Cambridge United got their 2025/26 Vertu Trophy campaign off to a winning start as they came from behind to beat Luton Town 3-1 in their opening Southern Group H clash at the Cledara Abbey Stadium…
Although the U’s were undone early doors when Mads Andersen fired in the opener from close range, Academy graduate Glenn McConnell soon bagged his first goal with a peach of a strike to help equalise. A rapid start to the second half saw Elias Kachunga hand his side the lead, before making sure of the points late on with a well-taken lobbed effort.
In response to the comfortable victory over Crawley Town three days earlier – which stretched their unbeaten run in the league to four games – Neil Harris rolled the changes as he named 10 swaps to his XI. James Brophy was the only player to retain his place, whereas Ben Hughes was handed his debut for the Club and George Hoddle and McConnell received first starts of the season.
The Hatters, who had parted ways with Matt Bloomfield a day previously following a nine-month stint, went with experience in their lineup, with interim boss Alex Lawless looking to all but secure their passage through after dispatching Barnet 4-1 in the opening game.
Early signs indicated a nice blend to this United side, who were keen to keep the ball on the floor with slick passing sequences. The Hatters were the first to probe, however, when Shayden Morris picked his spot from inside the area following a quick throw, drilling towards the arms of a low Hughes.
The hosts looked at their most promising on the counter. A couple of minutes after his strike deflected out for a corner following a neat lay-off from Elias Kachunga, Brophy intercepted a misplaced pass in the middle of the park and scampered towards the final third before teeing up McConnell to his left – the youngster had time to drop his shoulder and hit a sweet shot, but it flew a matter of inches past a rooted James Shea’s post.
Straight up the other end, Luton took the lead on the 14th minute when a deep corner towards the far post was poked down for centre-back Andersen from yards out who fired into the roof of the net.
In response, another well-worked move from the U’s attack saw Kachunga flick behind to Brophy, who had space in the box to shoot but dragged it along the floor and ultimately wasn’t enough to test the experienced Shea.
The visitors from Bedfordshire also posed a threat going forwards - and had chances to double their lead when Millenic Alli raced into the six-yard box and fired well wide of the crossbar before Lasse Nordas beat his defender for pace and unleashed a venomous shot which required great reflexes from Hughes to paw over the woodwork.
A big chance went begging for Cambridge on 28 as a free-flowing combination from Kachunga and McConnell helped carve open the defence, resulting in the former pulling the trigger inside the area with Shea closing in, but the important block helped keep the scoreline intact.
Nonetheless, that lead was surrendered a few minutes later as a well-taken effort helped level matters. After being set up by Korey Smith, McConnell took a touch and unleashed a speculative 25-yard attempt which generated power and fizz to fly into the net for a memorable first goal in amber.
The 20-year-old continued to be an influence in the central areas as the hosts just about edged the closing stages of a positive first half, which had been an entertaining watch.
Coming out of the blocks firing, Cambridge took the lead just a matter of seconds after the break courtesy of super work from the energetic Ben Purrington down the left, who slipped into the box and cut to Kachunga who was in the right place at the right time to place a composed finish goalbound to become the 13th U’s goalscorer of the campaign.
The quality in Luton’s attacking ranks was still evident, with Alli testing his luck with a thunderous low shot on 49 which Hughes watched flash past.
On the hour, Cambridge almost earned themselves some breathing space as captain Smith picked out McConnell out wide with a teasing lofted ball – he raced in on goal but was denied a brace by Shea’s powerful stop, before Adam Mayor’s follow up was sent behind for a corner.
More changes were ringed for both outfits, with Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu entering the field to a rapturous applause from all supporters and Kylian Kouassi too, whose first involvement was to slice an angled attempt into the side netting on the 68th minute.
It had been an enticing battle for Liam Bennett against the lively Alli, who on 75 found Lamine Fanne from 20 yards out, whose shot across the floor was no trouble for United’s goalkeeper.
10 minutes from time, Kachunga put the game to bed as he latched onto Hughes’ goal-kick and executed an instinctive chip over Shea from distance for a brilliant third of the evening.
As the clock ticked down, there was a really pleasing moment for the football club when 16-year-old Lohan McDougald – first year scholar – was handed his first professional appearance.
Moments before injury time was indicated, Mayor’s teasing free-kick was matched by Kachunga, but he couldn’t quite get enough on the header as it nestled agonisingly wide of the post.
In spite of that, it was a pleasing night for Cambridge, who continued their vastly improved form with a third win in a row at CB5 and three points towards their EFL Trophy tally.
Up next, attention turns back to the fourth tier as the U’s make the journey to Shropshire on Saturday (11th October) to take on struggling Shrewsbury Town at the Croud Meadow – be sure to back the boys.
Cambridge United: Hughes, Bennett, Jobe, Ibsen Rossi, Purrington, Smith (Mpanzu, 63’), Hoddle, Knight (Mayor, 46’), McConnell (McDougald, 85’), Brophy (Kouassi, 63’), Kachunga
Subs Not Used: Eastwood, Watts, Gibbons
Goalscorers: McConnell (32’), Kachunga (46’, 79’)
Bookings:
Luton Town: Shea, Lonwijk, Andersen (Fanne, 59’), Mengi, Bramall (Yates, 59’), Naismith, Clark (Gbode, 85’), Nelson (Richards, 59’), Morris (Kodua, 72’), Nordas, Alli
Subs Not Used: Keeley, Fox
Goalscorers: Andersen (14’)
Bookings: Morris
Referee: Jacob Miles
Attendance: 1767 (591 away fans)
