Cambridge United extended their unbeaten start to Sky Bet League Two life at the Cledara Abbey Stadium as they sealed a professional 2-0 victory against Newport County…
Requiring time to build up steam, the U’s broke down the visiting defence in the latter stages of the first half through Kell Watts’ towering header, before James Brophy continued his goalscoring touch 20 minutes from time to make sure of maximum points.
Following the thoroughly-deserved Carabao Cup victory against Charlton Athletic four days earlier, Neil Harris looked to accelerate momentum as he freshened up the XI with six changes. Mamadou Jobe returned from suspension and was joined by Liam Bennett, Ben Purrington, Dom Ball, Sullay Kaikai and Louis Appere.
On a sunny late August afternoon, the visitors from South Wales were looking to arrest the slide following four consecutive defeats, but found themselves under the cosh in the opening moments as the U’s looked to progress play into the final third on frequent occasions.
Nonetheless, opportunities to pull the trigger were limited. The only chance of note fell to the hosts on the 13th minute following a lengthy passing move that sliced open the Exiles down the right – concluding with Kaikai, the winger was offered time to pass a man and find the space to shoot, but he fired the ball over Nik Tzanev’s crossbar from 25 yards.
With very little yet to fall into place for either side, it had been a low-key affair, with Newport’s goalkeeper only needing to be a spectator for the next moment on 35 when Ben Knight picked out a speculative effort from distance that curled over the woodwork.
Once United finally crafted their first shot on target a couple of minutes later, they made it count by taking the lead as Watts opened his account in amber courtesy of a set piece. Picked out by a pinpoint Kaikai corner into the six-yard box, the centre-back rose highest to glance his near-post header home.
Buoyed by the opener, Harris’ men had now found that vibrancy to their game. With a lead to protect, they remained in the driving seat heading into the break.
Determined not to rest on their laurels, Cambridge hunted that second from the get-go. A long ball from Jobe on 54 was cleverly chased by Appere in the far corner, whose cutback to Bennett allowed the full-back to float a cross into the area, where Tzanev was on hand to claim at his left post.
Within 10 minutes of the restart, the Exiles had already made four substitutions which included the likes of attackers Bobby Kamwa and Michael Reindorf. They soon dealt a scare by hitting a snapshot from close range, but it was held low by Jake Eastwood.
At their most dangerous through crosses, Appere soon went close as his delicate flick in the mixer was recycled away, with Kaikai on the follow up denied by a block from the Newport defence.
It looked to be game, set and match at a crucial time on the 73rd minute when the U’s doubled their advantage in front of a jubilant Newmarket Road End. Not long after being drafted on, Kylian Kouassi was released in the final third and drilled towards the corner – it tapped the post but uninvitingly fell to Brophy who slotted in the rebound for his fourth of the season.
However, a quick consolation was almost dished up down the other end as a quick delivery was latched at by Thomas Davies from yards out, but fortunately Bennett was on hand with a great last-ditch block to take pace off the strike and allow Eastwood to catch and prevent it trickling in.
The U’s passage towards full time from here was a comfortable one, controlling the encounter and tidying up everything defensively to seal a first clean sheet since the opening day and an instant return to winning ways in the league.
Up next, United play hosts once more in a week’s time (6th September) when Oldham Athletic make the journey to CB5 – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett, Jobe, Watts, Purrington, Ball, Mpanzu, Brophy (Gibbons, 89’), Knight (Kouassi, 68’), Kaikai, Appere (McLoughlin, 82’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Kachunga, Ibsen Rossi, Bradshaw
Goalscorers: Watts (37’), Brophy (73’)
Bookings:
Newport County: Tzanev, Ogunneye, Jenkins, Baker, Davies, Glennon, Smith (Evans, 46’), Antwi, Lloyd (Brennen, 56’), Garner (Reindorf, 56’), Spellman (Kamwa, 46’)
Subs Not Used: Wright, Warner, Baker-Richardson
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Glennon
Referee: Garreth Rhodes
Attendance: 5887 (293 away fans)
