Cambridge United picked up their first victory on the road in Sky Bet League One in dramatic style as a late showing saw them seal a 1-2 success against Bradford City at Mbanq Valley Parade…
After holding their own defensively, the U’s battled towards the opener on the hour when Sullay Kaikai nestled home. It felt like a familiar story when they were pegged back through Bobby Pointon’s equaliser, but Ben Knight hopped off the bench to roar his side to maximum points with a composed finish late in the evening.
In response to the frustrating late defeat against Huddersfield Town three days earlier – their first of the campaign - Neil Harris opted with four changes to his starting XI as Owen Moxon and Ra’ees Bangura-Williams made their full debuts for the club, whereas Kaikai and Gassan Ahadme earned a first league start of the season.
Eyeing up an immediate response against a Bantams side on the up after picking up six points from their opening three matches, United looked unfazed as they enjoyed a menacing start. After flashing some dangerous deliveries into the six-yard box, they caused the opening scare three minutes in as the lively Bangura-Williams latched onto a loose ball and picked out a marauding Liam Bennett on the right, who pulled the trigger from a 12-yard angle which required a stern block from Aden Baldwin.
Buoyed by a healthy away following, the men in light blue had a nice dimension to their play, with a blend of tenacity and robustness in the final third but also stability in the shape of the back three.
Although the Bantams looked to have found a foothold as the early minutes progressed - where they opted to try their luck progressing the ball down the wide areas – Cambridge were quick to regain control as Moxon was all-action in the middle and one of many players full of energy.
On the 22nd minute, Graham Alexander’s side conjured up their best move of the evening when a switch from the right fell invitingly to wing-back Ibou Touray from 25 yards, whose low strike needed an important deflection to ensure it whistled just wide of Jake Eastwood’s right post.
United’s number one preserved his clean sheet on the half hour mark in applaudable fashion when Pointon latched onto Baldwin’s lofted free-kick by floating a cross to talisman Jake Beesley from close range, who powered a fine header which was stopped at point-blank range by Eastwood who pawed over his crossbar.
Back at it again a minute later, Zak Bradshaw’s misplaced header set Beesley away, whose quick touch and strike from just inside the area was claimed by the onrushing Eastwood who made himself big to force a corner.
Under the cosh now, Cambridge needed to drop deep with the hosts looking promising on the counter, but they remained alert to clear their lines as the match became basketball-like.
A bright moment of combination play saw Bangura-Williams tee up Kaikai on 39, whose curler from distance was nicked wide.
The last moment of the first period required Eastwood to backpedal as Adam Phillips’ intended cross looked goal bound, but at the last moment scraped the post as the goalkeeper kept his composure to see the U’s hold out for the break.
Gifted with a half-chance a couple of minutes into the second half, Jon McCracken’s weak clearance found a lurking Kaikai from 25 yards out – and with the glovesman scrambling back to goal he could only watch as the angled effort curled wide of the post.
As the possession began to accumulate in Bradford’s favour by the minute, they creeped closer when a half-volley from Phillips inside the penalty area had pace but – as they had done impeccably so far – couldn’t get through a U’s leg who pushed it away.
Harris’ men simply kept persevering and received their reward on the 57th minute when they broke the deadlock. Eastwood’s goal-kick looked to be dealt with by Macaulay Gillesphey, but the centre-back fired towards his own box to allow Kaikai to ghost forwards, evade Reece Welch and get a toe in to poke under McCracken for the opener.
With the advantage behind them, game management from here was crucial for the visitors – who continued their impressive feat of opening the scoring in every league game - and in their pursuit of remaining switched on handed minutes to Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Louis Appere, before Knight joined them just after the 70th minute.
United’s defence would soon be breached, however, when Josh Neufville’s delivery from the right was headed against the woodwork by Nick Powell and then just scrambled over the line by Pointon to set up a grandstand finish.
Determined to wrestle back their advantage, the U’s brought on Shayne Lavery as they reverted to two up top, but it was at the other end where play was most lively as Antoni Sarcevic flashed a header across the face of goal on 83, but no Bantam was there lurking at the back post to tuck in.
Just as a share of the spoils looked likely, the visitors sparked pandemonium just shy of injury time when Appere progressed play towards Knight on the right, who showed silky feet to skip into the centre and fire an exquisite finish into the bottom corner to seal the deal and hand them the confidence to comfortably hold onto three valuable points.
Up next, the U’s hit the road again on Saturday (5th September) as they do battle with Burton Albion at the Pirelli Stadium – be sure to back the boys.
Bradford City: McCracken, Welch, Baldwin, Gillesphey (Jackson, 74’), Neufville, Sarcevic, Connolly, Touray, Phillips (Powell, 64’), Pointon, Beesley (Swan, 73’)
Subs Not Used: Dawson, Prat
t, Cartwright, Pennington
Goalscorers: Pointon (76’)
Bookings: Connolly
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Heffernan, Watts, Perry, Bennett, Ball, Moxon (Lavery, 80’), Bradshaw, Kaikai (Knight, 73’), Bangura-Williams (Mpanzu, 61’), Ahadme (Appere, 61’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Heath, McConnell
Goalscorers: Kaikai (57’), Knight (87’)
Bookings:
Referee: Scott Oldham
