Cambridge United bowed out of the Vertu Trophy at the Round of 32 stage as they were undone on penalties by Bristol Rovers following a dramatic 2-2 draw at the Memorial Stadium…
An early goal from Ellis Harrison put the Pirates in the driving seat, with the striker bagging his second shortly after to set up an authoritative first half. Midway through the second period, Kell Watts got his side back into the tie with a close-range finish, before the U’s pressure paid off during injury time when Sullay Kaikai dispatched a penalty. Ultimately, they couldn’t complete the comeback in the 12-yard shootout, with the home side proving victorious from the spot.
Following on from the last-gasp comeback victory against Crewe Alexandra three days earlier, Neil Harris shuffled his pack by naming nine changes to the XI. George Hoddle and Glenn McConnell were the only two to keep their place, whilst fellow youth prospects George Munday and Jahrel McKoy featured on the bench.
The evening’s venue was a very familiar setting for the knockout tie, this was already United’s third visit to the home of the Gas this campaign – this time they would be hoping to continue their cup exploits from early August against a side who had succumbed to eight successive league defeats.
However, the form book seemed to matter little as - with just 7 minutes on the clock - the hosts received a penalty when Freddie Issaka capitalised on a defensive error and skipped into the box before being fouled by James Gibbons. Up stepped the experienced Harrison, who thundered into the middle of the net for the opener.
The much-changed U’s required time to find their feet in a low-key introduction to the game, but there was real work to do when the advantage was doubled on the 17th minute. A classic counter from goalkeeper Luke Southwood saw him distribute to the tricky Luke Thomas on the right, who got the better of his defender before teeing up the arriving Harrison in the area who drilled a fierce shot past Ben Hughes.
Determined to gain a rapid response, there was a couple of well-worked moves from Harris’ men prior to the half hour mark. Looking to drive, Ben Knight went on an encouraging foray forwards where he wriggled out of some challenges to open up space from 20 yards, with his strike being deflected behind for a corner. A few minutes later, Elias Kachunga travelled down the left and squared to an unmarked Knight from inside the area, who couldn’t keep his shot down as it rifled over the crossbar.
With a healthy lead to protect, Darrell Clarke’s men were keen to get men behind the ball and stay compact with a low block. Proving effective, United were finding it a test to unlock the backline.
Knight showcased some front-footed play on 37 when he won a challenge and dribbled towards the edge of the six-yard box on the right hand side, with his cutback aimed for Kachunga but the alert Southwood pounced to claim by diving low.
There was to be no outlet as the clash reached its halfway mark, with the Gas looking good value for progression as it stood, with Cambridge knowing a quick start to the second half would be a necessity to keep their hopes alive.
James Brophy was the sole change at the break for the U’s, whereas the home side were out to keep momentum flowing as Kamil Conteh, Ryan Howley and Fabrizio Cavegn were all drafted in.
The visitors were after a spark, in particular a killer pass to really test the opposing rearguard - who had not been tested for some time.
Shortly after the hour, Kacper Lopata took out Kaikai 25 yards from goal, with the winger attempting the speculative free-kick which was always rising.
United desperately needed to start clocking some shots on target, which signalled a double switch on the 65th minute when Munday – on for just his second appearance in black and amber – and Watts came on.
As far as immediate impacts go, it helped breathe life as Harris’ men clawed one back on the 67th minute. Brophy’s curling shot was initially blocked and forced pinball in the penalty area, with Zeno Ibsen Rossi and Kaikai taking stabs, but it was Munday who volleyed back into the mixer for Watts, who from close range directed the ball home off the crossbar. Game on.
Now in the ascendency and looking more fluid when building defence into attack, it was all United for a sustained spell in the dying embers. With his back to goal, Ibsen Rossi craned a header which was claimed by Southwood, before seconds later Zak Bradshaw picked out Kaikai from 15 yards out, who leaned back and ultimately powered high and wide.
During a rare attack, the tie was almost over on 81 when a corner from the left from the Pirates floated to Taylor Moore, whose low shot was cleared off the line before the U’s escaped by clearing their lines.
Heading into the dying embers, the visitors introduced Liam Bennett and Adam Mayor to help go all-out attack. This paid its dividends when, just like a few days earlier, they were awarded a spot kick during stoppage time when Bennett marauded into the area but was taken out by goalkeeper Southwood.
Up stepped Kaikai, who was incredibly calm and composed to dispatch a superb penalty deep into the corner to ensure his side fight on.
During a dramatic conclusion, the lively Munday continued his impressive cameo by keeping down a pass and firing a quick shot towards goal that was denied by an excellent reaction stop from Southwood. A game of two halves, with the sides unable to be separated – therefore, penalties would decide their fate.
However, Southwood remained strong to deny two U’s men from the spot, with Bristol Rovers wrapping up the tie with a 4-2 win on penalties to see them through to the last 16 despite a real scare.
Cup action continues on Saturday (5th December) when the U’s take on League One promotion hopefuls Stockport County at Edgeley Park - with a place in the Third Round of the Emirates FA Cup at stake.
Bristol Rovers: Southwood, Mola, Lopata (Moore, 68’), Negru, Sparkes, Chang, Cotterill (Howley, 46’), McEachran (Conteh, 46’), Thomas, Issaka (Morton, 55’), Harrison (Cavegn, 46’)
Subs Not Used: Young, Forde
Goalscorers: Harrison (8’, 17’)
Bookings: Chang, Conteh, Howley, Mola, Southwood
Cambridge United: Hughes, Gibbons (Bennett, 82’), Jobe (Watts, 63’), Ibsen Rossi, Bradshaw, Hoddle, Mpanzu, Kaikai, McConnell (Brophy, 46’), Knight (Mayor, 82’), Kachunga (Munday, 63’)
Subs Not Used: Eastwood, McKoy
Goalscorers: Watts (67’), Kaikai (90+3’)
Bookings: Hoddle
Referee: James Durkin
