Cambridge United secured a fifth consecutive victory at the Cledara Abbey Stadium in Sky Bet League Two as they confidently overcame Bristol Rovers 3-1…
Ben Knight scored for the fourth home match in a row with a well-placed effort on the half hour mark, but the hosts were forced level going into the break after Joe Quigley converted from the spot. Knight’s afternoon would only get better from here as he secured his brace with a thunderous penalty, before Kell Watts put the game - and another three points - to bed with his sixth of the season ten minutes from time as the U’s climbed to 2nd in the table.
Following on from the comprehensive 0-3 victory at Crawley Town four days earlier, Neil Harris freshened up his pack by naming three changes as Ben Purrington, Dom Ball and Sullay Kaikai returned to the starting XI, whilst Korey Smith appeared on the bench for the first time in two months following an injury lay-off.
The aforementioned match in midweek saw an instant return to winning ways for United– a seventh victory from eight – to keep them hot on the heels of the top three. Now, the aim was to preserve their excellent home form – which read at just one defeat all season - ahead of a run of three matches at CB5 in the next four. The visitors from the south west had picked up back-to-back wins prior to a dramatic 2-3 loss against Chesterfield last time out, with Steve Evans’ side looking to increase a six-point gap from the bottom two.
On a pleasantly bright afternoon, with the hosts attacking towards the Newmarket Road End first, it was at the other end where the first chance arose after 45 seconds when Pirates’ top goalscorer Fabrizio Cavegn raced in down the right and hit a fierce attempt that was denied by a low stop from Jake Eastwood.
Posing a threat out wide, United caused a scare on the 10th minute when Kaikai’s teasing cross from the left was destined to be picked out by a U’s man in the six-yard box but prevented by Jack Sparkes’ clearance. The resulting corner was then met by the head of Kaikai, who planted it over the crossbar.
Enjoying the freedom to roam in a full-back role, James Gibbons did well to beat a couple of opponents for pace and travel into the penalty area, but the cutback couldn’t find a forward to apply the finishing touches as Rovers cleared their lines. All in all, it had been a front-footed start which just lacked conviction in the final third.
A scrappy, physical encounter continued, but Cambridge were holding firm, and an intricate move tested Brad Young between the sticks on the half hour mark when Shane McLoughlin’s backheel teed up Knight to hit a venomous 15-yard strike which was pawed away.
Two minutes later, the division’s player of the month for January would make no mistake as he opened the scoring for the U’s. A burst from Kaikai out on the left saw him cut inside and evade his man, with the ball invitingly landing to the feet of Knight, who stroked a first-time finish into the corner.
Happy to control the proceedings from here, Harris’ men maintained their attacking threat but defensively were matching the sharpness of Cavegn and physicality of Quigley.
In what would have been a superb way to cap the first half, a mishap at the back from the visitors on 44 saw Purrington probe to keep the ball alive from a big bounce which was not headed away, allowing Kaikai to nip in and, from a tight angle on the left-hand side of the six-yard box, looked for placement towards the far post which was off target.
On the stroke of the whistle, the sucker punch was dealt as Quigley drew a soft foul inside the area following a long throw. The striker stepped up and with good placement converted to level matters going into the break.
Seconds after play resumed, the U’s were agonisingly close to retaking the lead with major quickfire chances. First, Kaikai picked out a long ball, jinked past a man and slotted to a looming Knight, whose shot was blocked and behind for a corner, which was met by Watts at the back post and begging to be tapped in by Louis Appere from a yards out, but the striker couldn’t connect as it trickled out of play.
The Pirates had made a substitution at the break in the experienced Ellis Harrison, whose powerful clean effort from under 25 yards out was stopped by a great catch from Eastwood.
On the 53rd minute, United were awarded a penalty of their own when Mamadou Jobe was brought down inside the area. Up stepped the ice-cold Knight, who hammered into the roof of the net for his second of the afternoon.
The playmaker’s work for the day was done as he and Ball were replaced by debutant Sean Raggett and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu on the 65th minute as the Head Coach tweaked his setup.
Hunting to improve their advantage, Gibbons attempted the spectacular moments after with an audacious curler from outside the box, which flew just inches over the woodwork.
With the closing stages becoming leggy, it remained a good contest as United continued to plug away and fight for every ball – Smith and Elliott Nevitt were next to come on to inject some bite.
On 78, it looked to be game, set and match as the hosts’ persistence paid off. Gibbons’ long throw wasn’t cleared by the visitors, allowing Raggett to pick out Watts who directed a header past Young and towards the far post.
Despite seeing a remarkable 10 minutes of injury time indicated, the home outfit remained largely untested, running the clock down with professionalism for another eye-catching triumph.
Up next, another quick turnaround sees Colchester United make the short journey to CB5 on Tuesday evening (17 February) – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Purrington, Ball (Mpanzu, 65’), McLoughlin (Smith, 76’), Brophy, Knight (Nevitt, 66’), Kaikai (Lavery, 83’), Appere (Nevitt, 76’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Bennett
Goalscorers: Knight (32’, 55’), Watts (78’)
Bookings: Purrington
Bristol Rovers: Young, Balmer, Kilgour, Moore, Akhamrich, Mola (Thompson-Sommers, 79’), De Havilland (Smallwood, 64’), Sparkes, Leigh (Senior, 64’), Cavegn (Harrison, 46’), Quigley (Omochere, 79’)
Subs Not Used: Southwood, Rijks
Goalscorers: Quigley (45+2’)
Bookings: Sparkes, Harrison, Kilgour, Omochere
Referee: Thomas Parsons
Attendance: 6424 (453 away fans)
