Cambridge United were forced into a share of the spoils at the death as MK Dons rescued a 1-1 draw at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
It was a tense battle all throughout the afternoon at CB5, with the U’s looking to have navigated their way towards the points when Shayne Lavery hopped off the bench to hand his side the lead 15 minutes from time. From here, the hosts had to dig in but were on the receiving end of a dramatic conclusion that saw Aaron Collins convert a penalty deep into injury time to ensure a point apiece.
In response to the efficient away victory at basement side Newport County a week earlier, Neil Harris opted with just the one change to his starting XI as Sullay Kaikai came in for Shane McLoughlin.
Billed as a crunch top-of-the-table clash between two heavyweights of the division, the sternest defence welcomed the strongest attack with a place and two points separating them in the automatic promotion spots. With the top five so congested, there was lots to fight for as the visitors were out to make it 10 unbeaten and the U’s were looking to preserve their impressive home form, where they had remained without defeat in the league since early September.
A big hurdle to overcome, but early signs were positive as both outfits looked to cancel each other out and find some rhythm. United carved out a corner on the 9th minute when Ben Knight was presented with the chance to shoot from 20 yards, but his attempt was blocked behind.
Straight up the other end, Paul Warne’s side combined to create the first opportunity of the afternoon when Dan Crowley advanced to Rushian Hepburn-Murphy – the forward did well to hold the ball up and tee up Jon Mellish on the left-hand side of the box, whose fierce shot towards the near post was matched by Jake Eastwood.
Remaining in the balance, it had been a very cautious opening half an hour. Although United were keen to get the ball forwards, they had been nullified by an experienced back three who were winning the majority of their headers.
Just as Cambridge looked to spark an attack, they were robbed of possession and almost exposed when Jack Sanders’ defence-splitting pass released Hepburn-Murphy in a one-on-one position. With no offside glad raised, the forward scampered towards the area and aimed to slot into the corner, but it just shaved the right post.
Five minutes prior to the break, Appere was spotted out wide after beating the trap – he showed good instinct to spot and square to James Brophy outside the six-yard box, where the winger looked to get a boot to it and went to ground but appeals for a penalty were waved away.
A cagey affair continued into the second period with the possession very equal, but the U’s were the first to cause a scare on the 50th minute when Kell Watts’ deep cross found James Gibbons at the back post – it was a well-executed header from close-range and forced a reaction from Craig MacGillivray to prevent.
The U’s were now starting to tick and asking questions of Milton Keynes’ defence. An exquisite ball from Kaikai spotted Knight down the right, who ran horizontally to jink into the area at speed. Just as he was about to pull the trigger he fell, Appere was there to claim but fired it over the crossbar.
Another chance fell to the number nine seconds later when he capitalised on Curtis Nelson’s mistake and was now in a footrace – strength was needed as they battled to drive towards goal, but the defender did well to recover.
With 64 minutes on the clock, Harris rolled the changes as Korey Smith, Lavery and Elliott Nevitt came on to try and attack the final stages of a tense encounter that still had some drama to be written.
The perseverance paid through 10 minutes later when United gained a crucial breakthrough. First, Nevitt raced in at an angle and drew a smart stop, before Knight’s rebound forced a might goalmouth scramble. Fortunately, Lavery was looming to leather into the net to spark pandemonium in front of the Newmarket Road End.
Naturally, MK needed a rapid response. Ben Wiles’ delivery on 78 found the experienced Scott Hogan in the area, who blazed his header wide.
An onslaught continued as the clock ticked down, with United standing up to the challenge bravely. On 84, Eastwood performed heroics when Joe Tomlinson got a boot to it from yards out, but excellent reflexes helped paw it away.
A minute later, Nelson was found at the back post and did well to take a touch and fire at goal from an angle, but Eastwood showed determination to deny with his body.
Just as the final whistle was imminent, Cambridge were dealt a sickener as Aaron Nemane drew a foul in the box. The referee deemed it to be enough contact, pointing to the spot where substitute Collins would then bury home to nick a last-gasp leveller.
Up next, United make the journey up north next Saturday (7th March) to do battle with Accrington Stanley at the Wham Stadium – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett (Purrington, 79’), Ball, Mpanzu (Smith, 64’), Brophy, Knight (Raggett, 79’), Kaikai (Lavery, 64’), Appere (Nevitt, 64’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, McConnell
Goalscorers: Lavery (74’)
Bookings: Nevitt
MK Dons: MacGillivray, Ekpiteta (Lemonheigh-Evans, 90+2’), Nelson, Sanders (Collins, 81’), Jones (Nemane, 73’), Offord, Crowley (Hogan, 73’), Mellish (Tomlinson, 81’), Wiles, Gilbey, Hepburn-Murphy
Subs Not Used: Trueman, Leko
Goalscorers: Collins (90+6’)
Bookings: Mellish, Sanders
Referee: Declan Bourne
Attendance: 7538 (1028 away fans)
