Cambridge United extended their impressive unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two to 11 matches as they were valiant in securing a 1-2 triumph against Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium…
A sumptuous free-kick from Sullay Kaikai on the half hour mark was the icing on the cake of a dominant first half of football, but the U’s were unable to build as the Cod Army fought back through Ethan Ennis’ penalty 20 minutes from time. Nonetheless, the visitors’ character shone through from here as they rolled up their sleeves and fought towards a third successive victory as James Gibbons lashed home a late winner.
Following on from the slender defeat against Birmingham City in the Emirates FA Cup a week earlier, Neil Harris named two changes as Kell Watts and Kaikai returned to the starting XI.
It was a first loss in 15 matches last time out, but in the bread and butter the U’s were 10 without defeat which had shot them up to 6th in the table, helped by a sturdy defence that had conceded just 19 times – the joint-least in the division. The hosts, who United dispatched 2-1 in the reverse, had been stronger at home with just two defeats all season, but were out to address their shaky form which read at four defeats from their previous five.
At a warmer-than-expected Lancashire, the visitors controlled the narrative from the first whistle by boasting the possession in the earlier stages and getting their first shot underway with one minute on the clock when James Brophy advanced play and set up Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu on the edge of the penalty area, whose effort on target lacked the power to trouble Jay Lynch between the sticks.
A boisterous approach continued, with claims for a penalty waved away on the 10th minute when Louis Appere slipped in Kaikai with a smart flick – the latter looked to wrestle past Shaun Rooney to open space for the strike in the box but went down from contact.
On the 16th minute, the Cod Army orchestrated their first opportunity when Harrison Holgate teed up Elliot Bonds, who pulled the trigger from distance which was comfortably claimed by Jake Eastwood.
Exploiting the space in the middle of the park impeccably well, Mpanzu cleaned up and found Brophy, whose jinking run was cancelled out by a foul from an inviting range 25 yards out. Up stepped Kaikai, who produced a moment of absolute magic as an exquisite right-footed free-kick towards the top corner crashed off the crossbar and into the back of the net for a stunning seventh goal of the season.
Firmly in the driving seat, Harris’ men were really latching onto their momentum, digging in to progress into the final third where they probed again on 37 when the in-form Kaikai scampered down the left flank and cut back to Appere, who despite pressure from the defence got the shot away but it lashed wide of the near post.
During the two minutes of stoppage time, good persistence from Liam Bennett on the line saw him skip past Josh Powell and launch a cross to lone striker Appere – with his back to goal on the outskirts of the six-yard box he did well to navigate a header which narrowly missed the target.
Up the other end, they were switched on to cut out a late cross into the box before Eastwood punched away a corner to conclude a satisfactory first half where Cambridge had looked comfortable.
As you were after the break with no changes for either side, the U’s were doing the basics right and what was most pleasing was that evident threat going forwards, which was causing frustration for Pete Wild’s side.
On the 56th minute, the experienced Ched Evans was picked out inside the area, whose great touch and turn set himself up for the volley which he got under as it dipped high and wide.
The hosts were now enjoying their best spell of the afternoon, as on the hour mark Bonds crossed towards targetman Will Davies who should have done better as he flicked a close-range header across the face of goal.
In typical fashion from the U’s, they went on the counter from here and almost grabbed an elusive second when Kaikai burst in on goal but his shot was prevented by a crucial block from Shaun Rooney.
With the encounter now opened up, United were becoming stretched. Eastwood was required to meet Evans’ ambitious attempt at goal, getting down low to force a corner.
Ultimately, the inability to find that rhythm and control was costly as Fleetwood were awarded a penalty on the 72nd minute when Evans was challenged. Ennis was trusted from 12 yards, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to level matters.
In response, the visitors made two changes as Ben Purrington and Shayne Lavery were introduced to the field. They certainly upped their levels from here as Kaikai drifted past a defender, cut inside and curled a sweet strike which wasn’t far at all from creeping in.
Determined not to have to settle for a point, Cambridge sparked pandemonium for the travelling 208 fans as they took the lead again on the 81st minute. Keeping a free-kick alive, Mamadou Jobe rose highest to win a header, which was cleared only to Gibbons who drilled low and hard past a compact box and into the empty space of the goal.
A few minutes later, they undoubtedly should have put the game to bed when Lavery was away and slipped the ball into the path of Mpanzu in a one-on-one position, but his first touch was too heavy as Lynch claimed before he could get the shot away.
For the majority of the nine minutes of injury time, the U’s were surviving unscathed, but there was a scare at the death when Eastwood punched away a free-kick, before a scramble resulted in Evans’ follow-up stopped by the ‘keeper.
That moment of determination was enough to help grind out a hard-fought win on the coast as the red-hot form continued for the side in 6th, who now had just a two-point gap from 2nd in the table.
Up next, it’s a return to home comforts next Saturday (24 January) as the U’s welcome Tranmere Rovers to the Abbey – be sure to back the boys.
Fleetwood Town: Lynch, Ennis, Rooney, Holgate (Mullarkey, 74’), Hughes, Powell, Bonds, Virtue (Neal, 74’), Helm (Devonport, 89’), Davies (Roberts, 69’), Evans
Subs Not Used: Hewitson, Haughey, Morrison
Goalscorers: Ennis (73’)
Bookings: Evans, Helm, Mullarkey
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett (Purrington, 76’), Hoddle (Lavery, 76’), Mpanzu, Brophy, Knight (Ball, 63’), Kaikai, Appere (McLoughlin, 86’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Ibsen Rossi, McConnell
Goalscorers: Kaikai (30’), Gibbons (81’)
Bookings:
Referee: Craig Hicks
Attendance: 2666 (208 away fans)