Cambridge United made an instant return to winning ways in Sky Bet League Two as they picked up a professional 0-3 success against Crawley Town at Broadfield Stadium…
The U’s made the most of their main opportunity in the first half as Shane McLoughlin tucked in a volley moments before the break. Controlling the contest from here, they hit the hosts on the counter for a crucial second late on through Sullay Kaikai, who then applied the finishing touches for a brace in the dying embers to grab a seventh win from eight and ascend the club into the automatic promotion spots.
Three days on from the defeat at Harrogate Town, Neil Harris freshened up in the middle of the park by naming two changes to the XI as McLoughlin and George Hoddle were restored, with Dom Ball and Kaikai dropping to the bench.
With the 14-match unbeaten run terminated last time out, a quick turnaround was handy for the visitors, who were eager to capitalise on this game in hand with a professional response.
Stricken by rain throughout the day but deemed fine to get underway, Crawley – languishing in 20th but confident of rising up the ladder following an excellent January transfer window – probed first and had the chance to open the scoring in the opening minute when Danilo Orsi was found in space and laced an effort on goal, but Jake Eastwood got down low to deny.
Backed by another strong away following, the U’s looked particularly industrious out wide and were finding space to exploit in the home defence. From the left, James Brophy’s whipped cross was met by a roaming Liam Bennett inside the six-yard box, who nicked it off a defender with his boot, but it trickled wide of the post.
Thanks to strong persistence down the right-hand side on the 15th minute, Louis Appere’s strength helped Bennett race through and pick out a cross to Brophy from 12 yards out, who placed his header over Jacob Chapman’s crossbar.
Early signs were promising for Cambridge, who were patient in the build-up but defensively had done the basics right to restrict their counterparts.
Ultimately, the encounter remained quite scrappy. In possession, the U’s looked comfortable but the wait continued for that final bit of execution to test the goalkeeper.
The Red Devils were made to rue a golden opportunity on the 38th minute when a cross from the right by Orsi was on a plate for strike partner Harry McKirdy, who got down low to lunge at an attempt from a matter of yards out, but he got his angles wrong.
Two minutes before the break – and just after Hoddle was unable to shake off a knee injury and was replaced by Ball – United found the cutting edge they were looking for as they drew first blood.
Astutely crafted on the right flank, Bennett showed good control to play it back to James Gibbons, whose superb deep cross towards the back post was collected by McLoughlin, who peeled off his marker to gently slot a left-footed volley into the corner and give his men the advantage at the whistle.
A blistering start to the second half undoubtedly should have resulted in a second for the U’s when a quick break saw them scamper away in a two-on-one position. Appere slipped in Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu to his left, who raced in on goal but couldn’t divert it past an onrushing Chapman who prevented.
This was all about control now for the visitors, with the only chance of note at the other end falling to Josh Flint on 54, who got on the end of Ronan Darcy’s cross but his header at the back post was always rising.
Ten minutes later, a teasing delivery from Kellan Gordon floated to the edge of the box where centre-back Flint was there again to leather with his head – it was a fierce effort and evaded Eastwood’s left post, another warning sign that Scott Lindsey’s side were still in the contest.
Rapidly becoming an end-to-end affair, United accumulated another big moment on the 66th minute when Ben Knight and Bennett combined, with the latter supplying a ball into the box for a looming Ball, whose clean effort was lashed off target.
A triple substitution from Harris would soon prove to be the recipe as Cambridge sparked pandemonium with their second of the evening on 75 to all but put the game to bed. Applaudingly advanced to Mpanzu by Kell Watts, the midfielder marauded into space and poked to Shayne Lavery, who held the ball and fed Kaikai whose low and confident finish nestled in for his eighth of the campaign.
Not content to settle, the visitors were incredibly comfortable in the latter stages and gave the visiting fans another goal to celebrate during the last spell of the match when Bennett escaped from the corner flag and teed up Kaikai from 12 yards out who made no mistake to conclude an impressive night on the road.
Up next, the U’s make a welcome return to the Cledara Abbey on Saturday (14th February) as they look to continue their impressive home form when Steve Evans’ Bristol Rovers make the journey – be sure to back the boys.
Crawley Town: Chapman, Odimayo, Vassell (Bajrami, 68’), Flint, Forster, Williams, Darcy, L. Richards (Gordon, 60’), Lolos, McKirdy (T. Richards, 59’), Orsi
Subs Not Used: Barker, Pereira, Copley
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Darcy, Gordon, Williams
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett, McLoughlin, Hoddle (Ball, 41’), Brophy (Kaikai, 67’), Knight (Purrington, 68’), Mpanzu (Nevitt, 90+4’), Appere (Lavery, 67’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Raggett
Goalscorers: McLoughlin (43’), Kaikai (75’, 90+4’)
Bookings:
Referee: Alex Chilowicz