Cambridge United overcame the first hurdle in the Carabao Cup as they registered a professional 0-2 victory against fellow fourth tier side Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium…
Taking the game to their opponents from the first minute, the U’s showed their clinical edge in the first period as Louie Appere drew first blood with an assured finish, before fellow striker Ryan Loft secured their passage into the Second Round of the competition late in the night courtesy of an instinctive close-range header.
Opting to shuffle the pack, Neil Harris named five changes from the side that succumbed to defeat at Swindon Town three days earlier. Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu and Zak Bradshaw were handed full debuts, whereas Mamadou Jobe, James Gibbons and Elias Kachunga were rewarded with starts.
A blisteringly warm evening in the South West of the country didn’t stop the visitors from enjoying a nice early tempo to their game by advancing the ball to those pockets of space in the final third.
Handed a licence to roam on the right of a midfield four, Liam Bennett was presented with the first opportunity of the night on the 7th minute when Gibbons – captain for the evening against his former side – supplied a first-time cross but the number two could only direct a crisp header on the roof of the net.
The eye-catching build-up play continued in the next attack as Shane McLoughlin’s clever quick free-kick found Appere in acres of space inside the area. The striker beat his man and could have opted to shoot, but after deliberation cut back to Mpanzu from 20 yards out, whose shot was always rising.
Ultimately, neither goalkeeper was yet to be tested in the opening stages. The Pirates’ only moment of note fell to Jack Sparkes on 13, who was on the receiving end of a switch from 25 yards out but the speculative and rushed strike sailed over.
The assessment of the U’s application was that they had been inch-perfect turning defence into attack, but it was the final product which the travelling fans were itching to witness.
Fortunately for them, the first shot on target resulted in a merited opener on the stroke of the half hour mark. An exquisite pass from Sullay Kaikai spotted a looming Appere, who had shrugged off his man to allow him to pull the trigger from the edge of the box, with the calm and composed effort accurately hitting the back of the net.
Now United had the advantage they craved, the task now was to see it out with assurance, which they did. The Gas undoubtedly responded by clocking up more possession and finding that intensity in the attacking half, but it was nothing to truly trouble Harris’ men.
A double defensive swap at the break for Darrell Clarke’s men was a signal that they needed to wrestle back the driving seat that Cambridge possessed. It certainly seemed to help open the game up, with Kaikai testing his luck with an ambitious free-kick from distance down the left and Jobe at the other end – making his first start since a defeat here in April 2024 – cleaning up everything that fell his way.
With the final 30 approaching, the hosts had made all their substitutions whilst Cambridge opted for some fresh legs shortly after as Dom Ball, James Brophy and Loft all entered the fray.
Swiss signing Fabrizio Cavegn forced Jake Eastwood’s first real save on 64 when the lively runner showed quick feet to dart past a man and strike from 15 yards out, but a small block made it a comfortable dive for the goalkeeper.
A few minutes later, Bryant Bilongo had his heart in mouth after Bradshaw’s whipped cross floated just over the head of Loft and at the feet of the full-back, who couldn’t react and could only watch it trickle inches wide of the post and out for a corner.
United would soon deal the killer blow on the 74th minute as Loft opened his account for the campaign. Unable to clear their lines, the hosts were punished as Gibbons picked out a delightful ball into the six-yard box, where Loft escaped his man and cushioned a header home to haunt his former club.
The game management from here was impeccable, with their attitude and hunger to claim the clean sheet evident as they completed a pleasing night’s work – and a first win at the Memorial since 2003 - to put their name in the hat for the next round.
It’s a return to home comforts for Cambridge this weekend (16 August) as they welcome Harrogate Town to a bumper Cledara Abbey – be sure to back the boys.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Southam-Hales (Senior, 60’), Kilgour (Moore, 46’), Mola, Sparkes (Bilongo, 46’), Howley, Hutchinson (Dewsbury, 60’), Conteh, Sotiriou, Thomas, Harrison (Cavegn, 60’)
Subs Not Used: Young, Omochere, Ellison, McEachran
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Conteh
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bradshaw, McLoughlin (Hoddle, 82’), Mpanzu (Ball, 66’), Bennett, Kachunga (Knight, 75’), Kaikai (Brophy, 65’), Appere (Loft, 66’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Purrington, Ibsen Rossi, McConnell
Goalscorers: Appere (28’), Loft (74’)
Bookings: Brophy
Referee: Oliver Mackey
