Cambridge United were forced to settle for the single point towards their Sky Bet League Two tally as Swindon Town grabbed a late leveller to seal a 1-1 draw at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Rewarded for a front-footed introduction, the U’s found themselves ahead 20 minutes in when Ben Knight slotted home his 9th league goal of the season. Despite controlling proceedings and creating a plethora of big opportunities, the inability to find a deserved second proved costly as Joel McGregor’s late goal ensured a point apiece.
Five days on from the disappointing defeat at Barnet – just their second loss from 25 matches – Neil Harris opted with an unchanged starting XI. Elsewhere, Sullay Kaikai and George Hoddle returned to the matchday squad following international duty and injury respectively by making the bench.
Kicking off the Easter weekend with a mouth-watering clash in front of the Sky Sports cameras, there was plenty up for grabs for the sides with promotion ambitions. How the hosts would respond to a first defeat in 10 matches last time out would be intriguing, but they certainly backed themselves on home soil where they were 15 unbeaten. The opportunity was there for the Robins to leapfrog United in the table, with the consistent outfit – arriving off the back of one defeat from six – looking for a third away victory on the spin.
Operating with a 4-2-3-1 setup, Cambridge were fast out of the blocks, demonstrating energy to their game as they attacked towards the Newmarket Road End for the first time on the 5th minute when Knight progressed the ball into the final third and teed up Adam Mayor to his left, who raced in and blazed a fierce shot into the side netting.
On top of proceedings, United continued to ask questions in the final third and stretch their opponents. The full-backs combined on the 13th minute when James Gibbons picked out a menacing delivery to the back post, where Liam Bennett did well to generate a header which flashed wide of Connor Ripley’s left post.
The early persistence paid off 20 minutes in to take the roof off of CB5. Worked from a sustained spell of pressure from wingers James Brophy and Mayor, Gibbons was fed on the overlap who delivered to Knight inside the area who made no mistake as his left-footed strike nestled into the net.
Remaining on the front foot and not allowing the visitors any time on the ball, the U’s were accumulating the chances at a frequent manner. Moments after the opener, a carbon copy move – once more down the left – saw Louis Appere drill in for Knight, who couldn’t keep his shot down from 12 yards as it lashed over.
Shortly after the half hour mark, Brophy had two golden opportunities fall his way when he forced Swindon to dig in defensively. The creative Gibbons first picked him out with a sublime cross, but the unmarked number 7’s powerful attempt was kept out by a low Ripley. Reclaiming possession immediately, Brophy was found again in the next attack, where his shot took a vital deflection as it shaved the post.
Up the other end, Jake Eastwood passed his first test of the evening on 37 when Fletcher Holman embarked on a blistering run out wide, who raced into the penalty area and pulled the trigger from an angle, but United’s glovesman was brave to come out, divert away for a corner and keep the lead intact.
The last action of a dominant first half saw Knight – who had seen plenty of the ball – test his luck with a speculative 25-yarder which was caught by Ripley. It had been an entertaining 45 minutes of football with Cambridge very much in the ascendency and unfortunate not to have found a second.
There was no sign of the momentum swaying judging by the early stages of the second period, where the U’s at every opportunity drove at the Robins’ backline. Unable to clear their lines, Knight pounced on 53 and enjoyed a mazy run where he showed silky feet to skip through a sea of defenders before getting his shot underway from the edge of the six-yard box, but a crucial stop from Ripley denied the piece of brilliance.
With his side yet to stamp some authority, Ian Holloway rolled the dice with a triple change on the hour as he introduced Aidan Borland, Billy Bodin and McGregor – it added more of a spark as they started to pick out some deliveries into the area, but Eastwood was there to claim each time.
Keeping their defensive shape well, the home side had been assuring and to a man excellent when distributing the ball forwards to ensure one-way traffic continued. The return of Mayor also saw the return of the long-throw weapon, which was utilised on 72 to create pinball, where Mamadou Jobe could only launch over the crossbar.
By now, Swindon had made all five substitutions but still couldn’t break down the U’s resolve, who had maintained the same energy all night. With 10 minutes left on the clock, Kaikai and Shayne Lavery were introduced to assist in keeping hold of the advantage.
On the 88th minute, Bennett was found in the right-hand side of the box and managed to pull the trigger, but it was denied and allowed the Robins to race up the other end, where they produced a major sucker punch. Found by Bodin, McGregor was on hand to side foot into the corner of the net for the leveller.
Desperate to respond during the five minutes of additional time, Kaikai was able to square across the face of goal where Lavery couldn’t divert in. In the dying seconds, Jobe flicked to the striker - who managed to get a boot to it but couldn’t pass a jumping Ripley - before Mayor’s long-range attempt deflected wide with the last kick of the game as time ultimately ran out.
Up next, United make the journey to Gloucestershire on Easter Monday (6 April) to pit their wits against Cheltenham Town at the EV Charger Points Stadium – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett, Jobe, Watts, Gibbons, Ball, Mpanzu (Nevitt, 90+3’), Brophy (Hoddle, 87’), Knight (Kaikai, 80’), Mayor, Appere (Appere, 79’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Purrington, Morrison
Goalscorers: Knight (20’)
Bookings:
Swindon Town: Ripley, Wright (McGregor, 57’), Knight-Lebel, Tafazolli, Batty, Kilkenny (Borland, 58’), Nichols (Bodin, 58’), Oldaker, Palmer (Scanlon, 73’), Holman (Olakigbe, 74’), Drinan
Subs Not Used: Ward, Ball
Goalscorers: McGregor (88’)
Bookings: Nichols, Borland
Referee: Matt Corlett
Attendance: 7,366 (1,034 away fans)