Cambridge United tasted defeat on the road in Sky Bet League Two as they fell to a 2-0 loss to Notts County at Meadow Lane…
Following on from an evenly-matched first half, the hosts clicked into gear and improved as the match went on, with the clinical Alassana Jatta capitalising with a close-range header before putting the game to bed in the dying embers with a curling effort to move the U’s down to 13th in the table.
In reaction to the midweek Vertu Trophy defeat at Barnet, Neil Harris reverted back to the side that were successful against Bromley on the previous Saturday, meaning a full team rotation.
Although United had been impressively strong at home, they were really keen to improve their form on the road and add to the solitary away win. The hosts – similarly floating near the play-off spots – would prove a tough test of resolve, blessed with quality over the park and a record of just two defeats from 10 behind them.
Buoyed by another healthy away following of well over 1,300 tucked away on one side of the all-seater stadium on a dry afternoon in Nottingham, Cambridge had to remain firm in the opening stages as the Magpies enjoyed plenty of the ball, building from the back and looking to supply lone striker Jatta.
Happy to keep their shape against Martin Paterson’s men and only pounce when the chance arises, there was little to report on in terms of opportunities, but there was a disruption to play on the 21st minute when centre-back Rod McDonald was forced off with injury and replaced by Lucas Ness.
A test of discipline defensively throughout the opening half an hour, the U’s continued to soak up the build-up in the middle of the park and on an attacking front were still finding those pockets of space when under pressure.
In fact, the visitors probably should have broken deadlock on 33 when Adam Mayor’s trickery and deep cross towards Michael Morrison at the back post was flicked down to an unmarked James Gibbons in the six-yard box, whose header couldn’t hit the target.
A minute later, Shayne Lavery pulled up and was unable to continue, with the striker cutting a frustrated figure as he made way for Elias Kachunga.
Nonetheless, it was during a spell where Cambridge were growing. Looking vulnerable, the Magpies were unable to clear their lines, allowing the space for Sullay Kaikai to test his luck from 25 yards, which arrowed wide of Kelle Roos’ left post.
That proved to be it for the first half – a quiet one in that but United arguably were the more satisfied of the two. They had accumulated all three of the main chances, whereas County had looked quite isolated upfront and were yet to make their possession count.
There had been a similar intensity to the clash after the break, but the hosts for a brief second thought they had taken the lead when a quick free-kick and delivery across the face of goal from Tyrese Hall was tapped in by Jatta, but the Gambian international was well offside.
On the 59th minute, Jake Eastwood was called upon for the first time when the U’s failed to clear the danger, allowing Nick Tsaroulla to pounce and tee up Jatta, whose low shot was well-stopped by the goalkeeper.
This prompted a triple change for the men in black and white stripes, who stuck with their formation but just felt some fresh legs would do the trick.
With 71 minutes on the clock, the home side found the breakthrough when Jodi Jones’ pinpoint cross from the left was met by Jatta, who rose highest to head into the back of the net.
In response, the Head Coach rolled the dice by bringing on Mamadou Jobe, Korey Smith, James Brophy and Ben Knight as the formation changed to a back three to get more bodies up the pitch.
The U’s tried to plug away but ultimately did not do enough in the danger area to click, as at the other end the game was killed off a minute before injury time when Jatta got on the end of a long ball, scampered towards goal and struck a 20-yard curler home.
Further frustration on the road for Cambridge, whose wait for back-to-back wins in the league this season goes on.
Up next, the U’s will look to continue their fine form at CB5 next weekend (1st November) as they welcome National League North outfit Chester for an enticing Emirates FA Cup First Round meeting.
Notts County: Roos, Macari, McDonald (Ness, 21’), Bedeau, Tsaroulla (Bennetts, 60’), Robertson (Iorpenda, 60’), Palmer, Jones (Kouhyar, 77’), Grant (Dennis, 61’), Hall, Jatta
Subs Not Used: Griffiths, Norburn
Goalscorers: Jatta (71’, 89’)
Bookings:
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Gibbons (Jobe, 77’), Morrison, Watts, Purrington (Knight, 76’), Kaikai (Brophy, 76’), Ball (Smith, 76’), Mpanzu, Mayor, Lavery (Kachunga, 35’), Kouassi
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Bennett
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Lavery, Kaikai, Mpanzu, Morrison
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 10996 (1353 away fans)
