A first half goal from much travelled Spencer Prior earned promotion chasing Cardiff City all the points from this scrappy, windswept, Layer Road affair.
Nothing separated the two teams, despite the massive financial gulf between them, until the former Southend central defender struck the all important 20th minute winner.
Striker Adrian Coote should have scored for the U's with a header and Kemal Izzet had a great drive superbly saved by visiting keeper Neil Alexander.
Birthday boy Robert Earnshaw struck the angle of bar and post for the big spending Welsh play-off hopefuls with a rare second half chance.
U's boss Steve Whitton introduced teenagers Marc Canham and Triston Chambers for the Football League debuts as second half substitutes.
Full story and pictures in Monday's Gazette.
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Published Sunday April 7, 2002
Published Sunday April 7, 2002
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