Cambridge United’s latest Sky Bet League One encounter saw them fall to a disappointing 0-1 defeat against Exeter City at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
It took time for both sides to find their feet during a slow introduction with little opportunities. Although the U’s started to tally them up as the second half progressed, they couldn’t show that clinical edge as the Grecians made sure of the points through Josh Magennis 20 minutes from time.
Determined to return to winning ways following a comprehensive defeat to league leaders Birmingham City four days earlier, Garry Monk tweaked the system and freshened up his XI by naming three changes as James Gibbons, Jordan Cousins and Josh Stokes all returned.
A damp early afternoon in CB5 saw some early action from the Grecians. After forcing a corner, the U’s were firm in clearing their lines, but it could only fall to midfielder Ed Francis from 20 yards out, who fired well over the crossbar.
Seven minutes in, Gary Caldwell’s side went closer when Caleb Watts picked out full-back Ilmari Niskanen deep down the right with an exquisite lofted ball. The Finnish international won it on the line, wriggled his way into the centre and pulled the trigger, which Nathan Bishop witnessed fly over.
United were yet to find that element of control in the opening stages, with the visitors enjoying the ball where it matters. Their first opportunity to counter on the 15th minute was a rapid one, with the deep-lying James Brophy progressing play to Stokes and Elias Kachunga – the latter looked to roll back for a wrestling Ryan Loft inside the area but the ball evaded him.
What was required from the hosts was that execution in the final ball, although a slight improvement was on show heading into the hour mark. Brophy’s corner was towards a battling Jubril Okedina from yards out, but the final nick was from an Exeter man as it nestled onto the roof of the net. The following set-piece concluded with Stokes testing his luck from 20 yards out from an angle, but Joe Whitworth caught.
Deadlock should have been broken on 34 when Kachunga did well to advance play towards the creative Stokes out wide, who picked out Loft at the back post with a delicate chip, but the striker got his angles wrong as he flashed it past Whitworth’s right stick.
On the eve of the whistle, a slight scramble in the final third concluded with Kachunga drilling a snapshot from outside of the box wide, which concluded a below-par first half with very little action for both sides.
Five minutes into the second period, a golden opportunity went begging for the U’s. A risky pass allowed Loft to put pressure on Whitworth between the sticks, who could only clear to Stokes – the loanee looked to drive into the box but the first touch didn’t help as he bobbled the shot into the Newmarket Road End.
Accumulating chances at a more frequent rate, a free-kick on 59 was taken quickly, allowing Kachunga the time to take a good touch and turn before drilling the ball with venom towards the corner from range, but Whitworth stooped low to claim.
Seconds after directing an audacious strike wide, Loft was replaced by fellow striker Dom Ballard, with Ben Stevenson also entering the fray with 25 minutes to go.
Continuing to apply pressure and forcing the Grecians to dig in, a corner from Stokes on the 67th minute fell invitingly to the head of Michael Morrison, who generated plenty of power but it snuck inches wide of the post.
Exeter’s first chance of the second half resulted in the opener five minutes later when Watts delivered a pinpoint ball to Magennis, who showcased his prowess in the six-yard box by cushioning a header past a helpless Bishop and into the opposite corner.
Needing to go for the jugular, Monk made the attacking chances by bringing on Emmanuel Longelo and Brandon Njoku, with their best moment since the opener falling to Cousins from 15 yards out on 83, whose strike continued to rise.
Despite six minutes of additional time, the match petered out, with United unable to find a solution in the attacking department to seal a point as their winless run was stretched to six games.
The U’s now have a week to recuperate before they go again at the Abbey next weekend (22nd February) when Stockport County make the journey down south.
Cambridge United: Bishop, Okedina (Longelo, 82’), Morrison, Watts, Gibbons (Njoku, 82’), Cousins, Brophy (Stevenson, 65’), Barton (Bennett, 73’), Kachunga, Stokes, Loft (Ballard, 65’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Digby
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Morrison
Exeter City: Whitworth, Niskanen, McMillan, A. MacDonald, Hartridge, Harper (Mitchell, 46’), Francis (Woods, 60’), Colwill (Purrington, 84’), Watts (Yogane, 76’), Trevitt (Cole, 61’), Magennis
Subs Not Used: S. MacDonald, Oluwabori
Goalscorers: Magennis (72’)
Bookings: Harper, A. MacDonald, Watts, Whitworth
Referee: Carl Brook
Attendance: 5455 (339 away fans)
