Cambridge United suffered defeat in Sky Bet League Two for the first time since October as Harrogate Town edged out a 2-1 win at the Exercise Stadium…
An industrious start from the hosts was rewarded through Bryn Morris’ speculative early attempt before Emmerson Sutton’s curler handed them a two-goal cushion. Liam Bennett almost immediately reduced the deficit with his first strike of the season, but the U’s just couldn’t find the quality in the second half to grab a leveller as they travelled back to CB5 empty-handed.
A week on from the comprehensive 0-3 triumph at Oldham Athletic, Neil Harris opted with the one change to his starting XI as Shane McLoughlin made way for Sullay Kaikai, whereas deadline day signing Sean Raggett was named on the bench.
Buoyed by over 1000 members of the amber nation, there was plenty of reason for optimism in North Yorkshire as the U’s strived to continue their thoroughly impressive winning streak and 14-match unbeaten run to climb back into the automatic promotion spots. As for the hosts, they were desperate rise from the foot of the division and get their season back on track following a 20-match winless run.
Afforded space to roam in the final third in the opening moments, Cambridge were looking to make an early mark and caused a first scare five minutes in when a loose ball forced goalkeeper Henry Gray to race out of his box to clear, Kaikai chased him down and the clearance hit the winger, but he ultimately couldn’t keep the ball in play.
Two minutes late, the visitors were rocked as they found themselves a goal behind very early in the afternoon. A defensive header fell to Emile Acquah, who travelled and pulled the trigger – the resulting deflection fell invitingly to Morris from 25 yards out whose venomous first-time striker sailed into the bottom corner.
United had work to do and continued to be tested in their own box as Jake Eastwood needed to pop up with a smart stop to avert the danger of Reece Smith’s shot on the 14th minute.
A few minutes later, they received a let-off when Eastwood denied Ellis Taylor’s long-range effort, with the ball recycled back into the mixer by Lewis Cass. Smith was there to pounce from yards out but the leg of Mamadou Jobe crucially helped hook the danger away.
It was turning into a really frustrating away day for Harris’ group on 24 as the Sulphurites extended their advantage when Taylor utilised the space to find Sutton on the left-hand side of the box, who executed a right-footed curler into the back of the net.
The U’s needed a response and fast, but they soon clicked into gear and threatened through a set-piece when James Brophy’s corner floated to Jobe in the six-yard box, who leaped highest and crashed a header against the crossbar, which bounce down but couldn’t cross the line.
On the stroke of the half-hour mark, the deficit was reduced when James Gibbons’ cross into the penalty area caused pinball. Valiant blocks initially denied Kaikai and Bennett, but the full-back had a second bite at the cherry from 12 yards out where an excellent drill found its way home.
Overall, it had been a below-par first period, with United not at the races and their defence having a vulnerable edge which felt very uncharacteristic. What was important, nonetheless, was the goal back, and like last week a big second-half showing was required.
As a result, a tweak of formation and a double change was named at the break as Ben Purrington and Shayne Lavery came on.
However, Simon Weaver’s men still possessed a good threat going forwards as Cathal Heffernan met a long free-kick at the back post to poke on target, but Eastwood got down low to scramble away.
Harrogate were pleased with their application as it stood, with their ability to press in the central areas restricting United from cutting them open. That was evident on the 56th minute when Kaikai slipped in Lavery, who just for a second was in on goal but was denied by a really good recovery tackle from Cass.
Whilst the visitors were now seeing more of the ball, they still rued the quality in the final third to really test Gray between the sticks. Elliott Nevitt and George Hoddle were introduced for the final 20 minutes as the match became stretched, but there was still time to find a way back.
With 77 minutes on the clock, Knight latched onto Nevitt’s flick-on and unleashed a first-time shot, but it was well wide of the crossbar.
Five minutes later, they carved out their best opportunity of the half when substitute Shane McLoughlin’s delicate cross was straight to the head of Lavery, whose angled header flashed across the face of goal and landed an inch or two wide of Gray’s left post.
Vying for a dramatic ending, the chances kept coming but ultimately went begging when, on the 86th minute, Lavery cut back to strike partner Nevitt from inside the box, but his slice from an angle didn’t generate the accuracy as it fizzed wide.
The last action during the four minutes of injury time saw Kell Watts flick to Lavery, but the striker put his volley just over the crossbar as time ran out for the visitors, who couldn’t salvage a point as the unbeaten run came to an end.
Up next, the U’s make the midweek journey to Broadfield Stadium on Tuesday (10th February) to take on Crawley Town – be sure to back the boys.
Harrogate Town: Gray, Cass, Heffernan, Gibson, Slater, Morris, Evans, Taylor, (Thomson, 65’) Smith, Sutton (Brenan, 65’), Acquah (Muldoon, 83’)
Subs Not Used: Waller, McAleny, O’Connor, Marsh,
Goalscorers: Morris (7’), Sutton (24’)
Bookings: Acquah, Smith, Evans, Gray
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons (Purrington, 46’), Jobe, Watts, Bennett, Ball (Hoddle, 66’), Mpanzu (McLoughlin, 74’), Brophy (Lavery, 46’), Knight, Kaikai, Appere (Nevitt, 66’)
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Raggett
Goalscorers: Bennett (28’)
Bookings:
Referee: Edward Duckworth
Attendance: 3370 (1054 away fans)
