Cambridge United fought their way towards a point on the road in Sky Bet League One as they shared a 1-1 draw with 10-man Lincoln City at the LNER Stadium…
A fast-paced start saw Freddie Draper open the scoring early on for the Imps, who controlled the game and held onto the momentum until they were pegged back by James Gibbons’ first goal in U’s colours prior to the break. Although they improved as the game wore on and tempers flared owing to a late red card, the sides could not be separated.
In response to the draw against Wycombe Wanderers a week earlier, Garry Monk named four changes to his XI as Nathan Bishop made his U’s debut between the sticks, with Kell Watts, Elias Kachunga and Gibbons also returning to the fold.
A battling opening to the game saw both outfits look to progress play, with some really committed stuff on display from the visitors – who were digging in in all areas, breaking up play well and imposing themselves in the tackle.
The Imps were starting to find some rhythm and caused their first scare 10 minutes in when a sustained spell of pressure resulted in Sean Roughan crossing towards Draper just outside the six-yard box, who with his back to goal spun and fired a powerful attempt on goal which required some superb reactions from Bishop to deny.
Remaining in the ascendency, the hosts opened the scoring six minutes later when a corner invitingly landed to Draper in the area. The powerful frontman’s initial attempt was blocked, but he made no mistake on the rebound as he rifled past a sea of defenders and into the net.
In response, Monk’s side were appealing for a penalty at the other end when the ball fell to Jordan Cousins inside the area, with the midfielder being challenged just as he pulled the trigger, but referee Steven Copeland waved it off and signalled for a corner.
On the 22nd minute, winger Tendayi Darikwa embarked on a drive down the right and was caught in two minds whether to shoot or cross, opting for the latter, which was squared across the face of goal but nobody was there to turn it home at the back post.
Lincoln were a matter of centimetres away from doubling their lead on the half hour mark when a dangerous delivery required a stop from Bishop, which instead sliced towards his own goal and was trickling in, but Kell Watts was on hand to hack it away on the line.
All in all, Michael Skubala’s men had retained that sense of control over the U’s, who couldn’t get the ball forwards to test Zach Jeacock in the net.
Nonetheless, United made their first opportunity count on 41 when Gibbons – the bright speak in the first half – continued to prove a handful in the final third by cutting inside and unleashing a curler with his left from distance, which got a kind deflection as it diverted into the bottom corner to open his account.
Now rejuvenated, the visitors almost sealed a rapid comeback heading into the break. Turning defence into attack in a matter of seconds, Kachunga crossed to a scampering Josh Stokes in the box, whose header from yards out was astutely stopped by Jeacock.
Coming out of the blocks faster in the second period, Lincoln rued two moments when James Collins, lurking at the back post, flashed a header just wide, before the striker teed up Draper from 25 yards but from an angle he fired it past Bishop’s left post.
Progressing into an end-to-end and feisty matchup, the U’s were up next to test their luck when a pinpoint ball from Cousins was into the path of the advanced Gibbons, whose strike got a critical deflection to ensure it hit the side netting.
With just over 20 minutes left to play, Dom Ballard was brought onto the pitch in the hope of finding that foothold, with both feeling the game was there to be won.
On the 71st minute, January signing Collins was presented with two bites of the cherry at the back post, first with a free header which was blocked, and then the follow up which was blazed over the crossbar.
Tallying up the opportunities, a free-kick from the hosts was flicked towards Paudie O’Connor, who got plenty of power on his header but not the accuracy as it nestled wide – the captain felt he should have done better.
Five minutes from injury time, Lincoln were reduced to 10 men when substitute Joe Gardner, seconds after coming on, received a red card for a collision with James Brophy after both going for the ball, raising tensions at Sincil Bank.
Eager to capitalise, United poured forwards and almost nicked it from a corner when Watts rose high to head at goal, but lines were cleared.
Ultimately, the preservation of a point for their endeavour was clear, with the visitors claiming a third draw from five.
Up next, the U’s travel to St. Andrew’s on Tuesday night (11th February) and look to cause a surprise against League One table-toppers Birmingham City.
Lincoln City: Jeacock, Jackson, O’Connor, Roughan, McGrandles, Darikwa (Jefferies, 77’), Bayliss, Hamilton (House, 77’), Hackett, Draper (Makama, 66’), Collins (Gardner, 81’)
Subs Not Used: Wickens, Montsma, Clucas
Goalscorers: Draper (16’)
Bookings: Roughan, Jackson, McGrandles, Gardner (RED), House
Cambridge United: Bishop, Okedina, Morrison, Watts, Gibbons (Digby, 84’), Cousins, Brophy, Andrew, Kachunga (Ballard, 68’), Stokes, Loft (Stevenson, 78’)
Subs Not Used: Stevens, Bennett, Barton, Longelo
Goalscorers: Gibbons (41’)
Bookings: Okedina
Referee: Steven Copeland
Attendance: 8606 (634 away fans)
