Cambridge United extended their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two to eight matches as they needed to remain determined late on to pick up a 1-1 Boxing Day draw with Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium…
It was a pleasing start from the U’s, who took the lead 10 minutes in through Louis Appere’s close-range header – this advantage helped them to control proceedings for the remainder of the first half. As the opportunities dried up after the break, the hosts found a way back when Max Clark bundled home mid-way through the second half just seconds after Jake Eastwood saved a penalty. United needed to remain valiant in the closing stages, sticking to the principle that if you can’t win it, don’t lose it, to ensure a share of the spoils.
Keen to latch on the winning momentum picked up against Accrington Stanley a week earlier, Neil Harris felt there was no need to change a winning formula as he named an unchanged XI, whilst Ben Purrington had recovered from illness to make the bench.
Ticking along nicely with some professional displays, the U’s made the trip to Kent in fine fettle – in all competitions they were 11 unbeaten and had already achieved 11 clean sheets, so had shown real prowess defensively. With four games in 10 days ahead of them, it would prove an important time in the football calendar.
Under the tutelage of the proven Gareth Ainsworth, the Gills had a range of experience in their setup – which included the likes of Jonathan Williams, Sam Vokes and Bradley Dack on the bench – but had stuttered recently, so were out to arrest a six-match winless run which had dropped them to 12th in the table.
On a chilly festive afternoon, the hosts for a split second looked to have opened the scoring on the 3rd minute when a long throw from Remeao Hutton caused aerial bombardment in the six-yard box, with a header flicked by Sam Gale who poked into the back of the net from close range, but the linesman had his flag up for offside.
Early signs indicated that Gillingham had the capacity to cause some scares through set-pieces, with full-back Clark picking out a teasing, inswinging corner on the 7th minute which curled on target and required Eastwood to intercept and paw away from danger – a really smart intervention.
A couple of minutes later, United’s first period of pressure resulted in them drawing first blood. Recycling play, Adam Mayor’s deep delivery from 30 yards out floated to James Gibbons at the back post – his well-executed header was creeping in, but Appere was smart to get in front of his man and nod home from yards out for his fourth of the season.
In spite of going behind, it was the Gills who were next to test their luck on the 14th minute when space opened up for Robbie McKenzie to exploit, who tested his luck from 25 yards but couldn’t get the connection as it trickled wide of Eastwood’s right post. However, up the other end, United were very threatening going forwards, with the pace in the forward line helping to progress the ball and ask questions.
Importantly the U’s understood the importance of keeping up their levels, they couldn’t afford to switch off against a physical opponent. Nonetheless, they continued to retain possession, were mopping up well in the middle of the park – the pairing of George Hoddle and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu industrious in particular – and the wingers were very front-footed.
Just shy of the half hour mark, Ainsworth would have been pleased with a neat sequence down the right from Aaron Rowe, who squared to Josh Andrews before the striker teed it up for Armani Little from over 20 yards out, whose fierce strike was wide of the mark, with United’s goalkeeper diving that way to ensure it was covered.
On 34, the visitors escaped a nervy moment which started from an indirect free-kick in their own penalty area. Clark opted for power initially, with the ball being delivered back in for Andrews, whose looping header went straight into the gloves of Eastwood.
Whilst Gillingham were determined to apply the pressure as the first half reached its conclusion, it made them quite susceptible as the U’s found space in the backline on the 43rd minute through Mpanzu. His cross reached its destination of the six-yard box where Liam Bennett was vying to claim a touch, but it evaded him and out of play to all but conclude a demanding first period with Harris’ men importantly in the driver’s seat.
It was as you were after the break, with no changes for either side as they hunted for an early foothold. It was apparent quite quickly that United had the control, with a penalty claim waved away on the 48th minute when Appere latched onto a lofted ball and, just as he was shielding to get his shot away, was on the floor following a push. Despite protests from the away dugout, it was waved away by referee Neil Hair.
There was still a sense of frustration from the hosts, who weren’t quite doing enough to force an equaliser. The only opening they could carve out arrived on 56 when Elliott Nevitt met a corner at the front post with a clever flick in the air, but it sailed past the side netting.
A golden opportunity went begging shortly after when a misplaced pass in the middle of the pitch was gleefully received by James Brophy, who marauded down the right before cutting inside and pulling the trigger – if it wasn’t for a crucial, light deflection, it undeniably would have been the second for the U’s.
With plenty of time still left on the clock, two substitutions each were ringed as Purrington and Shane McLoughlin were introduced to the field to match their opponents’ change of shape.
With 20 minutes to go, a dramatic few minutes ensued. Following a smart free-kick, Little was released inside the area but was brought down and issued a penalty. Up stepped McKenzie, but he could not find a way past Eastwood from 12 yards, who matched with a superb dive to his right.
However, the resulting corner was pinpoint as it floated to Clark inside the six-yard box, who planted a header past a sea of lunging U’s defenders for the equaliser.
The Gills now had their tails up, and on the 74th minute probed with another attempt at goal when Dack picked out a clean half-volley from distance, fizzing on target but it was claimed by a great low stop from Eastwood.
After seeing out the period of sustained pressure, the Head Coach opted with a different element at the top end of the pitch, as Elias Kachunga and Shayne Lavery received late minutes to supply some know-how to help finish in the ascendency.
Chances had ultimately dried up for the visitors - who couldn’t quite take the match by the scruff of the neck like they did in the first half - but knew the importance of preserving a point as they continued to clear their lines up until the final whistle.
Up next, the U’s are on the road again on Monday evening (29th December) as they see out 2025 with a meeting against Chesterfield at the SMH Group Stadium.
Gillingham: Turner, Gale, A. Smith, Clark, Hutton, McKenzie, Little, Rowe, Coleman (Dack, 64’), Andrews, Nevitt (Palmer-Houlden, 64’)
Subs Not Used: Holtam, Masterson, J. Williams, J. Smith, Vokes
Goalscorers: Clark (71’)
Bookings: Rowe
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Jobe, Watts, Bennett (Purrington, 66’), Hoddle, Mpanzu, Mayor, Brophy (McLoughlin, 66’), Kaikai (Kachunga, 78’), Appere (Lavery, 79’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Knight, Ibsen Rossi
Goalscorers: Appere (10’)
Bookings:
Referee: Neil Hair
