low to Roberts’ right, narrowly eluding the giant custodian’s dive.

Far from allowing the hosts to gain the upper hand the Lilywhites roared back into an almost immediate lead as they netted the game’s third goal in a matter of seven minutes. Manager Francis Vines must surely have been very unhappy that a carbon copy of the routine which produced City’s second goal on Saturday proved to be Crawley’s undoing yet again. The execution was very straight forward, Rob Miller launched a free kick from centre filed into the heart of the box, Matt Langston rose with Smith causing the ‘keeper to flap unconvincingly and palm the ball across the face of goal into the path of the on-rushing Matt Robinson, who, unmarked, powered home a header from ten yards out.

Within three minutes it could have been game over. Robert Watkins, on loan from Fulham, looked no more comfortable up against Jon Stevenson than he had in the first encounter and when the diminutive striker received the ball with has back to goal on the right hand edge of the box, the Premier League defender somehow contrived to mis-time his challenge and go sprawling on the turf leaving Stevenson in the clear to turn and angle a centre across the six yard box and into the path of Dave Sadler with the goal at his mercy. Maybe the former Hinckley hit-man had too much time, he could certainly have taken a touch and simply rolled the ball into the empty net but instead opted for power and blazed a wayward volley high and wide of the target. In the certain knowledge that the hosts were bound to put in an improved showing after the interval this looked like it might well prove to be a costly miss.

City fans braced themselves for the second half onslaught that saw Crawley complete their revival on Saturday, however, in the opening stages of the period it failed to materialise as the Lilywhites defence dealt coolly and calmly with the limited pressure Crawley managed to exert. In fact the game was almost an hour old before the hosts mounted a decent attacking move when good build up play resulted in Kember playing in Paul Armstrong for a shot that flashed across the face of goal.

The visitors were now settling into their preferred away style, sitting deep and hitting the hosts with rapier like counter attacks. The best of which saw Craig Pope free Carl Williams down the right before the skilful winger delivered a swinging cross from just inside the by-line which was perfectly flighted for Dave Sadler to head back across Smith, however the ball crashed off the face of the crossbar and away to safety.

Crawley were beginning to exert more pressure but were still finding clear cut openings hard to come by, Armstrong’s measured cross found Sacha Opinel in space but Saturday’s saviour was off target with a first time effort which screwed wide of the upright.

Moments later Duncan Roberts was forced into his first serious save of the evening as substitute Daniel Marney, who had earlier replaced the ineffective Daniel Davidson, burst through the inside right channel and fired low to his left, but a strong parry from the former Oldham ‘keeper saw the shot beaten away to safety. The Lilywhites failed to clear their lines effectively however and conceded a free kick for a handball offence just outside the box. After much deliberation Jenkins curved a venomous strike around the City wall, the ball seemed destined for the back of the net until Roberts flung himself acrobatically across his goal to make an outstanding save low to his right.

With all three Crawley substitutes on the pitch City were forced into a change of their own some 15 minutes from time when Jon Stevenson’s recurring hamstring injury appeared to flare up again and he was replaced by Dale Binns.

There was no let up for City however as Roberts was again called into action by a Watkins’ header from Neil Jenkins’ corner.

Although he has played very little football in the last month Binns appeared to have lost none of his acceleration as he relieved the pressure by bringing the ball down and racing away from Judge who fell clumsily to the floor in attempting to recover. Homing in on goal, but from an unfavourable angle, the former Hendon wide man elected to shoot low at Smith allowing the ‘keeper to beat the ball away with his legs. Crawley failed to clear the resultant corner effectively and as Lee Summerscales hoisted a centre back into the box more uncertainty between defenders and goalkeeper allowed Dave Sadler to attack the space in between them but the fifteen goal striker was unable to control the steeply dipping ball and lobbed his effort over the bar.

The final ten minutes saw the hosts camped in the City half, Jez George attempted to eat up some of that time by introducing Glen Fuff for Carl Williams, but with the regulation 90 minutes complete and no sign of the fourth official to indicate the amount of added time to be played, history almost repeated itself as Crawley, could, in fact should, have sent the tie into extra time.

Tireless running by the City midfielders had denied their opponents the space to forge any clear cut openings however patient build up saw the ball worked wide to Marney who flashed in a low centre from wide on the right, the ball fell invitingly for Jenkins who, from point blank range fired straight at Roberts when a yard either side would have resulted in a leveller. This was to be Crawley’s last chance and Mr Lee finally relieved the tension amongst the visitors by blowing for time.

In addition to ten league wins away from home City have won a remarkable seven cup ties on their travels too, there can be little doubt that Crawley represent the best opposition they have faced this season and yet this game was won on merit as the Lilywhites continue to raise the bar with every new and remarkable achievement during this quite extraordinary campaign.