Cambridge United’s first match on the road in Sky Bet League Two resulted in defeat as Swindon Town edged out a topsy-turvy 3-2 victory at the County Ground…
A thunderous early strike from James Brophy was unable to set the tone, with quickfire goals from Aaron Drinan and Harry Smith turning the encounter on its head. The advantage was stretched by Darren Oldaker early in the second half and, although the visitors would get one back through Sullay Kaikai’s expert finish, time ultimately ran out as they were made to pay for the moments they switched off.
Looking to build on the winning formula they found in the opening day victory against Cheltenham Town a week earlier, Neil Harris deemed it suitable to retain his pack as he kept the same XI. The only change to the matchday squad saw the return of Elias Kachunga following suspension.
From one Robins to another, it was a blustery start in Wiltshire, with the U’s in their white and green strip buoyed by the travelling amber nation making a racket in the far corner of the 15,000 capacity ground – a place where the visitors had lost seven of their last eight.
Starting as they meant to go on, Cambridge grabbed an early lead with three minutes on the clock as Brophy got underway for the season with a fine finish. Catching the hosts sleeping at the back, Kaikai picked out a Liam Bennett ball deep down the left, before cutting past his man and providing a cross which was cleared off the line and on a plate for Brophy, who leathered into the roof of the net.
The strong application continued, but Ian Holloway’s men threatened on the 14th minute as an excellent stop from Jake Eastwood kept the lead intact. Following a well-worked free-kick, a delivery into the six-yard box was matched by a stooping Thomas Wilson-Brown header, with the U’s number one getting down low to dive to his right and claw away.
With the tide starting to turn, mostly in part to the strong breeze in their faces, Cambridge required some time to just find their feet again and get a string of passes together. Looking to capitalise, Swindon went long on numerous occasions but to United were playing the offside trap well with their organisation in defence.
Out of nowhere, the game was turned on its head on the half hour mark. Unable to clear their lines, the U’s allowed Drinan to pick a loose ball up in the middle of the park and scamper into the final third, where he slotted a composed finish into the corner.
Two minutes later, the hosts took the lead as Joe Snowdon picked out Smith with an exceptional cross from the right-hand side, with the imposing striker timing his run to perfection as he bundled a header in.
Shell-shocked after being pegged back, particularly with the game plan working so well prior to the collapse, it was now a test of resilience as Harris’ side planned a way to regroup.
On 42, the marauding Finley Munroe looked to cause a scare as his menacing cross was towards some danger lurking in the area, but Eastwood read it well to claim.
Concluding the first period with a couple of half-chances during the four minutes stoppage time, Michael Morrison overpowered his marker from a corner but couldn’t direct his header on target, with the last kick falling to Ben Knight, whose ambitious shot from over 20 yards lashed high and wide.
Unable to get their attackers into the game, the Head Coach had seen enough five minutes after the break as Kachunga and Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu were introduced to the field.
However, Swindon were well and truly on top, with a misplaced pass gobbled up by Drinan, whose powerful 20-yard attempt rattled the crossbar to ramp up the atmosphere.
The visitors now had a mountain to climb with 52 minutes on the clock. Eastwood’s punch was recycled by Munroe’s cross, who found a looming Darren Oldaker on hand to direct a header into the back of the net.
Fortunately, United were now finding more space to roam thanks to a tinker of the system. The best attempt they could muster was from Kaikai on 61, who with the wind behind him had every right to test his luck from under 30 yards, which fell inches wide of Connor Ripley’s left post.
That ability and confidence to shoot on sight provided the consolation three minutes later as a cleared corner was picked up by an unmarked Kaikai on the edge of the box, who picked out an exceptional half-volley into the corner of the net – a strike of instinctive and applaudable technique.
Very much still in it thanks to the boost of the second, there was a real confidence and swagger in Cambridge’s play now. Aware of this, Swindon had made three changes of their own in quick succession to combat the heavy spell in their defensive third.
Taking off Kell Watts in favour of striker Ryan Loft with 10 minutes remaining was a real symbol of United’s intent to attack the final stages of what had been a chaotic match. The striker got the chance to fire at goal on the stroke of injury time after catching it well from distance, but Ripley claimed.
All-out attack continued in the dying embers, with Kaikai’s free-kick hitting the wall and Knight’s strike six minutes into injury time crucially blocked out for a corner. A last-gasp equaliser wasn’t to be, as Swindon held out for maximum points.
Up next, attention turns to the First Round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday evening (12th August) as the U’s make the journey to the South West, with Bristol Rovers playing hosts at the Memorial Stadium.
Swindon Town: Ripley, Snowdon (Ameen, 73’), Wright, Wilson-Brown, Munroe (Butterworth, 88’), Kilkenny, Clarke, Oldaker (Glatzel, 68’), Drinan, Nichols (Mabete, 72’), Smith
Subs Not Used: Ward, Tabor, Bodin
Goalscorers: Drinan (31’), Smith (33’), Oldaker (52’)
Bookings: Munroe, Butterworth
Cambridge United: Eastwood, Bennett (Kachunga, 50’), Morrison, Watts (Loft, 80’), Purrington, Ball, McLoughlin (Mpanzu, 50’), Brophy, Knight, Kaikai, Appere
Subs Not Used: Hughes, Jobe, Gibbons, Hoddle
Goalscorers: Brophy (03’), Kaikai (64’)
Bookings: Brophy
Referee: Edward Duckworth
Attendance: 8862 (628 away fans)
