MATCH REPORT: CAMBRIDGE UNITED 1 BARNET 1
Cambridge United opened their account for the 2016/17 season with a 1-1 draw against Barnet to extend their unbeaten run in Sky Bet League Two to nine games.United were in line for all three points after Piero Mingoia scored on his League debut for the U’s an hour into the clash, before Barnet’s very own League debutant Alex Nicholls levelled with 15 minute of the game left to play.
Mingoia sent an early warning to the visitors, when the right winger swivelled and hit a half volley crisply from ten yards out in the opening ten minutes, but the effort slid wide of Josh Vickers’ goal.
Curtis Weston came closest of any player for the Bees in the first half, when he lashed a right footed shot towards goal that faded away from target.
Joe Pigott was given his first sight at goal on 26 minutes after James Dunne had pinched possession from Ryan Watson and played the striker down the left channel, however the former Charlton man lifted his strike high and wide of the mark.
A corner late in the first half for Barnet, ended with Bira Dembele acrobatically bicycle kicking a shot off target and brought an end to a very close opening 45 minutes of the season.
The U’s were quick out the blocks after the break, with Mingoia looking particularly bright down the right wing. On 48 minutes the former Accrington man came close to replicating the sensational goal he scored in the play-off semi-final against AFC Wimbledon last season, only for the strike to dip into the Newmarket Road End on this occasion.
Soon after, Tom Dallison was perfectly positioned to block a curling shot from Barnet left Elliot Johnson which surely would have given the Bees a
However, it was to be United who would break the deadlock on the hour mark. A fantastic sweeping move from one end of the field to the other, with Luke Berry setting Harrison Dunk away down the left wing, before he passed to the overlapping Blair Adams, who arrowed a low cross through the six yard box for Mingoia to smash home.
The U’s 2015/16 player of the season Leon Legge was called into action on 72 minutes, when he threw himself in front of Jean-Louis Akpa Akpro’s shot from four yards out that seemed to destined to nestle in the net.
However, there was nothing he nor the U’s defence could do to stop Alex Nicholls three minutes later, when the substitute cut inside on to his favoured left foot and thrashed a shot past Will Norris to level the score line.
Cambridge United: Norris, Long, Legge, Dallison, Adams, Mingoia, Dunne (Maris, 86 mins), Clark (Williamson, 45 mins), Berry, Dunk (74 mins), Pigott
Barnet: Vickers, Johnson, Dembele, Nelson, Watson, Weston, Akinde, Gash (Campbell-Ryce, 74 mins), Gambin (Nicholls, 64mins), Togwell, Taylor (Akpa Akpro, 64 mins)
Attendance: 4,873 (590 away)
Vindis Man of the Match: Piero Mingoia