Cambridge United recaptured that winning formula on the road in Sky Bet League Two as they remained resolute throughout to pick up a 0-2 win against Barrow at the SO Legal Stadium…
Following a closely-fought first half, it proved to be the Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu show after the break, with the summer signing showing great instinct to hand the U’s the lead before making sure of the points in the dying embers for a first away win in three months and a fifth straight clean sheet.
In reaction to the point picked up against Barnet a week earlier – their second stalemate in a row – Neil Harris opted with three changes to his XI. An enforced swap saw the injured Kylian Kouassi step out for Louis Appere, whilst Glenn McConnell made his first league start for the club and Mamadou Jobe was also restored.
During the mammoth trek to Cumbria, United were eager to find the solution to address their form away from home, with just one win to their name so far. Occupying 12th position going into the meeting, the task was to work their way up the table and keep themselves in the pecking order going into a busy schedule. A tough test awaited them in Barrow - an outfit very much part of the fourth tier furniture – who boasted the solitary defeat from their previous eight going into this first meeting since 2021.
Reverting to the three-at-the-back system, with Liam Bennett and Adam Mayor out on the flanks, the U’s in their black and gold strip started in the ascendency as they searched for a seventh successive win at Holker Street.
It had now been over a month since their last league goal, but it took Cambridge just six minutes to generate their first attempt at goal when Korey Smith had the time and space to pull the trigger from outside the area, but Ben Winterbottom got down low to claim.
On the 10th minute, James Brophy won the ball high up the pitch and played in Appere with an astute pass. The forward raced towards a tight angle in the box and directed towards the near post, but Winterbottom was alert to deny.
Although United were yet to get their wing-backs involved in the game, their forward line were linking up well when Appere combined with Brophy once more on 19, with the latter supplying a deep cross from the right towards McConnell, who arrived at the back post and got his head on the ball from a few yards out but couldn’t direct it on target.
Despite looking in control and patient in possession, Cambridge received a let-off on the half hour mark when a corner floated to an unmarked Rekeem Harper on the six-yard line, but the holding midfielder headed into the ground and witnessed the golden chance go begging.
Andy Whing’s men had now gained the foothold and were able to camp the U’s back. On the 41st minute, Connor Mahoney embarked on a run out wide and squared it back into the mixer - Elliot Newby was there to pounce but got underneath the ball and couldn’t get the connection as it sailed well over Jake Eastwood’s crossbar.
All in all, a couple of opportunities for both in an even first half, with the visitors sound defensively but unable to take the game by the scruff of the neck in the final third as they slightly faded away.
Those wondering if a third consecutive stalemate was on the cards were proved wrong three minutes after the break when the U’s opened the scoring to reward the travelling 265. Driving into acres of space, Brophy initially looked to pick out Mpanzu, who was clever to dummy it and allow McConnell to shoot. The resulting save was straight back at Pelly, who stroked into the corner for his second of the campaign.
In response, United almost gifted an instant equaliser when they made a real hash of clearing their lines, teeing up Kane Hemmings in a one-on-one position who probably should have capitalised as his first-time strike was stopped by an onrushing Eastwood.
Set-plays had been a real strength for the U’s the campaign – and it almost helped them extend the advantage on the 68th minute when Michael Morrison flicked a header with his back to goal but was denied by some excellent reflexes from Winterbottom. The follow up from Jobe at the back post recycled the danger but it was caught on the line.
With the clock ticking down, Ben Knight and Elias Kachugna were drafted on for the final 15, but it was Barrow who were now probing and piling on the pressure.
However, just as seven additional minutes were indicated, Cambridge embarked on a counter out wide. Sullay Kaikai picked out Kachunga on the line, who did well to flick towards a lurking Mpanzu from 12 yards out who rifled into the net to grab his brace and gain those long-awaited three points on the road.
Up next, it’s a return to home comforts next weekend (29th November) as the U’s welcome Crewe Alexandra to the Cledara Abbey – be sure to back the boys.
Barrow: Winterbottom, Williams, Raglan, Jackson, Whitfield (Fletcher, 74’), Harper (Earing, 63’), McCann, Newby, Mahoney (Adu-Poku, 63’), Gordon, Hemmings
Subs Not Used: Canavan, Smith, Worrall
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Gordon
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Jobe, Morrison, Watts, Bennett (Gibbons, 90+2’), Smith, Mpanzu, Mayor (Purrington, 90+2’), Brophy (Knight, 74’), McConnell (Kaikai, 54’), Appere (Kachunga, 54’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Hoddle
Goalscorers: Mpanzu (48’, 90+1’)
Bookings: Smith, Mpanzu
Referee: Scott Oldham
Attendance: 3024 (265 away fans)
