Cambridge United had to settle for a point on the road in Sky Bet League Two as they played out a 1-1 draw against Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium…
Up against a well-disciplined outfit who made their main opportunity of the afternoon count when Farrend Rawson slotted home the opener during the first half, the U’s accumulated the possession from here and finally unlocked Stanley 10 minutes from time as substitute Louis Appere planted a header to keep his side in the automatic promotion spots.
A week on from the 1-1 draw against MK Dons at CB5, Neil Harris named two changes to his starting XI as Shane McLoughlin returned from injury and Elliott Nevitt made his first start in amber, with Sullay Kaikai and Appere dropping to the bench.
Heading into the tie in Lancashire, the U’s were six points behind the league leaders with two games advantage, so were optimistic of bridging the gap and extending their unbeaten run to six matches. The solitary loss in their previous 20 had shown their robustness and ability to control a game. Another tough test would await them in Accrington, enjoying a really positive season under John Doolan helped by a nice blend of youth and experience all across the pitch. They were, however, determined to address recent form which had seen them slip to three consecutive defeats.
That losing streak was something United were eager to capitalise on. Coming out of the blocks firing, United won a corner 10 seconds in, which eventually was recycled by James Brophy and whipped towards the back post where Nevitt guided a header wide of the mark.
Displaying good energy to progress up the pitch, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net on the 11th minute when Kell Watts matched James Gibbons’ cross with a header inside the six-yard box, which was lashed into the goal by Nevitt’s firs-time volley, but the referee had already blown up for a foul.
Patient and neat in the build-up, Harris’ men asked questions again on the 20th minute when Nevitt’s touch and flick required an important block, with the ball falling kindly to Ben Knight who couldn’t find the target as it hit the outside of his boot and trickled into the arms of Oliver Wright.
A few minutes later, the U’s would pay the price as the Reds converted their first major chance to take the lead. Unable to clear their lines, Isaac Heath’s delivery from the left and Shaun Whalley’s clever header found centre-back Rawson who nicked in to direct a header past Jake Eastwood.
Despite the sucker punch, Cambridge immediately stepped it up as Liam Bennett embarked on some space down the right, twisted past an opponent and entered a tight angle just inside the penalty area – the full-back ambitiously drilled across the face of goal which just shaved the post.
With half an hour on the clock, United were wondering how they hadn’t levelled matters when a slick move saw Knight tee up Brophy on his left, who cut past a man and pulled it back to the attacker on a plate from 12 yards. Placement was the aim but ultimately it skewed inches wide of a helpless Wright’s left stick.
Shortly after Heath was forced off with injury, there was a lengthy delay when Connor O’Brien required medical attention and was stretchered off, resulting in 11 minutes of additional time at a minimum.
Continuing to plug away and create opportunities, Dom Ball had a snapshot as he connected with a left-footed volley on the edge of the box, before the last moment of the half fell to Mamadou Jobe at the back post from a corner where he was unable to guide a header at goal.
Predominantly one-way traffic, with almost 70% of the possession, the U’s felt frustrated that they had lacked the quality on the final touch to get themselves on level terms. That was also due to a dogged display from Accrington, who had shown good resolve and remained committed from the first whistle.
The break signalled a double switch for the visitors as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and McLoughlin made way for Kaikai and Korey Smith, who both had history of impacting matches from the bench in recent weeks.
United maintained their tempo during the early stages of the second period, showcasing an attack-first mindset without being able to work the goalkeeper. They crafted their first notable attempt on the 55th minute when Brophy’s cross required a big leap from Bennett, but he couldn’t generate the power on his header.
Strikers Louis Appere and Shayne Lavery entered the field of play on the hour as the U’s tinkered with their formation, which almost paid dividends when the former slipped in Kaikai to his left on 63 – the winger opted for the corner but was denied by Wright’s smart stop.
The resulting corner saw Watts keep play alive as he cushioned to Lavery from six yards out, but the Northern Irishman couldn’t get the angles right on the volley as it missed the target.
On 70, Harris’ men almost self-destructed when a rare Accrington attack saw them scamper down the left-hand side and tee up David Abimbola inside the penalty area, but the young forward couldn’t keep his shot down as it lashed over the woodwork.
Accruing more of the ball by the minute, the U’s looked to stretch the field and were so unlucky on 77 when Kaikai’s deep cross evaded everyone and left goalkeeper Wright rooted to the spot, where he could only watch it tap the post and fall straight back to him.
Finally, the pressure soon paid off as Cambridge crafted a deserved equaliser to set up an enticing conclusion. Watts advanced to Smith on the right flank, whose delightful whipped cross was connected by Appere’s downward header towards the far post. It continued their streak of scoring in every league match since mid-November and handed real belief.
In pursuit of a late winner, the travellers were in a hurry to progress into the final third and throw the kitchen sink at it. During the five minutes of injury time, Lavery got a head to Gibbons’ cross which landed on the roof of the net before quickfire corners at the death were pawed away by the hosts to ensure a point apiece for the second week running as the U’s dropped to 3rd.
Up next, Cambridge return home next weekend (14 March) to take on Gillingham – be sure to back the boys.
Accrington Stanley: Wright, Matthews, Rawson, Sass, O’Brien (Conneely, 45+1’), Grant, Butterfield, Heath (Brown, 34’), Whalley, Madden, Abimbola (Popoola, 87’)
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Martin, Smith, Hall
Goalscorers: Rawson (24’)
Bookings: Grant, Sass
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett (Appere, 61’), Ball, McLoughlin (Smith, 46’), Brophy, Mpanzu (Kaikai, 46’), Knight, Nevitt (Lavery, 61’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Purrington, Raggett
Goalscorers: Appere (80’)
Bookings:
Referee: Jamie O’Connor
Attendance: 2322 (463 away fans)
