Cambridge United concluded 2025 in winning fashion as they extended their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two to nine matches with a professional 0-1 triumph over Chesterfield at the SMH Group Stadium…
Shane McLoughlin opened his account for the U’s with a clinical finish on the stroke of half-time, which proved to be the difference as the visitors ground out a statement victory to keep themselves hot on the heels of the play-off pack.
After taking a point from Gillingham on Boxing Day three days earlier, Neil Harris named just the solitary change to his XI as Sullay Kaikai made way for McLoughlin – who pencilled in his first start since early October. Elsewhere, Dom Ball returned to the matchday squad following his injury lay-off.
Familiar faces to say the least, just three weeks on from the Spireites stealing a last-gasp draw at CB5, both sides met in the midst of scintillating form, with the hosts three points and a single place above the U’s in the table. Paul Cook’s men were out to grab a fourth successive win and had lost once in their previous 11, whereas it was similarly clicking for Cambridge, who were 12 unbeaten in all competitions.
Capitalising on a vulnerable defence in the opening stages, United were incredibly fast out of the traps. Showcasing a plethora of pace down the right flank, Louis Appere slipped in James Brophy who applied the afterburners to race into the area, but it was cut out just as he was about to pull the trigger from an angle.
It took just four minutes for the men in black and gold to accumulate their first opportunity of the evening when Liam Bennett – enjoying the freedom in an advanced role – skipped past a man and picked out a deep cross to Adam Mayor, who rose highest to get his header away from 12 yards, but it was over the woodwork.
Only MK Dons could better Chesterfield’s 39 league strikes, so it came as no surprise when they probed on the 9th minute when goalkeeper Zachary Hemming punted a long ball from just outside his own box which was latched at by Lee Bonis, who showed good instinct to sniff it out and wriggle past his man, but he put too much on his attempted lob to test Jake Eastwood.
A frenetic start soon turned into an element of calm for the U’s, who were happy and comfortable to play the ball around the back and pounce only when the chance arose. Their patient build-up almost paid off on the 23rd minute when James Gibbons’ defence-splitting pass released Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu on the left-hand side of the penalty area, who whipped it into the six-yard box but it was hacked away by former loanee Tom Naylor for a corner.
Just as the chances were starting to dry up, with Hemming and Eastwood yet to be tested, the visitors had the kitchen sink thrown at them in a sequence of scares 10 minutes from the break.
Following a slip in the backline, Liam Mandeville capitalised in the middle of the park by advancing the ball and playing in Bonis – the pass had too much power which allowed Gibbons to intercept, but it was heading towards his own goal. Fortunately, the defender was quick to race back and prevent the opener.
The Spireites were left to rue two golden opportunities from the resulting corner. The dangerous delivery fell invitingly to Bonis, who clattered the crossbar, before United were forced into the pinball and cleared their lines, only for Kyle McFadzean to recycle back into the mixer, with Naylor’s cross tipped by the glove of Eastwood and to a looming Jamie Grimes from a matter of yards out, who just got under it as he miraculously headed wide.
In response to escaping the scare, Harris’ men went up the other end and drew first blood on the 43rd minute in typical counter-attacking fashion. Doing what he does best, Brophy scampered into space on the wing and picked out McLoughlin with an exquisite pass, who showed expertise to deftly flick it over the line despite Devan Tanton’s lunge before wheeling away for his first goal for the club. The midfielder became the 16th different player to find the back of the net for the U’s this campaign.
Two minutes into added time, Cambridge were dealt a blow when Mayor felt immediate pain following a slide and was forced off, with Kaikai coming on in his place.
On the pursuit of breathing space, the visitors approached the second half in confident fashion, eager to not sit back and soak in pressure but to instead take the game to the Derbyshire outfit, whose response was to roll some changes on 56 when Janoi Donacien, James Berry and Will Grigg were all drafted on.
Continuing to link up well, Brophy jinked and cut back to Bennett on the 63rd minute, whose low drive flashed across the face of the six-yard box and towards Kaikai who was racing in, but ultimately the ball could only hit the winger as he was unable to get the angle on it.
Fresh legs were soon implemented midway through the second half as Ball and Shayne Lavery were handed minutes to add tenacity.
All in all, the U’s continued to control proceedings well and to a man were compact and no-nonsense. Cook’s men dished out their best chance of note on 72 when Mandeville’s cross was met by the head of the experienced Grigg, who got the connection but couldn’t guide it on target.
As the clock ticked down, Harris’ men were forced to defend deep to see out victory, but if anything they could have killed it off during the five minutes of stoppage time as Bennett scampered away, skinned a man and looked to square but McFadzean was on hand to thump away, before Kaikai pinged to Lavery from yards out but the striker couldn’t get the ball under his spell as it trickled wide.
Nonetheless, it was United’s night, who were brave in the dying embers to see out three points and another clean sheet to conclude 2025 in mightily impressive fashion.
Up next, the U’s see in the New Year on Thursday (1st January) with the first of back-to-back league matches at the Cledara Abbey – be sure to back the boys as they host promotion-chasing Walsall.
Chesterfield: Hemming, Tanton, McFadzean, Grimes (Donacien, 56’), Gordon (Lewis, 29’), Naylor, Stirk, Mandeville, Darcy (Dickson, 70’), Duffy (Berry, 56’), Bonis (Grigg, 56’)
Subs Not Used: Boot, Fleck
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Hemming
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett, Hoddle, McLoughlin (Ball, 68’), Mayor (Kaikai, 45+4’), Brophy (Purrington, 88’), Mpanzu, Appere (Lavery, 68’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Knight, Ibsen Rossi
Goalscorers: McLoughlin (43’)
Bookings: Hoddle, Lavery, Gibbons, Eastwood
Referee: Scott Jackson
Attendance: 8589 (705 away fans)