Cambridge United were denied an instant return to winning ways in Sky Bet League Two during the dying embers at Blundell Park as Grimsby Town rescued a 1-1 draw…
The game plan was going extremely well for the U’s, who had looked in control of proceedings after Adam Mayor marked his first start with an exquisite finish from distance on the 30th minute, but they were undone deep into injury time as Justin Amaluzor fired home following a saved penalty to force a point.
Looking for an immediate return to winning ways following defeat to a battle-hardened Oldham Athletic last time out, Neil Harris named three changes to his XI as Michael Morrison, James Gibbons and Mayor entered the fray.
On what was a bright day in Cleethorpes, with a moderate breeze as is always expected, the U’s sniffed out some early momentum and tested Christy Pym within the opening minute. Worked from an initial long throw from Gibbons down the right, a delivery was picked out by the head of Sullay Kaikai, who had done well to twist past his man and generate height, but it looped down towards the gloves of the goalkeeper.
It had been just the start the Head Coach demanded, with United taking the game to the Mariners – early pace-setters with just one defeat to their name - with a front-footed approach and a high press.
Playing in a central role behind the striker, Kaikai’s free-kick out wide on the 10th minute was teasing, evading everybody in the box and travelling to the corner of the six-yard box, but a visiting man was not present to stab home.
United’s endeavour almost resulted in the opening goal on the 16th minute as Darragh Burns’ misplaced pass back was latched at by Louis Appere, who attempted to wriggle past Pym inside the box, but the angle got tighter by the time he got the shot away as the glovesman got down low to deny.
Dealt further frustration from here, whilst reaching for the ball Cambridge’s number 9 picked up an injury and was unable to continue, with Kylian Kouassi being drafted in.
With 24 minutes on the clock, Jake Eastwood was tested for the first time on what was a return to the east coast, with Kieran Green testing his luck from 25 yards, but the strike was meat and drink for the shot stopper.
Five minutes later, he was forced into an excellent stop as Burns picked up the ball on the right and cut into the middle, allowing him to unleash a clean strike that forced a low dive at the bottom corner.
On 30, the U’s sparked jubilation for the visiting 500 as they broke deadlock courtesy of a fine counter-attack. Kick-started by Kaikai, the Sierra Leone man embarked on a 40-yard run and played James Brophy, who continued to advance the ball and cross towards a lurking Mayor on the edge of the box, with the loanee wrapping it delightfully to power into the net to become the ninth player to find the scoresheet this campaign.
During the five minutes of additional time, Jayden Sweeney tested his luck as he jinked into the area and ran into space to shoot but couldn’t maintain his balance and get the angles right as it lashed wide.
Overall, it was a half United had managed really well and was just the reaction they needed. The task now was to continue the tenacity after the break, with early signs indicating that as Gibbons’ throw was headed down for Brophy from 10 yards, but his thunderous, instinctive shot was always rising.
The cushion that a second goal would provide was crucial for the visitors, who needed to dig in deep and defend in their numbers. A sustained spell of pressure on 66 saw Jaze Kabia meet a cross at the back post, he was rapid in taking a touch and drilling towards the corner from close range, but Gibbons was heroic to block and prevent.
Cambridge were excruciatingly close to putting the game to bed on the 72nd minute as Mayor’s enticing, deep cross caused absolute havoc for the home defence, with Cameron McJannet getting an important foot to the ball in the six-yard box to deny what would have been a simple tap-in for Kouassi.
At the other end, the Mariners continued to persist and feed off the atmosphere. A flash across the face of goal from substitute Reece Staunton was begging to be tucked away by midfield man Green, but he couldn’t get on the end of it.
As the encounter reached its dying embers, there was added spice and edge as the tackles flew in and the altercations occurred, with Grimsby showing real attacking intent in their substitutions whilst the U’s looked to shut up shop as Mamadou Jobe entered play.
Four minutes into six remaining, it was heartbreak as a dangerous free-kick into the box caused pinball, with a man in black and white fouled to cause the referee to point to the spot. Initially, Eastwood kept out Kabia’s shot from 12 yards, but Amaluzor was on hand to fire into the roof of the net to secure a share of the spoils to leave United crestfallen.
Up next, the U’s return to the Cledara Abbey next Saturday (20th September) for a lunchtime kick-off against Fleetwood Town – be sure to back the boys.
Grimsby Town: Pym, Sweeney (Staunton, 63’), McJannet, Warren (Soonsup-Bell, 87’), Rodgers, McEachran, Green, Khouri (Walker, 73’), Burns (Oduor, 74’), Vernam (Amaluzor, 63’), Kabia
Subs Not Used: Casper, Eccleston
Goalscorers: Amaluzor (90+6’)
Bookings: McEachran, Kabia, Sweeney
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Purrington, Ball, Mpanzu, Brophy, Kaikai (McLoughlin, 73’), Mayor (Jobe, 88’), Appere (Kouassi, 20’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Bennett, Knight, Lavery
Goalscorers: Mayor (30’)
Bookings: Purrington, Mpanzu, Gibbons, Brophy
Referee: Greg Rollason
Attendance: 7147 (484 away fans)
