Cambridge United’s latest Sky Bet League Two encounter saw them share the spoils with Colchester United following a 1-1 draw at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Kell Watts got the ball rolling with his 7th goal of the season after a couple of minutes, but the U’s were pegged back on the half hour mark when Jack Payne headed in. The hosts needed to stand up to the challenge that the second half provided and had to settle for a point as their unbeaten run on home soil was stretched to 12 matches.
Three days on from the professional victory against Bristol Rovers, Neil Harris named just the solitary change to his starting XI as Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu came in for the injured Dom Ball. Fresh from signing a new two-year deal, Glenn McConnell was drafted back into the matchday squad.
A lively pre-match atmosphere was scattered around CB5 heading into this local matchup under the floodlights, with United up to 2nd and firing on all cylinders thanks to eight wins from nine – their task now was to grab a sixth successive home triumph. The visitors were out to address their below-par form of three defeats from four, with the gap from the play-offs reading at five points.
Utilising their home advantage from the get-go, United broke deadlock with just two minutes on the clock in front of the Newmarket Road End. Ben Knight tested his luck with a left-footed half volley, which took a crucial deflection off of the head of Kell Watts to deceive and nestle into the net.
To obtain the advantage so early gave the home side real confidence to express themselves. In search of a second, they were knocking the ball around the park well and weren’t affording Colchester any space to roam. On 15, Knight laid it off to James Gibbons, who roamed into the final third and had every right to have a crack at an ambitious long-range attempt, which was fiercely cannoned inches over Matt Macey’s crossbar.
Straight up the other end, Danny Cowley’s men utilised their pace on the flanks as Teddy Bishop released Kyreece Lisbie down the right, whose cross for Samson Tovide was begging to be poked home. Fortunately, Mamadou Jobe was on hand with an important last-ditch tackle to sweep it away.
On the half hour mark, Col U gained the equaliser when Owura Edwards danced down the left wing and Lisbie helped supply a cross to the back post, where an onrushing Payne inside the six-yard box headed in to level matters.
Naturally, this switched momentum as the Essex outfit found the ascendency for a brief spell, but it was United who came agonisingly close to retaking their lead on the 38th minute when James Brophy picked his spot with a left-footed attempt from 20 yards which delightfully curled and beat Macey at full stretch, but ultimately crashed against the post and started a recycling of play which culminated in Knight cracking a snapshot wide.
With the last effort of the first half, Knight again found himself in good space to pull the trigger from outside the penalty area, but it was straight into the gloves of Macey to conclude a lively first 45 minutes with the match very much still in the balance.
It was as you were after the break for both sides, with a fast-paced spell from Colchester causing havoc on 53 when Edwards got the better of Jobe on the left and scampered into the area from an angle, but just as he was about to square it Jake Eastwood was incredibly brave to commit and claim – both were ok to continue after treatment.
A few minutes later, Tovide did ever so well to shrug past some markers and advance into the danger area, where he unleashed a powerful shot from distance which was denied by the firm glove of Eastwood.
Although opportunities were limited, United showcased their threat from set pieces just after the hour when Sullay Kaikai’s corner gained a delicate flick from Gibbons to Watts, who got his body at it from close range and aimed for the near post but it was put behind.
Undoubtedly the best moment of the second period fell to Colchester on the 67th minute when Romeo Akachukwu clipped a clean shot goalwards which crashed against the woodwork – a let-off for the hosts who knew a tense finale would await them.
Eager to freshen up for the final 20, the Head Coach introduced Liam Bennett, Korey Smith and Shayne Lavery to add energy in all areas of the pitch.
The visitors’ pace was proving tricky to contain, but United dug in to repel the threats. Eastwood was on hand once more on 79 to witness Payne’s free-kick from 25 yards out whistle towards goal before pawing it over for a corner.
The golden chance found its way to Cambridge on the stroke of nine additional minutes when Mpanzu held up a corner well and teed to Gibbons from 12 yards out, who agonisingly blazed it over the crossbar.
That was to be it for the evening – United had been in a battle and were unable to find a late spark, but also importantly remained alert to protect a point and their first draw since Boxing Day.
Up next, it’s a trip to Wales on Saturday (21 February) as the U’s do battle with Newport County at Rodney Parade – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Purrington (Bennett, 71’), Mpanzu, McLoughlin, Brophy, (Smith, 71’) Knight, Kaikai, Appere (Lavery, 71’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Nevitt, McConnell, Raggett
Goalscorers: Watts (2’)
Bookings: Purrington, Gibbons
Colchester United: Macey, Vincent-Young, Tucker, Araujo, Hunt, Read, Bishop (Barbrook, 70’), Lisbie, Payne, Edwards (Akachukwu, 62’), Tovide (Goodwin, 71’)
Subs Not Used: Smith, Williams, Back, Terry
Goalscorers: Payne (29’)
Bookings: Bishop, Read
Referee: Declan Brown
Attendance: 6764 (1032 away fans)
