Cambridge United proved good value for maximum points towards their Sky Bet League Two promotion charge as they overcame Salford City 1-0 at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Throughout a controlled display, the U’s limited the visitors from Manchester to very little and would capitalise minutes into the second half through James Gibbons’ powerful header. It was a lead they would go on to protect as they dug in to claim a 16th clean sheet of the season and stretch their unbeaten run to nine matches.
Four days on from the stalemate at Walsall, Neil Harris named the one change to his starting XI as James Brophy came back in to replace Korey Smith, who dropped to the bench.
An important matchup at the top of the pack beckoned for both teams in this early kick-off. Inside the automatic promotion spots and off the back of a promising unbeaten streak – and 14 matches without defeat on home soil in total – United were out to utilise that in a real six-pointer. Lurking just two points and places behind them, the Ammies too had picked up steam thanks to four successive victories.
Attacking towards the Newmarket Road End, it was an energetic start from the hosts as they used the atmosphere to their advantage as Brophy’s inswinging corner on target forced a paw over the crossbar from Matthew Young, before Gibbons met Kell Watts’ excellent cross at the back post on the 8th minute but lashed it against the sidenetting.
The tone had changed to one of caution from here, with both sides doing well to cancel each other out and restrict. United had earned plenty of corners and looked threatening on them as Brophy’s set piece on 24 was matched by the head of Mamadou Jobe, who directed it at goal, but it was caught by Young.
Carving open the opposing defence via a rapid counter on the half hour mark, a neat one-two from Sullay Kaikai and Ben Knight saw the latter play the winger in on goal, but Zach Awe continued to make up enough ground to put a vital lunge in, effectively diminishing the power on the shot as it fell into the arms of Young.
In terms of opportunities, it had been all Cambridge in a half that had lacked real entertainment, but the control was certainly there. Their last chance of note arrived on the 37th minute when Watts kept the ball alive with a flick towards the back post, but Louis Appere couldn’t quite reach it and get a connection as the Ammies’ goalkeeper clawed away the danger.
Remaining in the ascendency after the break, the U’s capitalised four minutes in by drawing first blood with a well-worked move. After Appere won a free-kick by the centre of the pitch, Brophy lofted towards the penalty area where Gibbons planted an astute header into the left corner of the goal from the centre of the box.
Now with an advantage to protect, Cambridge didn’t want to just rest on their laurels. Karl Robinson immediately added firepower to his squad in Fabio Borini and Princewill Ehibhatiomhan, but it was at the other end where the attempts continued to accumulate.
With the ball sticking to his feet, Knight managed to jink past several men and into the centre on 58, where he teed up Kaikai who was quick to take a touch and pull the trigger, with the fierce strike requiring Young to flick it over the crossbar.
The lively Kaikai’s last attempt of the afternoon arrived a few minutes later when he cut to his right and unleashed a curler from 20 yards out which nestled a matter of inches wide of the post. He was soon replaced as part of a triple substitution from Harris as Korey Smith, Adam Mayor and Shayne Lavery were all called upon.
On the 74th minute, United received a scare when Jake Eastwood’s attempted clearance fell kindly to Ehibhatiomhan – the forward was able to race into the box and get a shot underway but the recovering glovesman was on hand to firmly deny and keep the clean sheet intact.
The hosts had their hearts in mouth shortly after when Josh Austerfield released Ryan Graydon, who was racing in on goal at a good angle, but his strike was prevented by a brave Eastwood who made himself big to claim.
Following an array of yellow cards, a feisty conclusion looked to be on the cards. Lavery almost sealed the points on 84 when he wriggled through his defender but a tame drill from 15 yards was gathered by Young.
Inside the six minutes of additional time, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu tripped in the box but no penalty was given - and whilst the Ammies looked to go all-out attack, they were unable to break down the hosts’ defensive resolve, which once again came out on top to cap another successful afternoon at CB5.
The U’s now have a week to recuperate ahead of next Saturday’s matchup (28 March) with Barnet at the Hive in front of a sold-out away end.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett, Ball, Mpanzu, Brophy (Mayor, 67’), Knight, Kaikai (Smith, 67’), Appere (Lavery, 67’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Purrington, Nevitt, Raggett
Goalscorers: Gibbons (48’)
Bookings: Mpanzu, Gibbons
Salford City: Young, Mnoga (Ehibhatiomhan, 53’), Turton, Oluwo, Awe (Cooper, 32’), Garbutt, Austerfield, Butcher (Borini, 53’), Grant, Stockton (Udoh, 53’), Graydon (Longelo, 83’)
Subs Not Used: Howard, Dorrington
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Monga, Grant, Borini, Graydon
Referee: Alan Dale
Attendance: 6633 (190 away fans)
