Cambridge United stretched their unbeaten run to four Sky Bet League One games as they claimed a comfortable 0-1 triumph against Shrewsbury Town at the Croud Meadow…
The U’s looked to be heading towards another share of the spoils despite being in control of proceedings, but Dom Ballard was on hand to capitalise on a defensive mishap 15 minutes from time to help secure a first win in eight.
In response to the battling 2-2 draw against Wrexham four days earlier, Neil Harris named just the one change to his XI as an enforced swap saw Jack Stevens replace the injured Nathan Bishop between the sticks. As a result, 17-year-old JJ Briggs was named in the matchday squad for the first time.
Treated to early pressure at both ends on a pristine playing surface, the bottom two of the division required little time to advance the ball and find their feet.
Perhaps a little too cautious in their approach, the first moment of note was forced from a miscalculated pass from James Gibbons nine minutes in when his backpass was almost latched at by George Lloyd, but Stevens was on hand to race out of his area and put in a necessary tackle.
Two minutes later, United conducted a well-worked move down the left flank, where Ballard picked out a reaching Ryan Loft with an exquisite cross, but a big deflection ensured the ball creeped out for a corner. As a result, play was recycled and concluded when Ballard – with his back to goal – flicked an instinctive header on target but Jamal Blackman was on hand to catch.
The greater threat in front of goal, the visitors hit the woodwork on the 20th minute when a Kell Watts long ball was headed out to Loft from 20 yards out, whose snapshot into the ground got just enough connection to caress the post.
Probing, Josh Stokes was up next to test his luck from distance when he dragged his strike wide, before the Shrews had to dig in to astutely deal with a flurry of corners – frustration was growing for the home support who were yet to witness an attacking spark.
The encounter stagnated from here, with United allowing Michael Appleton’s men to play out from the back but turning it on when needed and ending the half in the ascendency. A venomous shot from Gibbons on 40 looked to be heading for the top corner, but Morgan Feeney crucially headed over his bar.
Controlled throughout but rueing that purpose in front of goal – the U’s knew the points were there for the taking as they came out following the break, but still things felt quite flat in Shropshire with neither side able to find the foothold going into the hour mark.
It was the hosts who caused a major scare on 68 when John Marquis darted into the danger area and lashed across the face of goal. Stevens was alert to dive and paw it away, with substitute Scott Malone forcing a corner to deny Luca Hoole from tapping it home.
Frustration and agony ringed around the away end on the 75th minute when Liam Bennett marauded down the right and skinned his man to cut inside before teeing Ballard up on a plate from 10 yards out, but he rattled it high and wide with the goal at his mercy.
Nonetheless, that turned into jubilation from the goal-kick when Blackman played straight out to the Southampton loanee, who certainly made this one count as he raced into space and drilled into the bottom corner to hand United a late lead.
In response, a deep cross from Alex Gilliead invitingly found Hoole from the outskirts of the six-yard box, but the full-back directed his close-range header over.
What was pleasing from here was the U’s game management, who run down the clock professionally to claim their third away win of the season and their first three points and clean sheet since the start of March.
Up next, the U’s return home next weekend (12th April) to take on play-off chasing Charlton Athletic – be sure to back the boys.
Shrewsbury Town: Blackman, M. Feeney, Pierre, J. Feeney, Wheeler (Hoole, 54’), Ojo (Stewart, 87’), Gilliead, Benning (Nurse, 86’), Shipley (Perry, 54’), Lloyd, Marquis
Subs Not Used: Young, Gape, Nsiala
Goalscorers:
Bookings: Ojo
Cambridge United: Stevens, Bennett, Morrison, Watts, Gibbons, Digby, Stevenson, Brophy (Malone, 61’), Ballard (Kachunga, 78’), Stokes (Longelo, 90’), Loft
Subs Not Used: Briggs, Njoku, Barton, Hoddle
Goalscorers: Ballard (76’)
Bookings: Stevenson
Referee: Ollie Yates